Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-05

AS was predicted in these columns
three months ago, there will be no
outlaw league next season. The above
dispatch from San Francisco, detailing
the surrender of the California State
league and the entrance of the out
casts into the organized fold, vindi-
Gates the statements published in The
Herald and subsequently confirmed of
ficially that the outlaws have found
the game a losing one and decided to
capitulate and enter into organized
baseball with a class B league.
For several weeks the event of yes
terday was forecasted. Despite the
frequent statements of the leaders of
the outlaws, several of which were
printed in a local paper, that the
league would survive the financial re-
verses of the year and would be in
the field next season with a better
and stronger organization, the end Of
the outlaws was plainly in view of
those who have made a careful can
vass of the situation in Central Cali
fornia. The teams Of the State league
without exception have been losing
ventures all season. They have been
backed by the merchants of the va
rious towns, and only were able to
keep their heads above water until
the business men, tired of paying their
money to support the poor brand of
baseball delivered, closed up their
pockets and refused further donations.
Rowdyism broke out and ran rampant
through the league. Umpire batting
and umpire assaulting were added to
the troubles of the league, and finally
about six weeks ago, the best and
most long-headed of the players be-
gan to desert one by one, headed by
Danny Shay. and then the end ap-
preached.
6oIstering Ineffective
Even then President Frank Herman
came out with a bolstering statement
denying the condition of demoraliza-
tion that prevailed, and the northern
writer's raped hard at those southern
scribes who predicted the finish of the
league. Cleaner baseball was prom
ised, and the rowdy members were Sc
verely disciplined, only to result in
further outbreaks at Sacramento. The
daily schedule was cut to three days
a week and then a reorganization was
effected.
Overtures were soon made to the
Coast league officials looking to the
entrance of the outlaws into organized
baseball. The defiant attitude of last
year, when the State leaguers turned
down all the offers of the Coast league
magnates looking toward agreement
and reconciliation, was still main
tained, but this lasted only a few
weeks. When the State league mag
nates without support, with a year of
financial loss behind them, and their
teams badly demoralized, faced the
situation they wisely decided to come
into organized baseball.
Baseball War Ended
This means that the baseball war
extending over a period of several
years has ended so far as the Pacific
coast is concerned. 1t means that
next season the Coast league will have
AFFILIATED with it a sub-league, entire
ly Independent, but one which will be
useful in acting as a farm for the
Coast league players. Also the Coast
league will be a help to the new class
B league and will be back Of 1t both
financially and morally.
The action taken by Messrs Ewing
and Herman is victory for the Coast
league directors. 1t is a personal vic
tory for Henry Berry, president of the
Los Angeles club, who has been lead
ing the fight against the outlaws, and
T. is also a personal and gratifying
vindication of the stand of The Herald
on the matter.