Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-26
If the members of the Boston A,neri-

series of games with Pittsburg, they
will merit and receive the general con-
demnation. Whatever grounds they
may base such an unwise decision
upon, it will be hard to convince the
sporting world that the real underlying
reason was not the fear of meeting the
strong Pittsburg aggregation. Ger
tainly it would seem as if the terms
offered by the owner Of the club were
generous to degree. The Boston
Herald says:
ut seems that when the club was in
Chicago Mr.. Kllilea offered to extend
the salaries of the players two weeks
in October in consideration OF the
probable arrangement of a series with
Pittsburg, but the players did not ac-
cede to the proposition. Mr.. Killtlea
also offered to bear the expense OF the
series with the Pittsburg club and then
divide the profits of the players. Either
proposition entailed no little expense.
There is considerable risk to take in
such a series in the way of weather,
and travelling expenses are not bit
light. This proposition. too. did not
suit. The players maintained that
their contracts expired on Sept. 20 when
the playing season ended. and did not
agree with Mr.. Killilea that the season
meant anything beyond the last day Of
the race for the pennant.
National league salaries run to Oct.
Is, although the National league season
closes ON Sunday next. This is an old
custom with that organization. The
reason why salaries did not run into
the middle of the month in the Ameri-
:<, hot x1rho hn
contracts were made peace was not in
sight In another season the contracts
will run to cover any time for a post
season series between the leading clubs
of the two major leagues.
1T is unfortunate. to say the least.
that the owner of the Boston club is
not on the spot to talk over the matter
of the series with the players. A sat
isfactory arrangement might be
reached in that case. 1t is difficult to
reach an understanding in such a mat
ter at long distance. Mr.. Killilea has
been very generous in the matter of
salaries. The Boston American league
club is the highest salaried in the coun-
try and no expense has been stinted to
the players in any shape or manner.
1t augurs badly for the welfare of any
organization when the employer ana
the employed are at odds.
"Then the public is to be considered.
1t has given liberal support to the club
for three seasons. is very anxious to
see the series played and is entitled
to much consideration from both sides.
With the possible exception of New
York no city has turned out so Well to
the games this season as Boston.
ut is too bad that the splendid show
ing of the Boston players during the
past season should culminate in such a
manner. Many will hope that solae-
thing may turn up between now and
the first of the week so that a COM
promise will be reached which will be
satisfactory. The Boston players
ought to willing to play on the same
terms as are the Pitts5urg players,
and the Herald has offered such a sug
gestion to Business Manager Smart
This gentleman denies that there has
been any embarrassment in this matter
about himself and says this has not
cut any figure at all in the unwilling
ness of the players to play. All is
based on the action of Mr. Killilea"
You can't lose Tim Hurst, and even
should such a calamity befall by any
mischance the people who know him
best would fee! that an unfailing source
of delight had been removed from their
lives. AS umpire and referee he is
among the live ones all the time, and
very little worth repeating ever escapes
him, while his style of narration is
simply inimitable. He was telling a
story at the expense of Peter Maher
the SD. called pugilist. last night, which
afforded considerable merriment for his
auditors. During the time when Maher
was enjoying a much greater degree of
popularity than at present Promoter
Jim Kennedy wired him that he would
give him rs per cent of the gross re-
ceipts if ne would bring off certain
match he had on hand at Madison
Square Garden. Now, Peter never was
much of a hand at comprehending the
technicalities of business, and conse-
quently the gross proposition struck
him as being a little cheap. So he
promptly declined the offer. Then
Kennedy Immediately wired back:
Twill give you 80 per cent of the net
receipts for the match. Answer at
once" This offer appeared to Peter in
the very nature of things as better
one than the first. or Kennedy, who was
anxious for the fight. would not have
made it. So after scratching his head
for while and giving an imitation of
man thinking, he wired back an ac-
ceptance. The bout was brought off at
the Garden all right. and after all the
expenses had been paid Peter was Civ
en- $500 as his share. OF course, he
made a tremendous roar, but contract
was a contract, and he was forced to
accept. Some time after this Hurst
met Maher and began negotiations with
him to have another match decided be-
fore a certain club. They were hag-
Cling over terms, when Maher finally
asked:
What is the very best you will do,
Tim?'
well, I'll tell you, Peter, I'll give you
so per cent of the net receipts
''Oh, you will, will you? Well, you
can Just go and jump plumb into the
middle of hades. Jim Kennedy worked
that net racket on me once, and no
blanked. Irishman from Scranton can
tran me again.