The St. Louis Republic., 1900-11-20
Chattel Deed of Trust for S4S.5OO
Filed in Behalf of NJ. S. Robson,
the Corporation Treasurer.
MONEY LOST DURING STRIKE.
The Street Car Tie-Up Hurt the
Clubs Finances-Mr. Becker
May Control Things
Next Season.

Baseball circles were aroused TO uncom-
mon midwinter life yesterday by the re-
corling OF Il deed of trust BY the American
Baseball and Athletic Exhibition Company
the st. Louis Baseball Cluh-in favor of
Mathew Stanley Robson for $500, payable
in sixty days. and bearing per cent in
terest.
Mr. Robson is the treasurer and one of
the large stockholders Of the company. In
explanation Of the deed of trust he said:
1.-The company. in which Mr.. E. G. Becker,
F. de- Hass Robson and myself are the
principal stockholders. owed me. PERSONAL
iy, $23, 600. 1t felt that it needed some sX-
ira money to run II over the winter. to pay
some outstanding debts. TO defray expenses
OF spring training trip. etc I advanced
It $4,000 extra for these purposes and took
a chattel deed OF trust on its leasehold,
stock and interest IN the National League
and American Association Of Professional
Baseball Clubs
'The club owes a little money to players,
to local merchants, etc. AL these debts
will be paid to-day That they We're not
paid before now Is due TO the fact that the
club lost money during the season of 1890
and was to the bad at its clCSe. II took
US some time TO make arrangements to
pay our debts. took mortgage for mine.
Every one else Will be paid in cash and n
full
Outside Of the losses caused by the street
car strike We cid not suffer much. l credit
all Our losses TO that one cause. We lost
$4,000 the first week Of the strike. But
for 1t We would have played even, at least.
on the season, though the team was good
deal of a failure. Hence, our confidence in
the city Is unifnpaired, and we VIII return
to the game in the spring with renewed
energy and hope
Among baseball men II was freely stated
that the Messrs. Robson had at last man
aged to get their partner, Mr.. Becker. 10
consent to the mortgage Of the club prop
erty ana that, as Guid p!e quo. Mi. Beck
er would be a commanding figure In the
counselS OF the club next season. where he
had been but a silent partrsr in the past.
Nheld out against mortgagine the club. vita
the idea of forcing Mir. Robson TO sell out
to him or else buy him out; Now that things
are amicably settled it is felt that Mr..
Becker will be the man at the helm next
season, the Messrs. Robson giving way TO
him In consideration OF his giving way to
them in the mortgage proceedings.
Mr.. Becker's accession to power probably
means a change in the management and
personnel Of the team. He never was
him. He always thought Lave Cross bet
ter man for ST. Louis. and 1t is not any
cinch that he was wrong. 1t is stated upon
opposed the engagement of McGraw, urged
the early retirement of NJ. Teheau and
the appointment of Jack OConncr TO the
captalncy and management OF the club.
This was in the early spring, prior TO Nc
Graw's arrival In ST. Louis.
Mr.. Becker. it is said, figured that such
action would prove profitable TO the club
in that it would save 1t the $1,000 paid for
McGraw and Robson. the $1,000 paid in SAL
aries to these WORTHLESS, and the $500 salary
faid Manager Tebeau. That Mr.. Becker fig
ured we'll fs shown by the fact that had
lis policy been adopted, he would have
saved the club some s25,Ooo. pretty nearly
all 1t lost without injuring its effectiveness
or money-setting power one iota.
As far as can be Judged. the appointment
Of OConnor to the management would have
been a brilliant move and one which might
have made a great change in the record of
the club For 1t is not any secret that the
immense salary paid McGraw had the eff
feet Of making his teammates euvious and
discontented, and In no small way caused
all the trouble which afflicted the club.
President F. de Hass Robson departed
for his home in Cleveland yesterday morn
ing. His inf!amed eyes bothered him a
great deal. His brother. NJ S. Robson, will
go to Cleveland in day or two.