Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-31
TOO HIGH
Deplorable Condition Said to
Prevail Among Virginia
State League Clubs.

Richmond special to the Wash
ington Post says: Every club in the
Virginia League is greatly exceeding
the salary limit, and unless some
thing is done the association is likely
to funk" said President Otto Wells.
of the Norfolk club. yesterday.
Richmond, Roanoke and Danvillc
have gone so far above the limit that
there's no use talking This thing
cannot keep up. If the limit is not
cut down, the Virginia League will go
the route of many that have gone be
FORE said Mr. Wells.
The fact that the South Carolina
League was about to disband was told
to MIR. Wells.
Another good league gone wrong
Too high limit. and then they ex-
ceeded the Limit to get players
The Lynchhnrg club is probably the
cheapest in the league. And it was
last year, despite the fact that Grim
won the pennant. The players were
paid fair salaries. but unlike Rich
mond and Roanoke, there was no
manager to be paid a lig salary. Jack
Grim does the managing himself.
Consequently. his salary list is small
Ter than other clubs. But Richmond
and Roanoke seem to have thrown
away the idea of keeping within the
salary limit. And Danville. too, seems
to have forgotten that the clubs are
supposed to spend but $1,000 n month
for players. including a manager
Wells Tries to Impress Magnates.
At the spring meeting President of
the League Jake Wells made n
speech, in which he impressed upon
the magnates the importance of keep
ing within the limit. or as near the
lin as possible. "Yon will break up
the league if you disregard the salary
limit
Richmond. Norfolk and Portsmouth
can stand for most any sort of limit,
but Roanoke. Danville and I.ynchburg
cannot afford to pay the big money
II is not fair for one club, just he
cause 1t draws better than another. -
pay all kinds of big money for play
ers.
But the fact that Richmond Roam
oke. and Danville have not been at
the top of late would make one think
that there is nothing in paying the
salaries.
However, You cannot get around the
fact that the highest salaried team is
the one that usually wins the pen
nant or course, last year was an ex-
ception. But club that pays the
most money usually gets the best
players. That's all there is to 1t.
And it's n cinch that this thing OF
going away past the limit will freak
up the league. II will not hurt Rich
mond. THIS is one of the hest base
ball towns outside of the big league.
But how about poor Lynchhurg? And
poor Danville? And several other
towns that cannot possibly pay the
salaries that the local club is paying,
and keep up.
Something has got to be done If
the clubs continue to pay the big
.;alaries. Richmond should get into n
faster league. If it Is the idea of the
local management to romain in the
Virginia League. then the limit should
be cut to suit other clubs. Just he
cause Richmond is the largest city in
the league and the hest ball town in
several leagues, is no reason why the
limit should lie entirely disrcgarded.
You have got to keep within the
limit to make the Virginia State
League success. Some new ac-
QUESTIONS to the Richmond team
have been very costly. But. of course,
all good fans are glad to see them
here. The Colts have strengthened
wonderfully since Reeves took charge
and every one Is glad of it.