Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19
NATIONAL LEAGUE IS
IN. BAD WITH FANS|
Looks Like Old Times for the
Magnates to Quarrel
Over Petty Politics.

NEW 1Ohks december 1S.-TO the OLD"
time base ball dopesters who have been
chasing the National League magnates
around for the past twenty-five or thirty
years there is something natural about
the present National League meeting. It
reminded them OF the days when Spald-
ing of Chicago, Day Of New York. and
Soden OF Boston. and later. when Brush
Of New York. Hart Of Chicago and Byrne
OF Brooklyn. were the trinities that ran
the organization. The proceedings OF this
week recall many OF the long sessions
at the old Fifth Avenue Hotel, when the
correspondents were compelled to cool
their heels in the corridors from noon
until or 2 o'clock-and sometimes even
later-the next morning. The success of
the expansion movement of the Ameri-
can League did away with the factions
for a while. but for the last two or three
years there have been evidences Of a re-
turn to the old system Ever since A. G.
Mills, in 1884. resigned the presidency
of the National League because the board
of directors going over his head and act
ing contrary to his judgment. reinstated
Dunlap, Glasscock and Denny. the presi-
dent Of the National League has been
nothing but figurehead. If you except
that brief interval when Harry Pullman,
resenting the petty annoyances to which
he was subjected by the magnates, who
were opposed to him on the ground that
he was a creature of Dreyfuss, took the
bit between his teeth and became pres
ident OF force and backbone stand in
which he received the cordial indorse-
ment and support of press and public
y \ \
It seems no more possible for the Ma
tional League to change its methods than
it is for the leopard to change Its spots
The present unseemly wrangle is but
return to original principles. There is
not the slightest sporting reason why
John Heydler should not be honored with
at least one term of office. He Is thor
oughly conversant with the administra-
tive side of the job. which in itself should
commend him for the office; he is absO-
lutely fair and has inspired the confidence
Of all those with whom he has been
brought in official contact. There has not
been an objection brought against his
candidacy that has not been po dtical, but
his candidacy has been seized by the
rival faction as q proper vehicle to make
the supreme test OF power In justice to
ever, it must be said that the present
fight Is not of their seeking. 1t has been
forced upon them by Charles Murphy OF
Chicago. a natural born mischief maker,
whose capacity for trouble has been in
creased by the exceptional success of the
Chicago club. Unquestionably by reason
Of the part they played In the negotiation
which led to the framing OF the present
working of professional baseball has adj
vanced more in nine years than it did
in the preceding thirty, Messrs. Herr
mann and Dreyfuss attained promi-
nence not enjoyed by their associates
in the National League, many of whom
sulked In their tents ready to throw cold
water upon the projected peace arrange
ment il opportunity presented itself.
X X
Very properly Messrs. Hermann and
10
generally as being the mouthpieces of the
National League, just as President john
SON was in the american. Weight was
attached to their utterances and their
coming and their going were chronicled
in detail. Then followed the petty jeal-
ousy and narrow-minded charges that
they were dominating the National
League for their personal advantage,
charges, which, in themselves, would
have amounted to nothing but for the
fact that there are always some men
who want to string along in any move
ment looking to the dethronement OF
those who have done something. The OPP
position OF Mr.. Brush was always under
stood He was against the new move
ment and did not hesitate to declare him
self, and the opposition of Mr.. Murphy
was pretty well understood. Their diff
ferences. real or imaginary, were purely
personal But just where Charley Eb-
belts or Stanley Robson were justified
In kicking against conditions under which
the National League has achieved its
greatest success is not apparent.
Newspapermen familiar with the poll
tics Of the National League for the last
quarter century know that internal
squabbling and petty politics have weak
ened that organization to such an extent
that when the American League made
bid for patronage In the east the older
Organization had no chance to win in the
fight for public approval and support
To return to the old condition would be
the very refinement Of asininity and
confession that tho present mAgnates had
not learned the lesson for which some Of
them 80 dearly paid. .
Pop Arson, whose name was a house
hold word twenty-five years ago, was
nota able figure in the Waldorf corridors.
He was always the level. Had
he not been SO there might have been
large changes made in the base ball map
twenty years ago. There is no telling
what might have happened II Harry
Wright in the east and Adrian c. Arson
in the west had deserted the National
League and gone over to the Players
League movement. And what did their
loyalty get them-abSolutely nothing but
the worst Of 1t.