The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-03

, the men from ncross the line
whose reputation Is at stake. especial
ly when their reputation is their stock
In tradS. are willing to let that reputa-
t!on suffer because of obstacles from
sources which should have supplied
every aid TO accomplish the purpose
desired.
Advised Against Sullivan.
But before Sullivan had been signed
and what follows Is the opinion or
men with years of experience in base
oall-the controlling interests IN the
Richmond baseball team We're told that
he was not the man for the place.
Jake Wells, himself an old ball play
er and manager with successful seasons
behind him. was one OF the men who
gave advice that Sullivan should not
be secured. Other names were pre-
sented. including that of Patsy Flaher-
~. pitcher of ability and man who
knows the game. but none Of these
names appealed Whether IL was
question OF dollars, is not definitely
known. but whatever the reason, Rich
mond's baseball loving public has been
made 20 pay the price
Though tho expression Is not elegant.
| nothing more forceful presents itself
than to say that the exhibitions Of
baseball Witnessed here in the sea-
son OF 1911 have been rotten" The
game has been played In a slipshod
| careless manner. the team having d
head in name only. and utter disre-
sard being shown tor even the basic
! principles OF ball playing Attempts
20 weld the team into q playing unit
| so as TO get the best possible results
have been futile. IL made. for the rea-
son given that there was, Is. nor has
been, no positive. DEFINITE, head.
Criticism seoRed At.
When weaknesses were pointed out
| they were either derided. or laughed at
or utterly disregarded. And Ions
suffering public was made to stand
! for II all, because that public wanted
baseball and 10 satisfy the want could
get It but from one source. Good
! natured criticism was regared as an
affront, until real interest in the vel
fare of the team was replaced BY a
phlegmatic determination TO hear II
| ill until the end came and from be-
| ing q sport. bringing out the sporting
| Instincts OF those attending. the game
| developed into farce. and audiences
gathered each day for fear that a days
absence would cause them TO miss some
of the farcical antics OF the men.
The individuals are not to be hlam-
ed Time and again has the statemen Mt
been made that individually Richmond
has good baseball nine as any in
| the State. Occasionally flashes of the
form OF which the team Ia capable
were witnessed. But the hashes were 80
| infrequent and OF such brief duration,
that they have been entirely forgotten
In the avalanche of awful performances
which have been presented.
League Suffers With nichnond
Richmond being the keystone Of the
Virginia League, when poor baseball
| caused a falling off OF the attendance
here. the rest OF the league suffered
| From reliable sources 1t is learned
that the irst year of tho second Ave.
year agreement Of the teams compos-
ing the Virginia League. has brought
forth en- attendance which will just
| compare with the minimum attendance
of any previous year.
With the exception OF Richmond, not
a single team In the league has made
| money. and. without having know
ledge of any figures, the statement ia
| offered that Richmond will not have
a. great deal of trouble counting the
| dollars earned:
The one thing which has enabled
the league to weather the storm is
the reduced salary limit Petersburg
uiSDt ndVe IIl1uo money. out tndt the
corporation running the team spent the
earnings in securing ball players to
win a pennant. Decreased expenditures
have aided materially, but the Gues-
| ton arises, how long will the people
be satisfied for baseball to be played
as 1t was played in Richmond and In
one or two other cities of the league
In 1911?
Williams Has Stormy Time.
c. r. Williams, elected president oil
the league In 1910, has been unfor-
tunate in more respects than one
Whether true or not, he has been made
TO feel that some Interests in the lea
quo were antagonistic to him. He was
elected for only one wear, and the eyes
OF every person interested in baseball
in Virginia were turned upon him tC
find out II he would make good. His
umpires were bad That was his frst
difficulty. With the indicator handlers
doing all they could to make a Joke
of his administration. he was up agains
1t good and plenty.
Next came the fact that he was
the nrst active president the Virginia
League ever had. Jake Welle was al
ways ready to act when anything &C.
ways present to take the initiative
continually, as every manager in the
iron hand, but on the whole has done
well. He has beon fearless. has render
ed his opinions as he saw things. anc
has made every team live up to both
the spirit OF the letter OF the law
! Ry doIrp THE "a has peinAH ha to,,,