The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-10

However, SO far AS the present
owners are concerned. there will be no
chanSe, because, regardless OF what
Kind of baseball is dished out. the
owners are sure OF making u profit OF
from $4,000 to $4,000. without trou-
ble. without risk, and without exer.
ton. And the public pays for 1t ull
The time has come to call a halt
Ricnmond, the keystone of the Vir-
Sinia League, will absolutely Quilt UNI
less better baseball is served The
Virginia League Is about TO be dis
rupIed.
The unheard of tactics at the moet-
ing in Petersburg few days ago.
when G r. Williams was supposedly
ueposed from his office of president,
has divided the league into two
warning factions. Roanoke and Pc
terSburs and Norfolk are ut odds with
Richmond. Danville and Lynchburg
The roseate talk from Richmond, or
rather from certain sources in Rich
mond, that those teams not desiring
10 continue can drop out is rot. Why
nre not Roanoke. Norfolk and Peters
ourg Just as much entitled to tell
the other three 10 drop out as the
three in question are entitled to issue
the same ultimatum?
Virginia League Busted.
To-day there 10 no Virginia League.
WiiiiaHis ls stlll at the helm OF this
fragments. but these fragments are
going to be mighty hard to put to.
gether. The whole trouble is with
the baseball loving public, which re-
fuses to be muicted out of Its dollars
by any performances such as have
been witnessed in the past.
Peace, peace. when there Is no
peace" said the Prophet Jeremiah In
the good book That's what they are
crying in Richmond about the Vir-
sn no b, In tu
right say those who earn tho right
to say it, because their individual
prosperity depends upon maintaining
that position. The wish is father to
the hope. But there is no peace. There
is war and war to the death. The
public stands to one side and will be
in at the death. But there will be no
repinings. Instead, great will be the
joy.
W. b. Bradley says he Is willing to
Sell now at fair price. Thirty thou
sand dollars is the fair price he names.
But for what is the $4,000 asked? For
park on which lease does not
exist. and which is equipped with an
obsolete grandstand; bleachers which
have been condemned by the Building
Inspector. and u diamond on which
professionals should oe ashamed to
play. AS a matter of fact. the thing
for which the $4,000 will be paid, II il
is paid, is for protection from the Ma
tional Association OF Professional
baseball IlOOS Tor RlCnmOnQ. mats
all that w. b. Bradley has TO sell, plus
a few ball players.
Asset Goes Sailing.
With the demise OF the Virginia
League his asset ceases TO exist 1t i.
evident that the talk about bringing
in Portsmouth and Newport News and
suffolk is Joke. 1t is nearly an at.
front 10 the people OF Richmond. II we
were a joke with Roanoke and Dan.
Vile and Lynchourg in the league. va
Will be even greater joke with tho
cities suggested. The people will not
stand for IT. You can't get away from
the people. a ball park empty tell.
the story. That's Just what will hap.
pen should a flasco such as is sug-
gcSted by those admitted to the holy
OF holes be contaminated.
AS at present constituted the Vir-
ginia League is strongest. But even
at Its strongest II is weak for the
reason that the towns composing the
league are not able to pay Tor the kind
of baseball which should be played in
Richmond. The owner of the Rich
mond franchise doesn't care. Most GER
tainly not. Tor he must make money
willing to make an effort to get into
draw down his dividend at the
end of each playing season and
people TO furnish him the same divi-
oend another year.
The worm has turned. 1t has been
trod on SO many different times. from
so many different angles; has listened
to SO many apologies and TO so many
promises. that 1t has backed into
corner and refuses to move until II IL
shown. Doomsday has arrived for the
Virginia League.
Small Towns Need Richmond.
Naturally the smaller towns OF tho
league laugh and poohpooh the Idea
pany: They have been living on Rich.
mond for 10. these many years. and
they hate TO see the goose tina; Is
laying golden GEES depart They need
baseball appetites, but not having
grown to the proportions OF Richmond.
their appetites are >satiated by con
siderably different food than Rich
!nond is now demanding.
The almost ridiculous stand OF some
people locally regarding the advance
ment OF this town to faster company
in the baseball world can hardly be
These same people have been eter-
na!ly and everlast!ngly crying for the
names OF those VINO wanted to buy.
Now they have the name OF the man
never been much OF a secret Nor Is
II much OF secret 20 determine tho
men ne is representing. They are not
ashamed OF anything they arc doing
my dIt dNutI p!Oul lHey VIII
take charge OF the game end endeav-
or 10 give Richmond real baseball, SO
that the town can hold its head high
among other cities Of like population
when II comes 10 discussing the ma
tional game
Whether the Virginia League sur
v!ve or fan. as II seems IL must in
evitably do, Richmond Will get base
The calibre OF the men who are doing
this much for Richmond guarantees
tnat the game vii! be played. and that
II WIN be OF class with a city Of the
prominence Of Richmond. II there be
some who ostrich-lkc. burrow their
heads in the sand and fail to see that's
their fault. Richmond Is progressing.
and nowhere is this progress more
noticeable than along baseball lines.
a xHYInHA H1xH 1-n