The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-08
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50 that Underwater i-easuc is nothing
after all hut paper affair, designed,
invented and nurturcd FOR the sole
purpose Of forcing the Virginia
League To let in Portsmouth and New
port News. Most Of us "smcIlcd n
mouse when tho good gentlemen Of
Norfolk and vicinity first pcrpetrated
the joke but lew III us reaizcd that
tho iioatcrs Of tho tiny bubble were
inNcnting an .Archimedean method Of
hosting the Virginia League bodily
from its intrenchcd position. so tina,
tho two cities referred to could be
forced into any crcvicc which might
appear during the hosting period
II WAS a beautifully conceived piece
OF work. and deserves better fate tina II
1t Will receive. For hcing able to
politicatc even whore there is no poll
tics III stack Norfolk and Norfolk
county against the rest of the State
Of Virginia. They would turn IA III :
neral into a political meeting If the
propricties would permit and some
times they stop not even FOR the pro-
iprieties. So why should there be sur
rriscs when tile fertile minds OF tho
men WHO stood sponsor for the Tide
water League assumed that by adroit- !
~ foistinS the scheme on the people.
sentiment would be crcntcd agains,
INC Virginia League which could only
be allaycd by admitting Newport News
and Portsmouth,
itrlpcd by 1lnlcontcnts
What probably lent weight to dis
me OF reasoning was tho fact that a
few disgruntied purveyors OF puhliclly
willingly lent their aid because the
present arrangement Of tic Virginia
League. and the conduct Of its affairs
prevented the usual augmentation OF
tue cAchcquer which in previous years
had prevailed. II was great logic. such
logic as takes us back to the days OF
the master logicians, but unfortuna tc-
~. the several cogs designed for r;innins
the machinery OF the improvised league
lalled TO lit properly. and now, with
dissolution staring the makeshift IN
the face. comes the vague Yet posi-
Tive hint that all could be AMIGA b =
settled by admitting Newport News
ana Portsmouth within the councils
of tho Virginia League
am not qualited TO say what viii
be the action taken at the league
meeting. | do not know If the matter
VIII be introduced, but am tirmlv
OF the opinion that the Virginia Lea quo
would be furnishing the rope with
/, which TO hang itself should 1t allow
either Of the TWO cities 10 become :.
part or the league. Neither Newport
ball at this time. There may come
day Wien it Viii he advantageous
ana wise 10 take in these two elites.
but mat day is not now Facts arc
| cold things to deal with, but invcstiga-
ton has failed to show that either OF
the cities so an%ious to become a part
of the league would prove an asset.
Even though II be charged as hercss
to admit it, the Virginia League has
L,
time. II was battle for the very
| existence OF The league. With five
| losers last year. and with one team
actually quittins, the time had ar
! rived when tho Samo OF baseball in
! Virginia had to be regarded as a busi
ness proposition. to be run on bust
ness principles. giving fair value FOR
| the price charged. yet living within
| the Income of The league
! Lem Years Arrived
| The seven years OF plenty had gone
| by. and the owners OF franchises IN
| the league We're face to face vim
/ INC seven lean years. In the days OF
| prosperity there had developed on the
/ part OF the owners a spirit Of proni
! @acy. All Very Well in its way. but
| destined TO prove the undoing OF the
| league. Things had been going 50
! Smootnly. the quarters and dimes had
|
hat no one thought for a ininut, o,
he time When q satiated public wouIo
| nuit GONG 10 snc the games for !,
while.
Consequently, when lie league mot
last fall il faced Il depleted treasury
Everybody was crying to rctrench
\ ihc men present were in earnest. IN,
| first ana most important thing MAS
reduction of the salary limit ii was
/, icarly proved ihaf the mileage bupa
300 was phantasy; that the morey
| laid 10 the railroads was as nothin.
compared To tho reckless expenditure,
OF money for ball players Ports.
mouth applied TO the league for a fran
ehisc the thcn owners Of the Norfol,
club positively refused to conc intr
the league IL panvilie was n part o,
the organization, and would COZ sent tc
10 arrangement which did not includ.
Portsmouth in the league
That phase of the situation is OF foo
recent occurrence TO need recital hero
| ihen came tho sale Of tho norton,
FRANCHISE to Other people. and with thn
| saic resulted a solidiiication OF tho
league which had been Impossible ,llt
Ger INC previous arrangement. After
I the waters had been smoothcd and tho
sailing WAS good. the Underwater spec
tre was splN'nG by the malcontents
who WIZ, grew green With cnvy.at the pros
League Now thc cat is gu, Of In"
| haS. we know where VIC "a,c att
I We can see the M q n IN h,.hjp1 a :, II