The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-29

peen enforced though certainly there
Is no one who will say that soma r,,t
the clubs did not spend more money
than the limit prescribed The trouble
heretofore has been that there was all
solutely na way Of fastening guilt on
the club breaking the law. But with
the affidavit in his possession, the man
IN authority can produce hiss Legal
document, go to Mr.. Clubowner, 81
Mr. Manager. after gathering Ills eyt.
dcnce and put the dots on him be-
cause no can't get behind his sworn
statement.
It has boon rumored that tier.
would be some objection to the nffi-
oavit plan. What objection can be
raised l cant see. If there is n salary
lmit and It was honestly adopted
and the men intend to honestly 1.-Two
within It. then where can the OBJ $
lection TO furnishing an affidavit
as an evidence that faith has not been
broken come in? Some say the SAL
airy limit Is too low. am again
compelled to remind these people OF
the statement made by very wise
man 10 the effect that the best Yay to
abolish a bad law is to enforce it.
II Sl,2oG Is not enough To pay for
players, then in the name OF con
science, at your league meeting. raise
the salary limit But even IL YOU
raise IT. so long as you determine up
on any limit ct all. lot there be tha
affidavit system OF checking matters. i
Inc league is In monstrous good
shape right now. The season looks
prosperous Everybody 's filed WITH
enthusiasm. The influx OF now blood
the introduction OF new faces. the
selection Of new managers ana the
settling Of all differences, lead ono td5
believe that 1911 will see new lifeH
IN tho game in Virginia All OF thfsi
being true, don't furnish the rock
against which you will smash your.
selves. and that's just what yo,,8
are going to do, Mr. Magnale unloss@
you curp the habit OF overstepping the
salary limit.
TheSpublic doesn't care ccntinentafa
about your salary limit. The public
wants baseball. good baseball It's true.
;1ut just baseball, nnd the salary limi,
Is nothing to the people What did
you adopt it for, then? Just TO fool
yourselves? II you didn't. then live
within 1t. ss
The same holds true about your nm, 81
pire staff II you must have urnpires.
have enough. Not even your hall clubs
draw moro money than your umpfras u
nor keep away more money than
these selfsame umpires. When I hear
the feeble bleating about not employ -
1nE four umpires in a sS-ciub league
IL pOSi soty uSPEeSStS MS. Nv
or any other man needs four umpires.
He is bound to have one In reserve orr
else revert to the system CT player
umpires, when man Is Sick n prac-f:
ticc which the public never likes, ana
which cheapcns the games. besides
putting the question Into the moutliS
OF the fan as to whether Il player can.
umpire without being prejudiced. sg
TO my mind every one must see the
sense Of having an extra umpire. And
II this is true, why not tho chlef Of
staff? He will be In position tc5
watch over the other men. will work
In every gan1e with every other man.
and his Judgment. coupled with theS
personal observations OF the PRESIDENT
who will also do Some travelling,
should get us almost a perfect umpire
system in Virginia.
By all means have the chicf OF staff.
hope Williams will stick 10 his origi-!a
nal Intention, both as to- salary limit
and as to his umpires. and I believe ~
vast majority Of the fans hope the
Same thing. .ss