The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-09

headquarters was one asserting that
the Montreal franchise in the East
ern League would be transferred to
Richmond.
Well, WE'LL chortled Colonel Bus
ter Brown, here we are again. Now
] know the regular season ID over,
Tor here comes our dear. old. famil-
lar friend telling us that Richmond
- going to get that Montreal fran
chise.
It's fully ten years since saw il
hrst, and 1t Is now 80 familiar that
greet 1t as oae does u long-lost
xrten0. Whenov-f our leading hu-
morists are at a less for something
TO write about they proceed to tell
Us that Richmond In going to get the
Montreal franchise In the Eastern
League.
"Sometipes they tell us this old
joke IN 20 serious n fashion we al
most are led to believe them. Ne
say 70 ourselves that perhaps after
all there may be something in the
story. and We get Ausy over the tele-
phone and bother Willie Bradley. ask
ing him II It 10 really true. this trip
Willie. with his customary good
humor. tells us that II may De true.
but he knows nothing at all about It.
Then he adds playfully that he would
ike Tor someone to come along and
offer him $4,000 In real money Tor
his franchise and he wouldn't care
who played ball on his lot.
Wonder About Next Year.
II he doesn't say $4,000. he says
$4,000. or some other frivolous SUN
just nice little amount tina. q
fcAt fan may spend in night around
Richmond. Then We all chear up or
the contrary. or both. and proceed to
Wonder what sort OF team we are
going to have here ncxt year, and
whether Steve Griffin 10 going To give
Us better one than ~'e had last
year and the year before, and may
DO some other years that arc grown
ola. gray-headed. hoary and some
what intirm.
always like to see mat good old
bulletin come around. Il in re-
minder that winter In on the way and
summer II on the wing. and the
shinroast league IL In session and ali
the good old mush will come OK the
8rtddle piping hot. II n rca.iy good
20 hear II once again"
Tho views OF Colonel Brown are
the views OF all the fans who know
anything about baseball. especially
local baseball conditions A. has
been pointed out frequently. the vir-
einia League has to be consulted be-
fore the Richmond franchise can he
transferred to the Eastern League.
The owners of the Richmond base
ball club franchise also have 10 be
consulted. and all capitalists. epue
ciAiiy mysterious unidentified capital.
lists, must first do business with W.
h, Bradley, president OF the Rich
mond club, before they can talk Of
putting 4 baseball team in Richmond
20 play professional bali
Richmond IN In territory protect
ed under the national agreement, and
there isn't a chance for local ca pital-
lists or outside capitalists to get q
baseball franchise In Richmond while
w. b. Bradley owns one.
bradley VIII Sell.
Mr.. Bradley IL perfectly willing TO
eel out II he can get the price. Even
then the person or persons who buy
the franchise will have only . vjr-
Etnia League franchise and the con-
sent OF the league will have to be
obtained before Richmond can be
taken into another circuit. OF course
this might be arranged, but not this
year. The Virginia League may re-
arrange its circuit. but 1t will not drop
Richmond. for the capital city IL the
backbone OF the league
To be sure. at times IL would ap-
pear as II Richmond was Of small
Importance In the Virginia League.
Instead Of receiving consideration
from the other clubs every one OF
them will unite to take fall out OF
the Richmond club. They may have
individual grievances. but when It
comes to question Of Richmond they
hFAMAnf I'm n solid front
IL Richmond was the only club
with . grievance against Robert G.
that gentleman would still
b. the recognized head of the Viz
Einia League. II Ia because Mr.. VIII
ginia League. 1t Is because Mr.. VIII
but Lynchburg and Daaville as well.
that he failai to he Reelected presi-
dnet of the league.
MIR, Williams had no easy path
ahead OF him when he .ook up his
duties ~ president. He had the old
owners of the Norfolk club to contend
with. n we'll ~ opposition from the
tho fans In that vicinity opposed the
Virginia League ard were favorapIy
disposed toward the Tidswater cir
cult.
Mr.. Williams was abls to put =
strong club Into Norfolk club that
gave the fans such good baseball that
the sentiment Of the fans changed.
They deserted the Tidswater outfit TO
patroni1e the Virginia League club.
with the result that the Tidewater
League went under.
Opposition TO Williams
It has been pointed out that the
administration OF Mr.. williams wxs
very expensive, and that he travel
ed - much, IL not more. than ali
his umpires put together. according
70 the mileage account he reported.
However. ~ far a. can be learned,
the opposition to Mr.. Williams from
and Lynchburg was not on
financial grounds. but from his rul-
ings N president. From early In the
neason Mr.. Bradley. Of the Rich
snond club. contsnded that the lrosi.
dent Of the league Disseminated
Asainst the Richmond club, and
forced hn6s upon the Richmond club
players that were not only uncAlled
Tor. but unjust.
Later In the season Mr.. Williams
incurred tho dfspleasurs Of the Lynch
burg club. and It . no secret that
both the Richmond and Lynchburg
masnates were Of tho opinion thar
the president Of tho league had an
1nt1r16t m both th4 Roanoke and
Norfolk clubs and favored them a
the sxpsnss Of Richmond and Lyncn-
burg.
The opposition TO Mr.. Williams Ia
Dantllle u due to the report that
hA triad "a trannfAr thA frhnrhan> ~