The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-02

President Hart of the Chicago club
advocates the adoption by the National
League of constitutional clause pro-
hibiting a player from remaining with
a club for a longer period than five
years. After the end of a five-year
term with club President Hart pro-
poses that he shall be released outright
and permitted to sign with any club of
the National League other than the re-
leasing club. This plan would benefit
the clubs and players and prevent the
congestion of the best players of the
league in one or two teams, as in the
case of the Boston and Baltimore clubs
which between them have won all the
penants of the Twelve-Club League.
Neither of these teams has INDUCED
extensively in farming but this sys-
tenn should be abolished as it prevents
the weaker clubs from securing players
which would strengthen them. This
and other plans for equaliZing the play
ing standard of all the teams will not
be attempted until after the reduction
of the National League circuit to eight
cities. The chief cause for the failure
of measures designed to bring about
reformationS in the national game has
been the duplicity and selfishness of
the men behind the clubs. AS soon as
legislation calculated to be of general
good and to advance the interests of
all is adopted, the schemers among the
magnates begin to look for loopholes
and resort to underhanded tactics to
secure selfish advantage. AS long as
this spirit prevails and until the well
fare of the league is made paramount
to individual interests, there will be no
real reform or Improvement in the
methods by which professional baseball
is conducted. The well-equipped clubs
prey upon the weaker members instead
of assisting them, and politics dominate
in all legislation.
The Western association has collaps-
ed again, and it is very doubtful if it
will revive for several seasons. The
Quincy club was not required to put
up the $500 guarantee which was eX
acted of the other members, and it was
the first to drop out. The transfer of
that team to Dubuque did not improve
its earning capacity, and no other city
would undertake it's support. An at
tempt to continue the circuit with four
clubs did not meet with success and
the dissolution of the association fol-
lowed. This field is too good to be
abandoned, and in time a league will
be formed and conducted in that ter
ritory on business principles. Ex-
President Hickey was saddled with the
responsibility of the failure of the as
ISOLATION in 1897, and also in 1898.
President Browne, his successor and
other Rockford writers, who condemn
ed Hickey, now realize that however
able and jealous the chief executive of
minor league may be, his administra-
ton depends for its success upon the
strength of each of the clubs and the
good faith and pluck of the men be-
hind them.
The Texas league has divided its sea-
son and awarded the pennant for the
first half to the Galveston club. This
arrangement was made with a view of
aiding the Austin club, which had been
losing steadily and was receiving I'M
satisfactory support. The new series
began with the games of June IA.
President Dermody and his associates
declare that the Texas league will go
through the season and be reorganized
In 1900. The Austin club is not in as
good shape as the others, but there is
reason to believe that it will not be
Necessary to transfer that team.
Manassau, who did not give satisfac-
ton in the Western League, has sue
ceeded Jack Brennan as a National
League umpire, the latter having taken
the formers place on President John
sens staff. 1t is to be hoped that each
will succeed in his new sphere. Bren-
nan was badly handicapped by i'll
health during his short service in the
major Il ague.
The couple to be married on the dia
mond of the Racine baseball grounds
and who will receive a purse of $50 in
gold are Miss Bertha Kohnecker and
Matt Mckenzie, of Kenosha The
groom plays left field with the Racine
club. The date of the marriage is
July s.
Pitcher John Taylor of the Chicago
Baseball club, umpired game at Chi
cago between members of the alumni
of Yale and Harvard universities. and
now he wishes he hadn't. 4 decision
in the ninth inning, which gave the
game to Harvard, was the cause of a
lively disturbance and almost resulted
In the mobbing of the umpire by the
sons of Eli. Yale was at the bat, with
two men on bases and two out a
sharp hit to third brought two men
over the plate, and could have won
the game for Yale had not Taylor re-
Jared the batsman out at first Taylor |
-efused to reconsider the decision and |
Eas greeted with jeers and threats by |
he Yale men as he left the field, but he |
vas not molested. though several Yale |
non followed him with an expressed |