The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-26
TOM LOFFUS WILL
ARRIVE TONIGHT
Word to This Il Effect Has
Been Received.
WASHINGTON STILL IN LINE
Report That Pittsburg Is to Replace Ma
tionaI Capital Circulates Rapidly
Would Be an Unwise Move-National
League Schedule-General News.

Manager LOTUS will arrive in Wash
! ington tonight. This announcement was
made yesterday by Director c.. Hector
| Clemes, who stated that the iong-expected
arbiter of the Senatorial aggregation
would surely arrive according to con-
/ tract this time
| This is piece of good news, indeed to
| local fandom. as it was beginning to be
noised about that there was really no
| such person as LOTUS He was a myth.
concoction of the brain, and until he
really puts in a material appearance the
fans will be a trifie skeptcal.
LOTUS as Manager.
Tom LOTUS however. is. in reality, any
thing but a myth. He is an energetic,
arsighted manager-a man capable Of
bringing out all that is good in ball
player. and one who Is not in the least
afraid of work
| Upon his arrival the local situation will
undoubtedly assume an entirely different
| aspect There will be things doing with
| a vengeance. and there will be little rest
for anyone until the close Of the season.
next September. Lotus will do everything
in his power to make winning aggrega-
ton out Of the Senators, and with the
hearty cooperation OF the men. he should
succeed in at least landing third OF fourth
place.
That Pittsburg Shift.
The story of a change in the personnel
Of the American League is still going the
| rounds. Among the men who are sup
posed to be on the inside of baseball mat
tiers. there is not much credence placed
in the rumor. but among the fans 1t is
circulating currently. 1t has been denied
by President Postal that there Is any pos
sibility of the National Capital being
wiped OFF the baseball map and the local
directors of the club are confident that
he has called the turn.
In the event that the American League
should decide. even at this late date, to
invade the Smoky City. why should
Washington be picked out as the club to
be dropped? Is the National Capital such
blot on the rosy surface of baseball
dom that il needs to be swept into OBJ
lvion? Are the gate receipts SO mea-
gre that the owners are becoming worried
as to the source of their profits? Is it one
or all OF these things that could be
urged against the Senators retaining their
place in the American circuit?
| Cleveland as Substitute.
II there is to oe any change why not
with one fell swoop OF President Ban
, Johnsons pen. wipe the Cleveland aggre-'
cation out OF existence? There would be
some method in this move. but as to
Washington being retired in favor of
Pittsburg, il would be detrimental to the
best interests of the American League
In the first place, 1t would make the
division between the East and West lop-
sided. Pittsburg is a Western club and
always has been, and always will be con-
sidered such. II. however it could be
forced into the Eastern division by an
autocratic fiat. there would be a fearful
boiler arise from the arrangements of the
purely Eastern aggregations.
Make Awkward Schedule.
Take. for instance when the East plays
the East. Boston would be scheduled to
play Philadelphia. Baltimore would. in
consequence, be driven to Pittsburg for
tine same series When the teams switched
opponents there would, indeed, be a warm
ule Would he have Boston and Balti-
more change places. each team making a
wild dash across the whole State OF Penn
sylvania, or would be simply resign his
job?
Then again, Cleveland is a dead town.
There was a determined effort made last
year TO resurrect the Ohio village as
a productive ball centre, but 1t was fiat
failure. The Clevelandites demand win
ming aggregation before they will even
think of according a slight share of their
patronage. glance at the makeup OF
the "Bluebirds' this season will show how
far that contingent is from realization.
Also Question of Finances.
1t would be a fatal move on the part
of the American League to crush Wash
ington, and one that il Is extremely
doubtful if they will undertake. The Ma
tional Capital is ball town that has
maintained its reputation of being above
the average. even under the most dis
couraging circumstances, and it would not
be fair to throw 1t down now.
Under present conditions the manage
ments of the clubs in either league are
not looking for ways in which to increase
their expenses. The incorporation OF
Pitt5burg as an Eastern club would make
quite an W tHt tApChoco VI poiH
the Eastern and Western clubs under the
head of transportation. This is an mpor-
tant item and one that Is not overlooked
when the situation is considered.
Postal Stanch and True.
President Freddy" Postal expresses
his sentiments in the following letter to
Director Clemes: The Washington team
will play ball this year at the American
League Park at the National Capital. II |
you can find anyone willing to bet, l |
hereby authorize you TO take any amount |
from 81 900 to $1,000 am very we'll |
satisfied with Washington. and know that |
they will support my team. 1t Is good |
ball town. and | cannot see where 1t would |
be to my advantage to shift. There was |
no cause for complaint regarding the |
patronage last year. and do not see why
we should not do even better this sea-
son."
The Senators have recently acquired
new director in the person of Mr.. j. Frank