The Topeka state journal., 1905-02-25
TO PAY HIS OWN FINE.
Pitcher Jack Taylor VIII Not Have It
Settled by Robson.

Cincinnati, Feb. 25.-Pitcher Jack
/ Taylor is quoted as saying in st. Louis
that he will not have to pay the fine
of $500 inflicted upon him by the di-
rectors of the National league. He de-
clares that Frank Robson will pay it
for him. Taylor claims that a cut Of
/ $500 in salary is all that he will have
to stand and that the owner of the
club will see that the fine is paid for
him.
Taylor either has gained courage
since he returned to the west from the
depressing atmosphere of Gotham, or
else he has some very unWise advisers
in the Mound City. Before he left
New York he said that he would pay
the fine into the league treasury as
soon as he got home. He has not yet
done SO, and there is no particular
hurry about the payment, for he
knows that he cannot play ball again
until it is paid, and it is therefore up
to him. AS to Mr.. Robison's paying
/ 1t for him it is safe that there is not
an iota of truth in the declaration.
4 The president Of the ST. Louis CLUB
was present at the Taylor hearing and
/ knows how lucky the player was to
/ get off with less than a, prolonged sus-
! pension. He also heard TaylOrS own
confession under oath of actions which
would have justified his employer in
1 fining him half his years salary. Mr.
| Robson was surprised and hurt at the
realization of the way he and his club
/ had been treated by the pitcher and
/ his boon companion in the Pittsburg
debauch, Jack Beckley, the captain of
the team. He did everything to see
that the pitcher had a fair trial and
was given free opportunity to defend
+ himself. After the investigation Mr..
Robson stated frankly that, in his
/ opinion, Taylor had been treated not
only fairly but generously by the di-
| rectors.
although he was not proved guilty
| Of deliberate dishonesty" said Mr.
I poT1 Ia 10 G
i to his careless and loose actions at the
time in question was enough to have
condemned him to a heavier penalty
than that which he received"
Thinking thus there is no chance on
earth that Mr.. Robson will eliminate
the penalty for the player by paying
his fine for him. Such an act would
| increase the tendency toward a lack of
discipline in his own club. which was
| largely responsible for its poor show
ing last season. It would also be a
direct slap at the league directors.
thing which Mr.. Robson would be the
| last man to give. Taylor will pay his
own fine. and his st. Louis friends
would do him the greatest favor in
their power by advising him not to be
| interviewed any more, but to attend
strictly to his own knitting.
Even the players who stand togeth-
er, as a rule, on the salary question
are not exhibiting much sympathy for
Jack Taylor in his complaint about the
cut in his salary. He received SO, 500
| last year. As he pitched about 36
ganes-very few more than that at
any rate-he received nearly 500 for
every game in which he worked. At
that figure his employer was certainly
entitled to the best services. Instead
of getting the best work out of the
pitcher for his money Mr.. Robson, on
more than one occasion, paid 500 for
the impaired energy and poor ability
of a man who was not keeping himself
in any kind of physical condition.
This season Taylor is to draw $4,000.
He wasn't worth that last year, to say
nothing Of 5000 more.