The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-03
ny Gus MAI.DERT

10 the effect that the Virginia League
siiS year would contain Just exactly
SIS clubs. anu that the six clubs would
represent the six cities which composed
Inc league at the close of last season
names OF these cities. but remember
thnt portsmouth was not one of them.
men my original conclusion WAS
'eachcd il was reached not on surmiso
or conjecture, but on little whispcrinss
which had come to me from time o
, umc from the men on the inside. Now
mere Is little more Information on
folk will be offered $4,000 for the fran
chise FOR that city in the Virginia
Leasue. Notice that this statement is
HoI Iuaii'tcd. 1t merely says that Nor
iolK VIII be offered that sum. And
nniess the present owners Of the fran
chisc go back on what they said at
ne meeting they will sell. Pat Barry.
aiumnus of Georgetown University,
VIII be the president of the new or
Sanlzation in Norfolk.
Six Teams Without Portsmouth.
Now let's so little bit further.
should the new interests purchase the
pail club in Norfolk there Will he no
night between Lynchburg and Ports.
MOUTH for franchise. l Portsmouth
VIII not be considered, unless by some
chance Lynchburg has a franchise for
IN me league may want 10 sell OUT
certain 1t is that no team will be
iorSed out just to lot Portsmouth in.
The men who contemplate buying
the Norfolk franchise will buy it as
much as an investment for the Years TO
CONS nnnm, as ,,,, they will for immediate
that all of this talk about Portsmouth
being absolutely essential for the life
or the League is rot. pure and simple.
G Mo uG own there and talk to the neople
YOU frankly that neither town draws
10 the other twenty. people al any
game. As y matter of fact the Norfolk
tans are afraid to so over 10 Ports
mouth, while Very few Portsmouth
fans care to go 10 Norfolk to see
game.
Norfolk's Grievance ~ Schedule.
| wasn't sent 10 Norfolk to keep my
eyes and ears closed, and, believe me-
did nothing of tho kind. talked TO
al manner OF people. from the fan
who goes TO see the game ana pays
the price, to the men who have finan-
cial interests in the game listened
TO the tales of all sides and then drew
conclusions. One OF these conclusions
is that a town which doesn't think
wei enough of LEAGUE to buy a fran
league very badly and isn't so all
freely anxious for baseball
!. when Mr. Consolvo and Mr.. Gordon
and pointed out that in the matter OF
schedule they had not been treated
justin. no ono. with any reason in his
system could have differed from them
When they spoke of Norfolk being use
less without Portsmouth, there was
room for argument When il was point
park in big league style. with uni
formed ushcrs, and other supcrnuincr-
aries too numerous TO mention, they
admitted that it might have been poor
business judgment in the eyes of some,
hut that they thought 1t right When
they declared that the league had been
conducted for the benefit of one town
and one mnn--W. b. Bradley-they
simply stated their opinion. They arc
not open TO criticism, for they told
! their own story in their own way, and
ha ~ fnlH 1aor
their side Of the fence.
Should Tail WaE Dog.
But Norfolk is only one-siNth of the
league Just as II is manifestly wrong
for the league masnates to take adj
vantage OF the Norfolk owners. Just so
wrongful would ii be 10 burden the
purely for the benefit OF Norfolk. Tho
men who own the Norfolk franchise
nave undoubtedly lost money. Whether
their losses can he attributed to poor
business Judgment or to conditions Will
never be decided. for opinions will diff
Ter; Norfolk has beautiful ball park.
absolutely the only thing which the
men down there have got. except n
franchise which would lie forfeited
should they persist in the demands
made up TO now, and would not he
represented in the league next season.
But everybody is anxious to give
them 2 chance to get their money
back. If possible, should the demands
made not be too great and not place
the rest Of the cities at a disadvantages
BY far the happiest solution would he
the purchase Of the franchise from tho
present owners. This would remove
these men from the game and would
do much 80 placatc the fifty preferred
stockholders who got nothing for their
holdings when tho club went into the
hands OF acrecciver. and who, perhaps.
naturally feel somewhat angered at
the present ownership.
LcnIuc Not Pledged.
h.a Of
Norfolk practically pledged the league
10 the eight club circuit. Owner
Bradley so regards 1t. but unfortunate
ly lie and President Williams fail to
agree on this point. AS a matter OF
fact, President Williams has no vote,
and he has stated since the meeting.
in a long distance telephone converse
tion, with the Iynchburg News. that
he did not pledge the Roanoke club.
nor could he have done so. as he had
interest In tho club.
| was also informed by Owner Brad
ley yesterday that Norfolk did not
agree to come to the meeting here,
provided II is called. and leave the
question of an eight club league to the
willing, according to Mr. Bradley, TO
leave the question of guarantee and
schedule to the meeting, hut would
only be a part of the meeting under
cult was adopted. Now | can't for tho
life of me see how any such agree
Inent conld nave been reached. and
what gathered in my talks with the
men interested was that Norfolk would
come here and leave everything to a
majority vote OF the league. How in
he name OF common sense could two
clubs. 'vith The presidents; 8. tho league,
determine what siX-club league
would do on any given question?
That's what | can't understand.
Williams Must Have Guarantee.
But before forget. ReSardess OF
what others writer's may say or what
other people may say. c. r. Williams
president of the Virginia League,
known among his intimates as Bob.
made the unqualified statement to me.
and reiterated that statement to sew
cral papers throughout the State. that
he would absolutely not cali q meet
ing of the league until he had I'm hand
positive guarantee from ut least i've
responsible business mon In the cities
Of Newport News. and Portsmouth. to-
S.ether with applications from these
cities for franchises in the league.
Ills stand in this regard. is. in my
humble opinion, founded on sound