Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-20
CRISIS N BASE BILL CLUB
PLAYERS WILL PROBABLY REFUSE
TO GO TO COLUMBUS THIS
MORNING
UNLESS SALARIES ARE PAID.
Half o Month IL Overdue and the
Team Stands as n Unit Against G.
ceptinE Further Promises-SeveraI
Meetings Were Held Yesterday.
About Transfer Of the
CIub-Complicated Situation.

Half a months salary to the players
OF the Wheeling base ball team, due on
the 18th inst. and unpaid, has brought
about a crisis in the affairs Of the
club.
The players have served notice on
the management that they will not
go to Columbus this morning to play
the series Of games scheduled for that
city unless the money is paid. Prev
ious to the games OF yesterday after
noon the players were disposed to take
this stand, but they yielded the point
and consented to go into the games
with the understanding that an effort
would be made TO adjust matters salts
factorily last night.
Two meetings were held, one of
them in the Office of the Wheeling
Street Railway Company, but they
came to naught. The players refused
to recede from their position and the
money was not forthcoming. The sit
uation is further complicated by the
fact that the non-payment of salaries
five days after they are due renders a
base ball contract invalid, and this is
the fifth day. 1t is also understood
that a failure to pay salaries carries
with it the forfeiture of a franchise in
the Interstate League.
The amount due to the players and
unpaid is said to be between $500 and
$3.50. The club has been well patron
lied at home and has taken more than
the guarantee for every game on the
last western trip, so that the present
d~eplorable condition of affairs cannot
be ascribed to lack of patronage. 1t is
very probably due to the fact that the
management borrowed different sums Of
money prior to the opening of the sea-
o in order to pay preliminary ex-
penses, such as the $500 guarantee, ad-
vance money and railroad tickets to
players. The obligations which were
assumed have been met, so it is under
stood, from the receipts thus far, and
in this name the management has
been unable to pay salaries promptly.
1t is understood that a loan was nee
essary to meet this obligation on the
last regular pay day.
1t is a desperate situation which
confronts the management, and it re-
mains to be seen whether 1t will be
possible to secure the money in time
to satisfy the players and start them
OF the way to Columbus this morn
ing.
Meanwhile there are many rumors
in circulation concerning a change in
the ownership of the franchise, which,
however, involves legal technicalities,
inasmuch as Odessrs. Healy and Lytle
have rights which both the League and
the possible new owner will be legally
bound to respect.
One report is to the effect that a
prominent gentleman interested in
locating the ball park east of the city
c~ontemplates purchasing the team.
Another story is to the effect that
two or three local lovers of the game
were dickering over the matter. This
rumor was investigated by a Register
reporter, who asoertained that the gen.
tlemen named are willing to take the
team upon certain conditions, one of
which is that they be relieved from
all liability for any of the present
debts of the club aside from the sal
aries due. The gentlemen do o de-
sire to go into the matter from mo-
tives of sentiment purely.
A third story is to the effect that an
effect will be made this morning TO
organize a stock company, securing
ten persons who will contribute 500
each and take the club.
Whatever may be the outcome OF the
present trouble it is earnestly hoped
by the fans" and by all who appre-
ciate the fact that a winning team is
a splendid advertisement for the city,
that the club will remain in Wheeling.