The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-06
Pertinent Comment
BY GUS MALBERr

! some time. In fact several conferences
| looking to this end have been held. and
while for q time 1t looked as II Baker
would remain at his station, Cowau fin
ally won out. There is no question but
that Priest looks 100 per cent. better at
third than he did at second. while
| Charles Is improving rapidly and is
popular with the fans. Cowan wants
to win, and he believes that the start
made yesterday will put tho team
headed the right way. despite tho fact
that 1t was won In the mud.
| Ponder was absolutely inexcusable in
not calling the game yesterday at the
end OF Roanokes half OF the NTH
The rain was coming down entirely too
| hard to play ball, and tho diamond
was In no condition to play Tho
game was therefore q FARGO. and the
patrons did not see an exhibition worth
the prfce OF admission. Tho fact that
Fender refused to call the game leads
\ to the conclusion that he was willing
to do anything to see Richmond
| beaten. Had luck broken against the
Colts instead of with Them the UNI
pire's desire might have boon real
lied.
While tho locals hit tho ball to all
corners of tho lot. II counts little to
their credit, for both pitchers were
working under difficulties Hogue is a
better pitcher than Hall. but even ne
had mis- troubles on account OF the
wet condition OF the ball
Patrons are the lrst to be consider
I. ed and when the grounds are not in
/ condition for game rain checks
should be Issued. soggy. wet field
| lis no place for ball game. and in
addition. the health OF the men is
teopardized by requiring them to play
| In n downpour such as obtained yes
| terday.
There was small chance for any
body to distinguish himself Tho re-
mnrkable part OF It Ia that either
seam put up as good a game as was
witnessed. No matter what might
have happened the men would have
| been eXcusable.
| Titmsn suffered In his fielding aver
age. making two errors on one play
he let Dobson's hit get way from him
In the sixth. which was ono error. and
then had the misfortune to hit Wal
lace, who was crossing. with his throw,
which allowed Dobson to count maxi
Ing error number two.
| In tho fourth inning, the regularity
| with which hits and runs were COMING
! p!cion that Roanoke was not trying
| hard. Even II this were true, and
later Developments led to the opin-
Ion that 1t was not tho visitors would
have been excusah!e.
Glad to learn that somebody can
beat Bruckmiller. Danville walloped
him good and hard yesterday II the
Colts can only do the same thing next
time they go against him all past sins
Will be forgiven and forgotten.
Lynchburg the beginning OF the
week. and hard battles will be the
result. but with Hanks. Hoguc and
Nerbout going right, with Dutch Re-
velle to fall hack on in m emergency,
the big end should come to the locals
AS parting shot. Fender made few
friends By his action yesterday.
The baseball battle can now be
scented from afar. and not so far at
that. Deep down in the hearts of
some OF the magnates OF the Virginia
League there has been the hidden
hope that something would break in
league affairs during the season which
would react on Williams. the presi-
dent of the league Williams has not
been universally popular. He started
avowcd and outspoken infeeiing OF
some. and the less outspoken, but
equally potent dislike OF others Why
he was and Is unpopular in these
quarters is nroblematical 1t may be
because he rules with an iron hand
or It may be because he has been too
successful, or again II may be because
he has finally achieved his goal. What
ever the cause or causes. the condition
exists
At this moment. when the present
season lacks one month of compile
ton, the fight is on. Williams is slated
for the knife. and Billy Harmon. late
of the Tidewatcr, is tn. man selected
by the warning faction, as president
of the league. 1t is not within the
province OF this writer to espouse the
cause of any man. The selection of
a president of the Virginia League
is pre-eminently the business of the
| directors of the league. and they should
be qualified to select the man who
Will best conduct their affairs. But In
justice to Williams his stormy season
| would have come to any other man
occupying his position.
The virginia League was practically
remade for the season of 1911. The
salary limit was cut considerably from
what It had been in previous years. A
rigid enforcement OF the rule that each
club must live within the salary limit
was announced by the president. and
he likewise declared his intention of
inflicting penalties for any violation
of the rules. He made good his inten-
tions. as several owners and mana gers
know.
IT was something new to the league
which, under the Wells regime. had
been allowed to drift on aimlessly and
without any working head The presi-
dent was rarely on the ground. and
the matter of oversteppinS the salary
limit was either condoned or over
looked. In other words. the salary
limit was a convenient affair, made to
fit the needs of the occasion. If Rich
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