Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-19
BASE BALI.
LITTLE JOE QUITS
 THE TEAM COLD
0'Rourke Dissatisfied With His Salary Has Returned to His
 Home for Good.

are still coming in the Waterbury team. Joe O'Rourke, the little short stop who was something of a big smoke last year at Rockville, finally jumping into major league base bali only to come back to this city the .3rd of August, has quit the Durant brigade because of the salary ques- tion. Manager Durant wishes to have him play, for $250 month, while O'Rourke says he will not play for anything under $275. Joe has not been doing much since his re- turn to the fold.
 While with St Louis the player re- ceived $500 a month. O'Rourke claims that when Durant wanted him to come to Waterbury he offered him the same salary per month, namely, $500 per-. Durant admits that he offered this to the player. when he first tried to recover him this sea son, but O'Rourke would not agree to 1t, consequently the offer was off. We'll, at. any rate O'Rourke at length came back to the team and on Mon day received his first two weeks pay, an amount which would give him $250 month. The shortstop im- mediately broke out in war of re- bellion. Yesterday he did not play and Billy Campion, local amateur, covered the short field. ..G
 This, morning O'Rourke while talk ing on the subject was very bitter in denunciation of the treatment which he had received. He said:
 II have quit the Waterbury team, but l intend to play organized ball. Durant says that am suspended, but there is no suspension to it. I will leave for Philadelphia tomorrow and will know within a day or two where l stand. While was with St Louis Durant wrote me, offering me the same salary that I was receiving from the major league club, namely, $500 per month. At that time I was in Boston. | decided to come to Wa terbury at a salary equal to what my St Louis contract called for. But now Manager Durant wants me to work for $250 month. He says that he has letter, from Secretary Farrell of the national commission which states that he has not got to pay me major league salary. But l claim that can collect each month what my contract calls for. would consent to play for $275 a month, but Twill not stand for s250, so am through. am going to Philadel- phia to-day and I am confident that within few days I will be playing with some other team of organized ball"
 0'Rourke seemed to be very "sore" on the local manager. On the other hand Manager Durant thinks that O'Rourke is not earning even $250 a month. He states that he did offer to give 0'Rourke $500 a month be- fore Lauder joined the team. but the shortstop turned 1t down, not caring to come back to the bush league. He says that Joe has been discontented since he came back, has been playing poor ball and has not been of very much service to the team. According to him he is not compelled to pay him the salary he was receiving with St Louis and does not intend to do so. Moreover, he is of the impression that o'Rourke tried to sting him yes- terday by refusing to play when there was double header scheduled. He says the player has been suspend ed for this.
 Campion, who has been playing with amateur teams in the City league for several seasons. did well yesterday and is likely to be kept for the remainder of the season. Hatpin Harry o'Hagan may be fin the game to-day. =. -.-