The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-03
OUTLAW CLUB FAILS
Union League Will Soon
Give Up Washington.
PLAYERS IN THE BOX OFFICE
Members of Team Divided Receipts
OF Yesterdays Game and Declare
They VIII Not Play Unless Allowed
TO Handle the Money-President
Lawson Blamed for Failure.

Heralded three months ago as a likely
rival to the Nationals, the Washington
club of the Union League has run it's
race.
Two OF the Washington players took
possession Of the box Office at Union
Park yesterday. and the receipts were
divided among the local players. who
claim that several weeks pay is over
due. This action was taken after a dele
cation OF the players had consulted the
officers OF the club and had been told
st there were no funds available for
salaries
On Decoration Day the Bandits played
before capacity crowds. but as there were
other obligations 10 be met, the players
did not receive the money. but it was
not decided until yesterday to seize the
box ONCE and share the money among
the members OF the club. II the teams
play to-day. the receipts viii be handled
in the same manner. as the players de-
clare that under no conditions will they
90 on the field unless they are allowed
to take all the money until their salaries
are paid In full
Frank shaughnessy, probably the most
valuable player on the club. announced
after the game yesterday that he is done
with the outlaws and viii leave for
Philadelphia on an early train this morn
ing to join the Athletics. having already
come TO terms with Connie Mack. Other
members OF the club are now dickering
rr-ftt
the majority of the players expect 10 be
placed before the end Of the week.
officers OF the club place the full blame
for the failure Of the different Union
League clubs on President Alfred w
Lawson. When Lawson first talked Of
coming here n number OF local men made
an effort 10 obtain control OF the stock
but this Lawson refused to rellnquish
with the result that instead Of being a
purely local organization. the control OF
the club rested In the hands OF A. W
Lawson personally Under the conditions
It was impossible TO dispose Of the nee
essary stock.
When the work at Union Park had beer
almost completed and the players had
been signed the Washington magnates
learned that not only did Lawson control
Washington. but that he had an interest
in nearly every club in the league in ad-
dition 20 owning outright Reading. the
best-paying proposition on the circuit.
Three other Clubs Fail.
Rainy weather broke up the schedule
shortly after the start OF the season, and
when Lawson was called upon TO heir
pay the debts of all OF the clubs he con
trolled his finances were soon exhausted
Then II was that Paterson, wilmington
and Baltimore went 10 the wall and AL
lentown was taken in TO save the league
The affairs Of the Philadelphia team
are said TO be in bad condition. and Il
would not be surprising to see that clut
give up the ghost before long.
President ". F. Hart. Secretary f. f
Helm, and others interested in the Wash
ington club did everything possible I,
make this end success but when (
was learned that Lawson PRACTICAL,
owned the whole circuit. they were a
such a disadvantage that all their plan
were completely upset
There are several paying towns in IN
Union League. and as there is consid
cradle money already invested It is prob
able that the Washington franchise vii
be transferred to some other city.
In the Union League Park at Fifteenth
and II streets northeast, the washington
club has a first-class ball field. but wha
will be done with the property remain
to be seen.