The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-27
ANSON TALKS BACK
FORMER MANAGER OF CHICAGO
TEAM EXPLAINS ABOUT HIS
BASEBALL HOLDINGS
sPALDING STATEMENT DENIED
cold Cap. Insists That the Perhaps
President of the National Did
Not Talk From the
Book.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. pa. G. An
son, who is spending the holidays here
with his daughter, last night issued a
signed statement, in reply to President
Spalding, of the National league, who
said that his holdings of Chicago club
stocks We're gifts The statement fol-
lows:
During the recent baseball controversy
in New York A. G. Spalding took occa-
sion to bring me into discussion with
which I was in no wise connected. At
that time he saw fit to publicly state that
the 1870 shares OF stock which l now hold
in the baseball club were given me.
This statement is not true. The club
was Originally organized with capital
of $20,900 of which 1 owned 10 per cent,
paid for in cash. Later the capitalization
of the club was increased to 1890 shares
of 100000, and L was allotted my pro rata
share. The additional thirty shares were
paid for by me out of the amounts earn
ed but not drawn from the club treas
ury; that is my compensation was based
upon a stipulated salary and 10 per cent
of the net earnings of the club, neither of
which were connected in any way with
the dividend l was entitled to as stock
holder in the Chicago baseball CLUB.
During the presidency of Messrs. HUI
bert and Spalding the club paid very
handsomely, and dividends were regu-
larly declared ranging from 20 to so per
cent. Since 1891 no dividends whatever
have been declared upon the stock of the
Chicago baseball club.
During the Brotherhood fight the club
ran behind and accumulated an indebt-
edness which required several Of the fol-
lowing years to pay off. Since then the
books of the company show that the
club has done fairly profitable business,
and has made from $4,000 to $4,000 each
!, year, which has been permitted to accu-
mulate in the club treasury. This amount
is now carried in the club treasury with
prospects of being frittered away in
some such fight as is now brewing, there
being no present indication of an early
dividend being declared.
1.-The Chicago club is owned and con-
trolled by Messrs. A. G. Spalding and
John r. Walsh, the latter being Mr..
5paIdings banker. The stock of the club
consists of LOCO shares, owned as fol-
lows: A. G. Spalding, $40; John R. Walsh,
B20; A. c. Arson, 1870; w. r. Brown and
J. w. Spalding, brother in-law and
brother of A G. Spalding, 1896 shares
each.
"Of the remaining 100 shares, ]. A.
Hart has, since I severed my connec-
ton with the club, acquired SO. The re-
naming II are scattered.
81 am a stakeholder in the New York
club also. to the extent of $1,000. This
stock was acquired at the time of John
3. Days 6gancial trouble several years
since, and was paid for in cash at par.
Mr. Spaldng at that time made personal
representation to me that the league was
in a fair way to go to pieces, and asked
me if 1 was willing to put in something
to save it.
'As a comparison between the earning
power of the two clubs, I wish to say
that during the latter years of which An
drew Freedman has been president Of the
New York club l have received one d1vl-
dend of per cent, one dividend of 6 per
cent and one dividend of 10 per cent on
stock which was supposed to be worth
less and a club declared by all to be a
loser, and this, be it known, on a cap
ttalization of $250000
IT would not have burdened the indul-
gent public with a statement of this char
acter were it not for the unwarranted
manner in which [ was drawn into the
controversy by Mr.. Spalding.
with reference to his present position
in the baseball war, 1 think it untenable,
but that is a legal matter, and we shall
soon have expert opinion thereon.
% have taken issue with neither fac
ton in the present controversy, but rest
assured L shall take any action necessary
to protect my interests