The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-17

NORFOLK, VA, January IL
More than week has passed since
the Norfolk baseball franchise chang
ed hands and still the Norfolk fans
are in the dark as to the real own
ers. When the property was sold
by the old owners to parties repre-
scented by President Williams. of the
Virginia League, 1t was limited that
the purchasers were Roanoke people
and that the deal was contaminated
in the interest of Mr.. Williams. This
has never been denied and as the
names of the real purchasers nave
never been announced the BELIEF tnat
syndicate baseball is on tap for Crew
town in 1911 has gained ground and
will not down.
With such conditions existing here
the interest In the game Is at low
ebb. If there is any doubt that this
is the case one only has TO mingle
with the rooters to have that doubt
dispeiied. Wherever any mention is
made of the approaching season the
comment of nine out of every ten Is
that 1t makes no difference To them
whether Norfolk has a team or not.
And this is the sentiment of the
patrons of the game; the men who
cough up" their coin at the box
office every afternoon that the team
is at home. 1t comes from the heart.
The fans" here are not swallowing
the elimination of Portsmouth with
relish and the idea that the Nor
folk club Will he owned by Roanoke
interests Is just as distasteful to them.
Unless something Is done here and
done pretty soon the Norfolk PROPOSE
ton will be a dismal failure.
While every opportunity has been
given for those who are known In the
deal to make public the names of
the real owners, no announcement OF
that kind, or any other, as far as
that is concerned, has been made.
p. r. Howard, who with Woodward
Allen, figured in the deal from the
Norfolk end. when rhe property was
purchased from the old owners, said
a few days ago that he Gould not give
the names of the other people in
,terested in the Norfolk franchise.
That seems TO be the case all around.
and as long as so much secrecy IS
maintained so long are the Norfolk
patrons going TO view the transfer
with suspicion. They are saying now
that President Williams assumed the
attitude of telling them what they
wanted in baseball and that Mr.. Will
liams will find that he was mistaken
when the time comes for a show down.
That the sentiment among the
fans is not kindly towards the Viz
ginia League club is shown by the
attitude OF the dyed in the woods"
for an independent league to consist
of Norfolk. Portsmouth. Newport
News. Hampton, Phoebus and Suf~
folk. The Rioters Club" here has
begun the circulation OF petition
decrying the action of the league In
deciding against an eight-ciub organi-
Zation: thus cutting out Portsmouth
and the assurancme il given that the
independent league will he patrontzed
II organized. Steps in this direction
have already gone further than the
fans have any idea and it would not
be surprising to hear the announce
ment OF the formation of an indepen-
dent league at any day.
While Portsmouth sent in it's ap-
plication for berth In the league,
the purchase OF the Norfolk team by
what is believed 10 have been Roa-
noke people SO killed interest on that
side of the river that the fans" are
caring little about the turning down
OF the application. They say the
league directors will see the error of
their way before the season is over
and may call on Truckerstown before
July has passed
In the meantime they are talking
about independent baseball and will
have a team In the field IL Norfolk
does. The idea originated In Nor
folk and IL is more than likely that
Norfolk will~have a club In the inde-
pendent league.