The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-18
IT OCCASIONS No SURPRISE
Professional Ball Proves Too Expen-
sive a Luxury-Receipts and Elk.
penditures Disproportionate.

or it may go the way of all earthly
things, turn up it's toes and "a to
exist. Helena is out Of it and right
glad, at that. 1t is the same old story
almost unlimited expenditures with
receipts out OF all proportions, and
"angels" tired of making good ever
increasing deficiencies.
Last Sunday was the last time that
the name of Montana's capital appear
ed in any game of the league. It's
players were paid off and the charter
under which they have been playing
surrendered to the president OF the
league. To settle the claims held
against the team necessitated the pay
ment of o money by the loyal
men who have been putting up ever
since the season began. They did so,
however, without any complaint, glad
that it was not more. On top of all
the good money that has been thrown
away to keep the team on it's feet,
there must be added the sum OF $500
advanced by T. A. NARROW, who guar
anteed the expenses Of the club, as
forfeit money demanded at the time
Salt Lake was admitted to the league
in place of Portland, which SO poorly
supported its team THAT it was drop.
ped from the league and the players
transferred to Salt Lake. Beside this.
Helena thrac conoothir,u ovor e1 nm ~
its credit in the league fund. This
amount will in all probability be for.
feited. AS matters now look Helena
will certainly lose the money, unless
the league itself should go under,
something regarded as not at all
among the Representatives,. Should
that event occur Helena will receive
its pro rata.
Ambition to Blame.
Much as 1T may be regretted, the
step taken by Helena was not a sur
prise to those who have been watching
baseball, professional baseball, in the
northwest. So long as the men at
AN AASe~A VI VA10 OO6uO WOlO O1C olISu
that it should remain as originally or
ganized Things moved in a satisfactory
manner, and all the teams made some
money. At least they did not rum
behind. But when Lucas and McClos-
key permitted their ambition to over
step the bounds of good judgment
and persuaded the Pacific Northwest
league ito ~reorganize and under the
name of the Pacific National take in
San Francisco and Los Angeles, both
VIGOROUSLY poor ball towns, then the
end began. To the promoters of the
new league it was decidedly pleasant
to be able ito fight what they derisively
called the outlaws and the glowing
pictures they drew of what was bound
to follow caught the unthinking and
enthusiastic members of the old Or
ganization. The wal was to be carried
into the heart of the "enemy's' coun-
try. The magic name of national"
was to capture the crowds and in a
short time the outlaws would be at
the feet of the other organization,
begging for mercy. But things did
not happen as Honest john and the
only Lucas said they would. The
teams beyond the pale continued to
play and attract the crowds. They
are still playing, and drawing we'll.
Then in addition to the lack of
patronage was the added expense of
carting the teams about the country,
compelling the players from Montana
to travel distances equal t almost
one-half the distance across the conti-
nent. The bills for railroad fare were
something simply astounding. The
only way to meet them was to levy
assessments on the men who were
furnishing the money for Messrs. Luz
a and McCloskey. Nobly all respond
ed, but at last Helena, that is Mr..
NARROW, grew tired and a stop was
called. There was n city out of
the league and a number of ball May
ers looking for jobs. ~
Mr.. Marlow's Statement.
"A few figures alone are sufficient
to show anyone why it was necessary
to surrender" he says, in a public
statement. Last week the Helena
team played in Seattle. Our share of
the weeks receipts amounted to only
$Sl8. The week before, in Tacoma.
where both teams also played good
ball, our share was SIS. Now, when l
say that our payroll amounted to about
$40 a day and other expenses brought