The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-12
4 MANAGERS EXPERIENCE
The Path of a Baseball Magnate
Not One of Roses.
j. Earl Wagner Tells of the Many
Difficulties Experienced in At
tempting To Conduct the Washing
ton Club to Every body's satisfac-
tion-Demunds for Annual Passes.

In a conversation with a Times reporter
}. Earl Wagner spoke at length upon the
embarrassments, annOyances, and difficult
ties that seriously Handicapped him in the
management OF the Washington baseball
club for the years he has been connected
with that organization.
In the first place" said MIR. Wagner,
Il had to cater to a cosmopolitan class of
patrons. who were constantly affecting me
with their individual ideas as to how the
game should be conducted in order TO
agree with their own peculiar views, and
as their opinions as a rule were antag-
onistic to the views and feelings Of the
local fans l was kept between the devil
and the deep sea, in constant state of
nervous suspense. knowing that whatever
| did was sure to incur the ennity of
some faction who felt aggrieved.
BY reason of the transient element
that composed our patronage our team
never received the hearty and enthusi-
astc support upon the diamond that
characterized the game in other cities
where a purely local audience prevailed
This was discouraging and demoralizing
work of ali clubs, can be enthusiastically
inspired by generous ccmmendation and
applause. This feeling among ball players
is not exceptional, but universal
The pass system is another perplexing
and grievous burden that had to be borne.
There is no club in the League that has
been more persistently and systematically
worked in this regard than the Washing
ton club. For instance. the departments
laI t-frh f,.ff
from other cities in the country who oc-
eupy a conspicuous place upon the Gov
eminent pay roll who imagine that all
places of amusement or entertainment in
the National Capital are, and by right
ought to be, free 10 them. Failing 10
convince the local management that their
claim is well founded they write-or have
some influential friend to do SOTO the
owners Of their home club, asking that
they request the Washington management
TO extend to him the courtesies Of an an
nual pass. AS a result. the request is COM
piled with, the pass is issued and you
are expected to look pleasant. though your
soul is plagued with the spectres OF pro-
fame resentment for the reason that the
beneficiary OF the courtesy is not by any
of the considerations that prompt or sug-
gest these favors entitled to them.
Washington is the home of esident
y. +. Young, VINO has legion OF friends
who must be provided with annual courte-
sies on account Of Aud Lang Syne. re-
quests from which he cannot escape as
much as know he would like to. So there
is nothing 10 DO but honor Uncle Nick's'
acquisitions for all the passes required.
only mention these things to show that
the issuing OF annual passes has for many
years been not only nuisance but bur
den.
Another grievance which is patent 10
all Washington city fans is the work Of
unfaiI and incompetent umpires. Being the
home Of Nj. Young, the new or untried
umpire. who Is brought here 10 off ciate
in a game is impressed with the import
ance of The idea that he must show the
League President that he is wholly en-
prejudiced and unbiased, and in no sense
8 home umpire, In accomplishing this de-
sire be gives all close or doubtful plays
to the opposing clubs. making il almost
impossible in close contests for the local
club to win game that they otherwise
would have won upon its merits. The re-
suit, therefore, is thai the Washington
club has suffered from bad umpiring, both
al home and abroad. These may seem
trivial matters to the public. undeservlng
of attehtion. yet they have been fraught
with very unsatisfactory consequences