The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25
NORFOLK MUST
SEE I He LIGHT
Beer Purse and Wine
A ppetite Responsible
forTrouble inTarville
CLARKE SPENT
MONEY LIKESAILOR
Players Received Big Salaries
With Liberal Contracts, Which
Proved Financial Undoing of
Crew of Mary Jane-other
Managers Wondered
H. How 1t Was Done.
ny GUS MALnERr.

So much has been written and so
much has been said relative to the
conduct of the Virginia League last
reason that the poor, burden-laden fan
must feel that he IS receiving a load
which, under the ordinary run of af-
fairs. would not only prove entirely
too exacting. but gratuitous Offering.
which carries with ii n demonstration
of Interest wholly out OF proportion to
the needs or the demands of the sit
uation.
In large measure the fan is abso-
lutely correct, Publicity is great
thing. It stimulates interest, and keeps
alive. even in the winter, q regard
for tho national pastime, which, under
less favored conditions, would languisi
and. mayhap, die. But along with
these meritorious accomplishments OF
publicity, there liz a secondary effect.
The fan gets 10 know things which
might as well he left unsaid How
the league Is run Is OF little interest
to the fan What he wants is good
baseball club. winning team. or, at
least, team which can hold It's own
with tho other teams in the league.
Some classification for Talk.
AS Justification for the recent pub
Lefty one has but to point 70 the ac-
ton OF the owners OF the Norfolk
has anything arisen which can be CONF
pared with the situation now existing
in the Virginia League. All OF the
owners are perfectly satisfied with ex-
listing conditions except the Norfolk
people. They have come forth With a
series OF complaints because the league
is not properly constructed from a
geographical standpoint. and that the
vast distances between the several
cities composing the league is respon-
sible for the losses OF the seaside
town.
Not single line which will appear
In this story is claimed to be new. On
many occasions have written the
same thing. But what ] am now at
tempting TO do is to, place before you
some real facts concerning the conduct
OF the Norfolk team last year. which
you might not know and. which VIII
straighten out what must appear as
tangled skein. Norfolk is entitled to
no consideration from the league mag
mates. or rather. the present owners
of the franchise are entitled to no con-
sideration. That's the fair way to put
1t.
Where the Leak Really Is.
II Mr.. Consolvo and Mr.. Omohundro
and Mr.. Hecht and the several other
men who have interest in the Norfolk
team Viii be perfectly fair with the
people of the State of Virginia they,
viii tell why the Norfolk team did not
make money. The cry OF poverty is
absolutely absurd, 1t is question
whether any city in the United States
could have made money under the con-
ditions which prevailed In Norfolk last
year. When it comes to Offering SYM
patty am the most lavish fellow in
the world, 50 long as am convinced
that my sympathy is not misplaced
But when IT comes to Norfolk have
nothing but hard words.
In the first place, Vim Clarke, who
managed Norfolk last year. wanted to
win pennant That in Itself is all
right. But he didn't care how he won
the pennant, In some way he convinced
the owners that It was necessary to
get ball players costing moro money
than any city in the league could af-
ford Then he set about getting his
men, Contracts We're offered with a
non-reserve clause, and. in at least
three instances, the men We're guar
snteed their pay until January, 1911.
Spent Money Like Sailors.
When 1t became known in certain
quarters just what the members of the
Norfolk team received in the way of
compensation last, year hands went
Continued on Second Page.)