The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-17

has been reserved for next season.
Connolly was let 60 yet he got =; lob
In the New England League and I'm
lsheu the season. being we'll liked
Leary was a failure. and, upon request 4
Bob Fender was brought back to UNI
pire, Richmond expressing tho opin.
ION that he was a mighty good man
Later. Richmond called Fender every
name that was printable and several
names which were not printable.
Supposing, however, that Williams
was an absolute failure as a selector
OF arbitrators. Ban Johnson said in
New York that he considered selecting
umpires the hardest job any man
ever had. and that h. believed a spc-
cial providence had been kind TO him
In helping him manage to get most of
his men satisfactory. Yet he has made
many mistakes. for instance selecting
Harry Collifower. man who can't
get job now umpiring with the
amateurs Of Washington. On the 9TH
er hand. such good men as Fred Yves
tertelt. now with the American League
ana Bill Byron. considered the best
man in the International League, have
been lat out by the Virginia League
henderson, fairly good umpire, AMI
certainly honest. is the one man who
hnished the season. and who will be
But this is not written as defense
OF Williams. The writer holds no
orief to declare the merits of the pres
ent executive. While he admires him
as man. he is willing to see his sue
cessor named. ii that successor has as
much ability. There never was n time
last season when the records OF Will
liams's office were not open to the
OF the teams twice during the season,
and hardly had the last game been
played before the official averages for
the season were on hand He was al
ways on the Job, and he favored no
club. Petersburg. fined but SIS less
on the season than Richmond. during
the earl" part of the playing year,
made eternal VOWS to oppose Williams.
w. Gordon McCabe, Jr.. got his man
on the telephone and asked for an en-
PLANTATION. Williams gave the expla-
nation. and the proof that it was sat
isfactory. Is the fact that Petersburg
is now his strongest supporter.
Richmond undoubtedly deserves con-
slderation at the hands Of tho Virginia
League, 1t Is the l'rgest city in the
! league and draws more people to the
games than any other two cities
Richmond also represents a greater
; investment than any other city on the
circuit But this fact must be remem-
bered. Richmonds assent is entirely
dependent upon the existence Of the
Virginia League. Should the league
cease TO exist the asset vanishes In
other words, the interests of Rich
mond and OF the other cities OF the
Virginia League are interdependent
value TO all. II Richmond Is drawing
big it increase the value of the fran
chises in the other cities. II the other
cities are drawing well Richmond's
value s q baseball centre also in
creases.
in a conversation with Cal Ewing,
owner of the San Francisco club. of
the Pacific Coast League. 1t was
brought out that he once owned the
Oakland club, OF the same league.
The team had been losing money. 1t
finally became the thorn In tho side of
the league Ewing accepted n propo-
sition from local purchasers, provided
the Oakland club could draw down 60
per cent of the receipts at the gate
and that the purchase price could be
paid from the earnings. He agreed.
The money was paid and Oakland last
year declared a substantial dividend
In stating why he was actuated to 10
into such an agreement he said: I'VE
not give 1t the big end of the gate?
In mat way we put It on a paying
basis. while the other clubs made more
than they ever made before 1t was
wise move, and holds true In any
league
In the Virginia League We have
two clubs. at least, unable to support
themselves. without the aid of the
other clubs. They are Danvillo and
Lynchburg. Why not give these two
clubs the big end Of the receipts and
break even. but earn a little money?
The clubs In these two towns are
| owned by the citizens, who support
them purely for the sake OF the sport
Richmond and Norfolk and Roanoke
would make more money. because they
would not be called upon to donate
so frequently, while at the end Of tho
year the sinking fund would be aug
mented appreciably. This seems the
explanation. Then there would not mo
SO much objection as to who headed
the league.
Primarily. it is a question of dollars
and cents. While every team desires
to make money. with the exception
Is r. 4. & b f. Il =. . I d. /. E. . T. .