The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-08

ShiHc 81 DdSh OH Wnat tnGy SalU ct tho
meeting they Will sell
Six Teams without I'ortsmionth.
Now let's go Il little bit further.
Should tho new interests purchase the
ball club In Norfolk there will be no
fight between LSnchburg and Ports
mouth for franchise. Portsmouth
Will not be considered. unless by some
chance Lynchburg has II franchise for
sale. or It may be that some other city
IN the league may want to sell out.
certain 1t is that no team Will be
forced out just to let Portsmouth In"
Virginia League Is o. X.
Tho Virginia League Will continue
during the coming season. 1t viii be
successful, and q better article oc
baseball will be presented than has
beer Witnessed In years 1t is not my
former owners OF the Norfolk fran
ctisc. They arc good men and true.
But they hao become so set In their
ways that 1t vas impossible to con
vince them that they were wrong in
any regard Under such conditions II
WAS impossible to accomplish anything.
Naturally / am glad that Williams
ID.
Icy. when shown the telegram from
Norfolk. was taken by surprise. lie
knew nothing OF the success Of Will
liams. But no was quick to grasp the
situation Il am truly glad. lie said
~ puts an end TO all of the trouble,
and now we can get together aud do
things. 1t simply means that tine Vir-
gtnie League Is in better shape tnan
ever before In its history. was
anStous to have Portsmouth IN The
league. but / guess We can get along
without that town"
sninc Old Clubs in League.
The report from Norfolk states that
tho purchase OF the Norfolk franchise
means the elimination of Portsmouth
and Newport news. OF course II does.
Newport News IS n poor BAH town.
Even tho people who live in Newport
News VIII tell you that. Portsmouth
may be good ball town, but there is
little reason to suppose tia; ii is
better town than other cities in the
lensnc. The circuit will be, az has
been told right along IN this column,
just what st was when. the season
closed last year. II was n good circuit
Then and IT Will he a good circuit III
The good year 1911
Williams deserves muci, credit FOR
the manner in which he has carried out
his plans. He has taken the Norfolk
iruHchisc IRON men who were antuE-
onistic to the views held by Il major
ity OF the members of the league He
has Strengthened out most knotty
problem and lie has brought about
peace where before there was no peace.
In other words he has placed the
league IN position where something
can actually he accomplished.
Frcm now on 1t Will be a case OF
producing good baseball for the fans.
The question OF what teams Will be in
the league and what teams Will no, is
sci nj rest IT may prove {; d!sappoint-
ment to some who have been engaging
In daily guessing contests as TO what
would be the hnnl outcome. but il will
prove relief TO many.
Eight Clubs Never Attractive
The eight-club proposition was never
attractive. Experience has proven that
such an organization In n State where
the number OF big towns is limited Is
disastrous. Even when those of us
who gave the question thought and
were willing 10 withdraw cur objec-
tions for the sake of baseball. stiil
knew down in our hearts that The
thing could not last. Tho money isn't
there. and without money you can't
run ball teams.
II seems likely that meeting OF tho
league VIII be called this week for the