The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10
POOR BUSINESS POLICY.

When the Western Roller Polo League
was recognized there was considerable
discussion regarding the unbusinesslike
principles that were adopted. Some of the
club owners in the organization have be-
gun TO realize that all clubs would have
stood a better chance to make money this
season and more equitable business policy
could have been arranged by adopting a
percentage plan of dividing the receipts
whereby visiting clubs would receive GER
tain percentage of the general admission
while on the road. For the life and exist
ence Of the organization such a plan should
have been adopted. Every club cannot be
first or second in the championship race,
and every city will not support team that
holds a position near the tail end OF the
standing. To protect the organization, the
clubs that are unfortunate enough TO hold
second division places should have a chance
TO share in the receipts of games at the
home of their more fortunate members.
The standing might change many times
during a season. and under the percentage
plan every club would benefit. Baseball
organizations could not live on the plan
adopted by the Western Polo League. 1t is
absolutely necessary to protect and take
care of the weaker towns to maintain
circuit, and the same should hold good in
the polo league. Several of the club own
ers in the Western Polo League are too
hoggish. The only thing they think about
is the enormous attendance in their home
towns. They think only of the present and
seem to care little for the future. They
do not seem to realize that to make the
game popular in their own towns the other
oIt,I
nue. to pay the expenses of their teams. 1t
is possible for any team TO meet with &C
cidents and a serious slump in the stand
ing, and the season is arriving when a few
games lost will seriously affect the attend
ance in the town that is unfortunate enough
to have a losing team. The slump might
be so great that the attendance might fall
to only couple of hundred paid admissions
each game. The club owners would lose
heavily and the loss might be so great
that 1t would be hardsto meet expenses
Supposing one Of the clubs should have
to drop from the circuit, although this is
not probable.- 1t would seriously disrupt
the organization and the cause would be
largely attributable to the fact that the
entire organization was not built on bust
nesslike plans. Instead of the clubs being
assessed at frequent intervals to pay cur
rent expenses of the league, it would be a
better plan to set aside a certain percent
age OF the receipts of every game for the
maintenance of the league and for sinking
fund. the same as is done IN a first-class
baseball organization. The sooner the polo
club owners arrive at realization of the
true state of affairs and reconstruct their
| organization on sounder foundations. the
better 1T will be for the league. 1t may be
too late to do anything this year, but when
the time comes for reorganization. the club
owners should adopt better plans and not
listen to one or two greedy, grasping owners
| who do not figure future possibilities.
Franchises in the Western League would
be more valuable and the conditions would
| be more satisfactory under a more business
| like organization.