The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-20
SYNDICATE BUBBIF
HAS NOW EXPLODED
Norfolk Franchise Is Incorporated and Stock Has
Been Bought by Norfolk People Growers
Should Lie LoW-Town Will Have
Good Baseball

little while for people to wise-up to
this kind OF sport. In the first Mace
he always furnishes the rope and lies
the knot in the moose ia hang him
self
Franchises Owned by Locnl CapItnI.
AS matter OF fact, the Virginia
League Is one OF tbs very few leagues
in the country in which the several
franchises are owned largely by In
diTidual capital Tic reason for This
- not hard to explain. In Virginia
the people. or at least the great ma
5orit? or them. have faith in base
ball and are willing to invest in base
bali property: Baseball is old In Vir-
I'm gnh,a: ana Nirginia was one OF tho
hrat states in The country to have or
Sani"cd baseball. Therefore, the pco-
PIE ENC" the game. from bottom to top
ahd ii"ni tor to bottom.
oht IN the states where baseball f.,
compare 'vely new--tiat Is. organized
basehall--ine Inhabitants know little
OF the game from a business stand
p1lnL TheN go 10 see the games
alright. but when 1t came right down
10 Investing money they turned their
backs. Then some outsiders stepped
III. saw n good business opening, and
established ball club.
The hcme crowd. seeing these ont
sidcrs making money out OF some
thing they had turned down got sore
and jealous and wanted finger in the
pic themselves. The old owners. need
ing the support of the public, conceded
slice OF stock, buying more in some
OTHER club Frequently some Of the
clubs didn't pay and then the out
slccrs had TO step in. put up more
cash, and buy back the stock sold
That's where the cry of syndicate ball
first originated.
Cry Comes From Norfolk
Down in Norfolk there was n hitch
NO need 10 rehearsc ancient history
Every fan In the State knows exactly
what condition existed down there
Wiiiiams went to the town and tried
to make: things peaceable and couldn't
The next best thing WAS to buy tho
franchise. ffe did. lie did Just exact.
~ what was done in the case of st
Only he did 1t in nicer way. Tn
with The big fellows the men who held
me franchises were simply told that
t aney must DO certain things or get out.
iheY refused. and arrangements were
made without consulting them to sell
the franchises 10 agreeable interests
But Williams treated with the men
who owned the Norfolk franchise
paid them their price and has. on the
surface, at any rate, their good will
And now because of what he has dono
comes the bleating cry of Syndicate"
For the benefit OF those who are
making tho wall. 1t might be well to
state that the Norfolk baseball fran
chise has been incorporated; that stock
in the corporation is for sale, and that
some good. live. really earnest people
in Norfolk are owners OF some of the
stock. aud that the organization Will
be officercd by Norfolk people. So the
syndicate" bubble has burst.
Now, then. the thing to do is to get
the pest possible ball club for Norfolk
Stop the incoherent and nonsensicai
mutterings and pull for team. Every
body who doesn't do that is going to be
left out in the cold when the season
starts
Schedule Should he Arranged
With Portsmouth eliminated. 1t should
he an easy matter to get up schedule
for next season. Much of the trouble
during the past has arisen because of
the necessity OF separating Norfolk and
Portsmouth. II was impossible to
have games in Norfolk and Portsmouth
Mt the same time. yet It was essential to
give Norfolk n number of games with
Portsmouth. Naturally IT caused the
schedule makers some little worry to
work out the puzzle.
Next season this will be eliminated.
Yet the question should be taken ~
AT the earliest possible moment. There
are going to be wrangles when the
league meets If II isn't ] am anx-
ously waiting 20 hear from some of
my friends for suggestions.