Evening star., 1900-12-10
BoNM4 MARcHE g.
Manning Will Not Enlist Local Capt.
tai to Run Washington Club.
BELIEVES STOCKHOLDERS A HANDICAP
Thinks Conflicting Opinions Are
Likely to Result Disastrously.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

James H. Manning arrived in Washington
Saturday as per The Evening Stars sched-
ule. and had two busy days shaking hands
with old and new friends. He left this
morning for New York to be present at the
National League meeting which win be
held In that city, and will return to Wash
inston the latter part Of the week. Mr.
Manning Is almost entirely out OF base ball
politics and devotes his time, for the most
part, to the management of his club and
looking after the interests Of the American
League on important committees. For this
reason he had little to say about the possi-
BILE trouble between the National and Amer
ican leagues, but talked intelligently about
the game itself and what he expected to do
for Washington In the way Of securing a
winning team. The most important part OF
the informa ton given out by Mr. Manning
related to the ownership Of the local club.
My experience in ba ball. " said he, has
taught me that successful club cannot be
run with large number Of stockholders.
and for this reason have determined to go
it alone in Washington the coming season.
1 sincerely hope that the gentlemen who
have been eager to go into base bail with
myself as the leader will not consider me
selfish in declining their aid. l am willing
to risk my own money in the Washington
club. but do not care to stand sponsor for
other peoples financial losses in case OF
failure.
But 1 am confident of winning the es-
TEEN and support of the Washington peo-
pie, l shall do everything possible to
place winning club here. and that will
be three-fourths of the battle. With five,
six. or dozen people interested in club
there Is bound to be friction over the pur-
chase and ability Of players and a hun
dred other questions. Under those circum-
stances a club cannot go to the front and
l have determined to do my best to have
the washington club among the leaders
throughout the season.
Finished Strong.
When the season closed this fall my
Kansas City team was conceded to be as
good as the best in the American League.
1t was so good, in fact, that we won four
teen out Of twenty games from the Chi
cagos, and that club finished first. But
my great team, which finished first last
year. was wrecked through the drafting OF
players by the National League and L mad
to begin all over aga.n. TINS took time,
but when the cubs turned INTO the home
stretch in the race for the American League
championship my club was in first-class
shape, but the bad start kept me back
among the also rams.
Il will bring this entire Kansas City out
fit to Washington, but my trip to the New
York meeting Of the National League is
for the purpose of picking up surplus play
ers whom L may decide Will improve the
team. All the National League club own
ers are personal friends Of nine. and l am
confident l will have almost first choice OF
the surplus players.
The American League has decided to
stand out against the drafting agreement
with the National League. build up success
full teams of young players as result OF
recinding this compact and in time be
equally strong the major organization
in playing ability. We do not covet the
stars Of the National League, and Presi-
dent johnson and all of us believe the pub
lie is with the American League on this
point. The veterans are bound to drop by
the way to make room for younger talent.
The general public does not comprehend
the injury done the American League
through the drafting agreement. The Ma
tonal League officials point to the fact that
they paid us $500 and $1,000 for every play
er drafted. and claim had the better OF
the agreement. Now, look at the American
League side of the matter manager Will
work club of young players up to a COM
pact mass, who are winners at every point
of the game. He has been drifting along,
perhaps losing money, while this shaping
up process was going on. but at last he sees
the victorious realization of his efforts. The
club is up in front. the people are packing
his park, and at the end of the season tie
good money he has been paying out is
coming back to HIN, and in addition gath
ers in perhaps many thousands in profits.