The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-02
( SAME OLD HOWL ABOUT UMPIRES
AND CROOKED WORK.
LOCALS INCUR DISPLEASURE
BY WINNING EIGHT GAMES.
SOME ONE HAS TO BEAR THE
BRUNT OF THE CRITICISM.

Finish Second-Charges of Throw
ing Games Do Not Emenate from
Savannah CIub-Umpire System
Has Worked independently of the
President, and He Has offered to
Let Mr.. Chase, One of the Jack
sOnviIIe Directors, Umpire.
The end of the baseball season an
warm. The newspaper scribes scenteth
the offensive odor of trickery and CHI
canery to foil their home team in the
pennant pursuit. The umpires are
bought. The powers that be stop at
nothing short of murder to win a
game. All old stories, so old. How
history doth repeat itself.
The unfortunate circumstances that
now confronts the Savannah team has
not figured with the struggling ones
until now that there is a faint posi-
bility that the pennant will come here
There is some baseball history that fig
ures in these circumstances and those
who assisted in making it are now the
loudest yelpers.
Through the efforts of the Morning
News the league was formed Cnfor-
tuHate circumstances upset the origi-
nal plans relating to the Savannah
franchise. When the time came for
something definite to be done it looked
blue for the league, as Savannah was
the backward town.
Mr.. Boyer had attended the first
meeting held on Nov. IA, as a repre-
sentative of the Charleston franchise
He had letters from the manager of
the Charleston street railway com
pany, and from Col. R. w. Hunt, one
of the foremost promoters of the game
in Charleston. He had managed
team in Charleston before, and was
known by reputation to every one at
that meeting.
How Boyer Was Named.
1t was the unanimous opinion that
Mr.. Boyer was the most available
man for the presidency, and he was
elected at a salary of $500 per year.
He stated that he knew parties who
were willing to take the Charleston
franchise.
When it became apparent that Sa-
sented another meeting was called for
Jan. 10. At that time Mr.. Felix
Kohler, who had been elected Vice
President. made the proposition to al
low Mr.. Boyer to take the Savannah
franchise, and still remain president.
There was only one dissenting voice
that of Manager Strouthers of the
Augusta team. He finally sided with
the others, and the franchise was
transferred Mr. n
salary was reduced.
This arrangements was perfectly
satisfactory as long as Savannah was
in the ruck in the pennant race. But
when u team was assembled here
that outplayed every other team in
the league the howl of fixed went
up.
Wednesday the Jacksonville Times
Union said that the sentiment in Jack
sonville favored throwing games to
Macon in order to preclude a pos
sibility of Savannah winning the pen
nant. The honest baseball directors
then got next to the mana cement of
the paper. and the following appear
ed yesterday:
THE statement in the sporting COL
umns of the Times Union yesterday
to the effect that the fans of Jack
sonville preferred that Macon should
win the pennant, created a great deal
of interest.
How Feeling Is Now.
Statements made at random and
statements read in public prints do not
have the same effect. After the sport
ing editor of the Times-Union referred
to what had been discussed generally
in reference to the feeling of the Jack
sonville fans, there were a great MANY
who rushed to the office yesterday to.
say that such a thing as Jacksonville
laying down to Macon or any other
team would not go. In fact, some Of
those who were the loudest in making
that statement recalled it when once
they saw it in print. It is now the
general feeling that Jacksonville must
play ball, and beat Macon if IL can.
lie Is also the general feeling that Sa-
Vannah ought to have the pennant
If savannah can win It fairly
AS the directors of the Jacksonville
team, all of them declare that the first
man who is caught laying down or at
tempting to give Macon the advantage
Will be debarred and marked, if ANA
tours are to be substituted. They have
fought hard to give Jacksonville good
sport, and have succeeded admirably.
The fact that the directors of the
men of unquestioned integrity and ex-
cellent standing in Jacksonville is
what has led to such an excellent pa
tronage of the game here.
savannah Is Favored.
To lay down in favor of any team
would be to do an injustice to these
gentlemen who have tried to win,
and who have succeeded in keeping
up an interest in the game. These
directors want to see clean finish
OF a most interesting season, and they
VIII have IT If they have to fire every
man off the team, which is not at
al probable. And in this connection
II IS well to state that the people
OF Jacksonville are with them, and
. that they will resent any effort to
play unfair.
1t is now the general opinion and
the intense feeling of the Jacksonville
fans that II Savannah merits the
pennant she ought 10 have It, Jack
sonVille is too much of a sporting
town to wish anything different.
AS to the president of the league
occupying the position Of president
ana manager OF a team in the same
league this is manifestly unfair, but
II was condition forced on the new
league at the start. Mr. Boyer has
had opportunities TO withdraw, but
mas not done so. But that is not the
fauit Of the league. Had he not TAX
en- the savannah franchise Savannah
would not have been I'm the game. and
savannah has been payer Of ex-
penses 10 remar kable degree. on
me other hand. Macon has been a
poor patron. The sports OF Jackson
vile ought 10 hail with delf0ht the