The Washington times., 1911-06-24

The day of reckoning for the wash
ington Ball Club is at hand.
Never before since the invasion Of the
American League a decade ago has the
situation been so acute. Changes are
demanded: action is imperative.
In the past, the patrons of baseball
in this city have simply been forced to
endure what has been offered in the way
of their favorite sport. but now some
thing must be done or the stockholders
will be confronted by a most serious f.
nanciaI crisis. In order to insure the pay
ment for the modern cement plant that
has arisen from the ashes of old National
park, bonds were issued, and to each
purchaser went guarantee OF a GER
tain earning. This profit must be real
lied, but even the most optimistic will
hardly contend that with the quality Of
ball playing being furnished, crowds can
be drawn large enough TO obtain the
necessary funds.
The throng that assembled the open
ing day was the largest that ever wit
largest by thousands. The outlook was
most promising and all was content
ment Once the club fell back into the
ruck, however, the reaction started, and
the closing days Of the last stay at
home saw some of the smallest attend
ances ever registered for major league
baseball in this or any other city. The
limited bleacher was usually well filled,
but stretches of empty seats in grand
stand and pavillons bore silent evidence
of the dissatisfaction of those who IN
past years hoped against hope, and pa
tronized what bordered on a rather med
iocre brand of minor league ball.
End Apparently Come.
But the end is apparently here. OF
course. a receivership is not likely, nor
is a forfeiture of the franchise at all
probable, but it is known that some Of
the most conservative of those who are
directing the destinies of the club real
lie that if the present season Is to end
revolutionary changes must
be made.
The whole hope is in a team, and the
present team is helpless. True an oc-
casional game may be won, but with
the half century mark passed in the
matter of contests played. and with one
third of the season matter OF history,
the Nationals are out OF last place only
because of the puerile weakness Of St.
Louis rather than because of any In
herent strength Of the representatives
of this city.
The team that is following McAleer
is outclassed, and around the circuit Is
rated as a jest OffensiYely and defens-
lively the Nationals are utterly without
the requisite strength except in few
individual cases. If these stars DO not
soon fall back in the rut, it will be be-
cause they possess, in superlatlVe de-
gree, the moral stamina to shine When
everything around them is going to
pieces.
We have heard every conceivable ex-
cuse offered, but results are now being
demanded, and they are not forthcom-
ing We have been told that air. tlgnt
pitching has been all that sas. has 2een %s'n
nished the offense has tottered or the
defense has crumbled.
When the pitchers have been good the
other eight have been bad.
We are informed of late that the
that no offer, financial or otherwlSe.
would get Street or Ainsmith out OF the
American League is convincing PROOF CT
the sophistry of such an argument.
Weakness Is General.
Taken as a whole. the outfield Is bad
the pitchers are worse, and at least one
position in the infield must be strength
ened before the Nationals can even
think of making a fair showing In tne
remaining games, without even consid-
ering regaining the ground lost by the
players upon whom McAleer depended,
and who have been found wanting IN
almost every particular.
One of the attempted explanations oil
the pitiable plight Of the club Is the the
fact that there are so many cast-ofts
from other clubs here. But, candidly,
where would the Nationals be were II
rot for Elberfeld, Mcbride, and Schae.
fer. three of the Oldest men in the point
of service in the lineup. Eloerfeio, IL