The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-02
Game With Nashville Was
 Forfeited.
Men Declare Management 10 Behind With Their Salarles--Owner Rag land Says Payment Will
 Be Made Today.

Players of the Montgomery baseball team in the Southern League are on strike. They would not play the ganic yesterday and they declare they VIII not play again until their salaries are paid. owner W. H. Ragland says the money will be forthcoming today. Three hundred baseball-hungry fans of Montgomery waited patiently at Highland oval for over a half hour at- ter the scheduled time of the Montgom- ery-Nashville game yesterday after noon to see the contest. Baseball play CTS, who wear a Montgomery uniform refused to play, and Umpire. Arlie La them at 4:40 o'clock announced 'There'n be no game today
 The baseball players aver that they have received no, money for their ser that money Is paid. they further. aver that they will refuse to don ball uniform and play under the direction of the Montgomery Baseball Associa- tion.
 Under the contract with the baseball players, they should be paid off prompt- ly on the 1st and 18th of each month.
 Behind With Wages.
 Several of the baseball players say that they received no money on August aS Yesteraay ssp,smoer thss s Montgomery baseball franchise. and asked for their money. MT. Ragland. according to the ball players. told them to proceed to the ball park and he would follow them with the checks The ball players proceeded to the park, en- tered their dressing rooms and waited the arrival of MT. Ragland and the checks.
 In the meantime. the Nashville team had reached the field and were work ing out. It wc-s soon rumored that the Montgomery team had gone on a strike and the spectators who had gathered, began crowding around the dressing room.
 Thomas O'Brien, manager of the Montgomery team, held repeated con- ferences with the players, urging them to dress and begin working out. The players were polite and orderly, but de-
 Let MT. Ragland and his checks show up, they replied to all entreaties, and we'll play the game. Otherwise,
 Unanimity of Players.
 The players were unanimous in their decision. Men who are not radical m their disposition and whose conduct ol the ball field and in the city has con- pelled thef respect of the Montgomery worth and Charley Schwartz, were equally determined to have their money.
 The. crowd seemed to be In sympathy with the ball players and criticism of the management was heard on.every side.
 ball player, who Is known to have resigned a lucrative position in Mont gomery to join the ball team, said yes l terday that he had received exactly $5 for his services for August. Another ball player, who had decided to locate in Montgomery permanently, said that his house rent was due, his grocer's account was overdue, and al- though he has more than enough money due him to pay every cent he owes, re has had to ask for further time on those accounts.
 Several of the players said that they have had to write for money from their homes and have been greatly ip- convenienced.
 Through the half hour of conference the crowd waited patiently for the game | to begin. Governor Cunningham and Secretary of State McDavid with sev- eral members of the City Council occu- pied seats in the grand stand Newt Fisher, manager of the Nashville team, said that he could receive a $500 forfeit for the failure of the Montgom- cry team to play. but that at present he did not feel like pushing his claim. Umpire Latham finally made his an the gates, where a cry to refund the | money was raised. The gate keeper said the lnoney would either be refund ed or rain checks would be given as desired. Several Of the patrons of the game were so thoroughly disgusted that they refused to take either money or rain checks.
 A game is scheduled for today and the management says that one will be played.
 Explained by Mir. Ragland. MT Ragland said last night that on August b the team was on the road, and 1t was a rule of the club to pay the men when at home. Yesterday he told the men he would take their money out to the ball park. This. he said he intended to do, expecting to reach the park toward the close of the game He received a telephonic communication from the park. as he was preparing to leave. saying that there was no game
 T will pay the men tomorrow morn ing, said MT. Ragland. and I expect no further trouble"
 Yesterdays game was, under the rules. forfeited to Nashville by a score of 90.