Evening star., 1912-11-03
HAVE BIG PROBLEM
To Face When Virginia League
Clubs Meet.
CONSTITUTION BIG FACTOR
Looks as Though Lynchburg Is Still
5, Member of the League.
Other Gossip.
CONSTITUTION BIG FACTOR
Special Dispatch TO The Star

Special Dispatch TO The Star
| RICHMOND Va, November 2.-When
| the magnates of the Virginia League as
semble around their board some time this
month for uheir annual meeting one of
the incest little problems may be dug up
for their consideration that base ball
powers have had to solve for a long time,
and it may be that a decision will not be
! reached by these directors that will be
final. The matter hinges around the
makeup of the Virginia League for 1913
and it is going to be one not easy Of solu-
| ton, especially if outside interests step
in and demand something at the hands of
the league.
To make long story short Last June
Danville fell down on the league, threw
ing the team on the organiZa ton, which
had to run it for a week or more so as
to keep the schedule going. Then there
was a meeting to cut the circuit to six
clubs. 1t was necessary to GUST one club
to make an even circuit. Lynchburg did
not show sufficient interest in the meet
ing to be represented and the Lynch
burg club, then hopelessly in the cellar,
although square wish the league finan-
cially. was dumped. This left Roanoke
the other western town. nearly 200 miles
from the nearest town on the circuit
Now, back to the constitution that was
adopted after the memorable fight in
Lynchburg, and see how the league was
constituted. Section ii says: The
league shall consist of eight (s) clubs,
viz: Richmond, Danville, Lynchburg
Roanoke, Norfolk and Petersburg, for a
period of five years ending with the an
nual meeting in 1916 and Newport News
and Portsmouth for period of one a
year, ending at the annual meeting in
November, 1917. as per mutual agree
mena and contract to be entered into be-
| tween this league and Newport News and
Portsmouth. all subject to the provisions
OF this constitution and said agreement"
BY defaultinS Danville, OF course, lost
Its franchise in the league, but such was
hot the case with Lynchburg for there
the franchise was taken away over a
protest, after which the Lynchburg as
ISOLATION, holding that its rights had been
taken away when one of the one-year
teams Should have been let out refused
to pay the salaries which came due the
day the franchise in Lynchburg was de-
clared imperative. These salaries, are
still unpaid. the Lynchburg people claim
ing the league should have been more
liable for them than it was for the de-
funct Danville teams debts. which were
paid by the league. They. of course con-
stitute a lien on the Lynchburg territory,
unless it shall be held in the future that
the league should have paid the bills,
which amount to about $3.50.
Now comes the claim that Lynchburg
Is still technically member of the Vir-
ginia League, and that the dumping Of
that team last June was only a tenn
President Boatwright raps the annual
meeting to order this month Portsmouth
and Newport News Immediately lose their
membership in the circuit. This il it be
q correct stand, would leave five clubs
In the circuit for 1913, and these would
then proceed to the selection of the sixth
to complete the circuit.
1t may be held that Lynchburg is not
a member of the league now, but there
is no way in the world for any one to
claim that Newport News and Ports
mouth will be bona f1de members when
the annual meeting shall have been call
ed to order.
1t would not be surprising to see that
Lynchburg association get together be-
fore the meeting is held and give its
proxy to j. j. Grim, who is seeking a
franchise for Lynchburg, and it is a
grave question when such a proxy should
be presented If Grim could be excluded
from the meeting.
The people Of Lynchburg will not raise
the question, but If there is the slightest
opening for Jack Grim to raise ii de-
pend on 1t that it will be raised with all
of the energy that one man can muster
The Virginia League has presented
some rather knotty and interesting sit
uations for base balloon in the past