The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

the baseball situation in Baltimore. it il
apparent that the criticisms of Ed Hanlon
| with reference to his course in the reduc
| tion of the League circuit, are not wei
| founded. He is charged with being party
in the offence of causing that city TO be
| dropped from the League circuit. which, il
is claimed is poor return for the gen
crosby the citizens of that place have ex-
! tended to him.
The facts are that under the ten years
| compact the various clubs were given
membership in the National League under
! certain restrictions and conditions. which
| so far as the franchise and property of the
several clubs were concerned. amounted
| to vested right. Under TINS
agreement there were but two ways
in which the parties to this con-
tract could annul these obligations. One
was the surrender of their franchise 10y
the clubs: the other a reduction of the
League by purchase of the club, or clubs.
sought to be removed In pursuance OF
plans formulated BY the League. in order
to improve the financial condition, IT was
deemed wise to reduce the membership TO
eight clubs. In order to do this II was
necessary 20 purchase from four OF their
associate League members their franchises,
property, good will. etc. upon terms not Of
their choosing and at price not fixed by
them. Mr.. Hanlon and his associates were
asked, with Others to fix price upon the
Baltimore franchise, which. after many
protests. they were finally compelled to do
The price at first named was considered
exorbitant. II was probably intended TO be
3 in nrfa IN a n
nation of the Leagues plans for reduc-
ton of the circuit, but ascertaining that
the League could force them to better
terms. and that it intended to carry out Its
purposes at all hazards, they finally agreed
upon the most favorable terms they were
able to get. .s..-.
Mr. Hanlon said to the writer that
there is not, a man in Baitimore- who re-
GREETED this unfair, unwise, and Under the
circumstances, rnexcnsabse act oa n tie
League more than |, and fought the pro
position to the end and submitted to t6e
will of the majority because there was
nothing else to do.
Il am grateful to the people of BAti-
more for their loyalty and support 10
me ard the club that represented them
and no indignity that may be offered ne
will ever cause me to turn my back to NY
Baltimore friends, or be unn.indfu of tee
city's interests in any way. 1t is my
home and | feel interested in every
movement, either business or sec al. hat
will add to the welfare of this proud cd
metropolis
In justice to myself. speaking from a
baseball standpoint, the few or many mall
contents of Baltimore should not TO ge-
that | am entitled to solie credit in givt!g
to the city fame in baseball circles that
il Fever enjoyed before. BY reason of
continued successes as penEant winners.
the name of Baltimore was household
word from one end ofethe country TO the
other
Il can very well understand" continued
Mr. Hanlon, the indignation that is fe.t
by large number of the citizens of Bal
timore. 1t is well founded-yet it should
not be directed against me"
John B. Day has issued the following
hints to players:
4 wish before the season opens to have
a few words with the players of the
League to show them what will be ey-
pected from them in the way of deport-
ment and to explain to them my duties
in the event of their failure to conduct
themselves properly on the ball field dur
ing the coming season. 1t is generally ad-
mitted that the conduct of some players
has been largely responsible for the great
lack of interest taken in the game by its
patrons in recent seasons. The League
fully realizes this fact and is determined
to correct the evil. / have been appointed
with full power to conduct a thorough in
vestigation in cases where trouble occurs
during a game. 1t will be my duty to
locate the fault by taking the necessary
evidence and to report my findings to the
president of the League. | sincerely trust
no friend of mine among the players Will
be found responsible for trouble on the
field this season, as the patrons OF the |
game are so strongly opposed to a repe |
titiOn OF past offences that their censure |
would almost amount to ostracism.
Players must be gentlemanly in their |
conduct and language, and must absolute |
" refrain from useless kicking and fault
finding with the umpire, even when they |
think him wrong. Players should remem-
Der he is only human and is just as liable |
to maxi errors as player is, and that it
is not permissible at any time to call !
down a player for making errors. Players |
can work just as hard to win in legit1- |
mate way as they could in the old way. I |
strongly urge every player to use all his |
vitality to keep his eyes on the ball and |
to be in the game all the time, from start |
to finish. This is what is expected from
them and is what wins games.
The League managers have recently |
done more than could have been asked OF !
them to do for the best interests of the |
game. The umpires are all of them com |
petent and trustworthy. and they should !
have the implicit confidence of the players. |
If. now the players will correct their hab- |
its and give us straight. clean ball play |
ing there will be nothing TO prevent hav- |
ing the most successful season the game |
has ever known"