Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-12
SOMETHING ABOUT
COAST BASEBALL.
Concerning the War Between the
Pacific National and Pacific
Coast Leagues.
PROMISES WERE NOT KEPT.
II is Charged That Misrepresentation
Was Made to California Towns TO
Join Organization,

ne lbIlUNlfE hUliH ANilifh llVln
Spokane, Wash. win no doubt prove
interesting TO Salt Lake baseball fans
as II concerns the Pacific National
league:
Now that four Of the eight clubs in
the Pacific National league have con-
cluded that lighting the Pacific coast
league is losing proposition and have
given up the ghost there are great
many inside points that will be OF in
terest to the fans During the past few
days several new phases of the situa-
tion have come TO light.
Just how the California towns were
induced TO enter the northern circuits
and the internal discussions in the
league has never been made public be-
fore. The promises made to Hart OF
San Francisco and TO Garrett of Los
Angeles have been kept quiet and the
manner OF running the Portland club
has also maintained It's secret In the
minds OF the league officials.
The charges have now been openly
made that San Francisco and Los An
geles were Induced TO enter the p. N. l..
understanding that affairs were entirely
different from the real situation; that
they were induced by Misrepresentation
to become part OF the league and they
spent so much money before they found
the contrary that thhey could hardly
draw out Of the conllicI.
According 10 a high authority Presi-
dent Lucas was the direct cause of the
addition OF the northern circuit, AS
soon as the p. C. l.. invaded the north
ern territory he began his campaign In
the south. Most OF the work was car
ried on by him unknown 10 several d.
rectors OF the league
In the first place the league put a
team In AT Portland with local man
figuratively backing the opposition.
Then II Is said that the California pro-
motors were Informed that good reliable
business men were at the head OF the
Portland club and that il would be
paying proposition. It Is said that they
were Informed that the National asso.
citation would be IN back of the L, N. l..
teams and help the mat every turn. The
future of the new league stretching
from Montana to southern Californis
was painted In glowing coors,
Premises were made that never could
be Kept and assurances given that we're
plain eXaggerations. Hart was prom
Used National aid IN bringing Harris
to time, 1t is reported he was pledged
the support of the =, N, l.. should he
lose money. His couch was made bed
OF roses and the entire baseball horizon
was tlnged with crimson.
Then came the meeting Of the league
directors at Tacoma. The plans for n
great battle were laid. II Is claimed
that the directors heard then for the
first time the fun plans and that they
stayed with them not because they all
thought II was the wisest course, but
ha. ha,. Al.
up to the contracts Of the league OFF,
Gals.
1t Is said that on this occasion Lucas
was flushed with the anticipation Of
victory and elated with the Importance
on his work in inducing the California
towns to enter. He made n little talk
To the directors and asked that his sal
airy be raised to $4,000 per year The d.
rectors were dumbfounded They had
anticipated no such movement, but Luz
cas- held the reins. The league was In
the middle OF the stream and Lucas
was the only pilot on board who had
the bearings. II meant hard and dam
gerous work to change hands now.
The president was asked to leave the
room and II lacked but one vote to re-
lease Mr. Lucas. The danger Of chang
ing hands at that time was made plain
and finally the directors raised his sal /.
airy TO 81 500
10 make matters worse the Portland
team did not make money at home and
the league had to supply the deficiency.
an assessment was levied on each club
rms was the first inkling given to the
southern CLUBS that Portland was sup
ported by the league. Hart answered
mat II the league was supporting Port =.
land they should at least exempt san
Francisco and Los Angeles from taxa
tion' Hart refused to be- a victim of
such one-sided arrangement. and the
result was that the northern cities had
to pay an assessment every month ia
Keep the Portland club in the race.
This made a heavy burden on the
northern towns and Portland was n
nally dropped and Salt Lake substitute.
ed.
Up to this time Lucas had been car
What he said went and he rs sojd a.
nave taken but little pains TO inform
the directors OF the league OF what ,yae
gong on AT the meeting when Port.
land was dropped and the schedule
changed the directors refused IN br
longer put back by the actions of Their
president and a check was put on his
actions. va "'
Hart found that he was again III
against II and had to maintain his team
." 'N''iHH 'llltoIAs Inc directors "a J..
so discovered that the expenses of The
league Were running up in a startling
manner The salary OF 81 300 was h
mere drop In the bucket compared n
the other bills, Lucas had planned 70,
suite OF offices and an assistant h.
Tacoma, but the directors put stor
10 this. ''''
Ihose who are in position 10 knoU
say that the +. n. l.. has been payinr
us much to run eight teams thls vent
rs ~ necessary 20 keep the Nationa
:easue going. There has been no check
Inc mead OF the league spent the mon.
ey as he thought best without consult
ing the wishes Of the clubs Interested
There Is but one end TO thIe Inca,
couid not make himself the Ban John
son OF coast baseball and the =. n /.
had to fail. The project was too bl,
Tor the president TO handle and IN,
coast league had an easy victory.
Lucas aud Dugdnle had their head
together on many a scheme, concernln,
which other directors knew nothing. A
one time II Is said they nearly offecte,
n compromise and they had il fixed MI
mat Lucas was to be president OF Nh
Pacific Coast league and Dugdale pros
ident Of the =. ~ L. II this schem
carried through Seattle and Portlon,
were TO be given over 10 the Californl,
talent and the other league was 10 tax
up Salt Lake and ogden to nm I'm th
circuit. The compromise was neve
made, so the ambition Of the two mag
mates was never realized,