Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11
VIRGINIA LEAGUERS
MIDDLE Continues in the Old
Dominion Organization. :;
TO CLEAR UP THIS WEEK
Hold-0ut Teams Must Come in Soon
or They Will Be
Barred.
TO CLEAR UP THIS WEEK
Special Dispatch to The star.

Williams from the action of the national
board. in permitting the withdrawal OF
Lyrchburg. Richmond and Danville from
the Virginia League and giving, them
along, with Newport News protection
under the name Of the Virginia League
Association.
Secretary Farrell has issued q tele-
graphic letter TO the officers of the
teams in Roanoke. Norfolk and Peters
burg. the teams in the old league, Civ
ing them six days from Wednesday TO
make applica ton for a berth in the
new circuit. under penalty of losing
the protection they now enjoy as
separate clubs upon their failure To
do so.
From Roanoke come tidings that the
three clubs led by Mr.. Williams will
refuse to make the application suggest
ed, and this viii. it is believed, result
in those teams losing their protection.
and the final disruption OF the old league
Will then follow. That protection was
not taken from Petersburg, Roanoke and
Norfolk at the time the other teams
We're permitted to resign from the old
circuit. it is now evident, was the case
because the authorities did not want To
injure these teams in their rights under
reservations and new contracts for the
coming season. Now, If they do not
apply for membership in the new league
have forfeited all rights given to them
under the national agreement
Should the taree teams I'm the Old
league conclude that there is nothing
tation of Secretary Farrell. then an
other new complex situation Will arise
in the affairs of the national game in
the Old Dominion. Suppose, for in
stance. that all three teams apply for
membership, how can seven clubs be
taken care of?
Newport News is already just as much
"a part of the Virginia League -assoeia-
ton as is Richmond or Lynchburg. and
it would be hard matter TO get rid oi
that town now even II ii was desired 10
do SO. 1t must be admitted that NewpoEt
News Is a better base ball town than
Roanoke and it does look as though Roa-
noke will have to go unless the circuit IS
increa Sed to eight clubs by the admission
of Portsmouth.
AS the thing HOW looks there is nothing
for the old teams to do hut to ask. for
admission into the new circuit II they
want ball this year, and when these APP
plea tons are made il will be for the
new league to arrange its circuit. Just
how Newport News can be ousted in good
faith cannot be conceived now and this
win hardly he thought of. Lynchburg
and Danvilie are assured of berths, for
they constitute half of the circuit now
and neither Of them would hardly con-
sent to drop out in order to include the
Magic city. From this it will be seen
that about the only way RoaOnoke can
hope To have ball will be for the MAJ
mates to agree to, the enlargement OF
the league to eight franchises. 49,,
The report in many papers that Secre-
tary Farrch suggested the final elimina-
ton of Roanoke at the time OF the forma-
ton of the new circuit here is without
foundation. Nr. Farrell made no such
suggestion. as far as came out in the
conference, either 10y wire, letter or tele-
phone 1t was agreed, however. by the
members of the new league that Roanoke
was to be left ont Of the new Organiza-
tion. and this was provided for by, the
inclusion Of Newport News as one of the
four charter members of the new cir
cult. The belief may be expressed with
out overstepping the mark that the new
circuit will be made MP. OF Lynchburg.
Danville. Richmond. Norfolk, Newport
News and either Portsmouth or Peters
burg, if the league is composed Of six
teams. Should the magnates reient and
decide to permit Roanoke to have ball
then it seems an eight club league would
be necessary. 49,
Either OF these arrangements would
mean, of course the elimination of Pres
fdent Williams for j. Q. Playwright of
Danville is the head Of the new circuit.
and he will certainly stay there for this
year at least. Y
The meeting that was TO have been held
this week was not formally called, as il
was desired to hold off long enough to see
what the national Ncommission would Sio
with regard to TIM appeal which was
lodged with Chairman Hermann, In GIN
cinnat last MondaN by Mr.. Williams.
give the old clubs untA next week to APP
ply for membership in TIE new league will
also work to defer theNmeeting for ten
days, at least.
II has been maintained k- the promo; crs
of the new circuit that thA national corr
mission ainder the natiorAi agreement
has no jurisdiction in the haht because it
seems to be one purely Rr the Ea-
tional board. beirG an interrSl affair -;
the National Association Thin seems t"
be covered by the ma tiOnai agreement. biia
no one knows what the commissAp WouiI
do syhen the question of 1urisdNtion is
raised However, it would seem that
President Hermann would have " re-
verse himself should he vote for the k,ni-
mission to consider the appeal The Spl-
lowing letter to Col. j. A. Scott a n
rector of the local club. in reply to a lem
ter calling attention to the election or -
w Whitaker as president which WAS
protested by the Williams faction. seems
to show that Mr.. Hermann did not a.
that time think the commission had
right to review the matter:
Cincinnati. December 4. 1911.
Col. j. A. Scott. Lynchburg. Va.
Dear Sir: Replying TO Your letter OF
November - relative to the regularity OF
the Virginia Leagues election of a pres
ideut for 1872 beg to advise YOU that IL
il pureIv an affair os the National Asso-
citation. and would suggest'that you apply
to the national board for an adjustment
OF this complication until an am!cable aa-
justment is effected.
VERY respectfully.
tSigned) "ACG. HERRMANS,
Chairman "
Jack Grim of Cincinnati is in Newport
News arranging for the location or
grounds for the new club. and = siseady
after players for his team, a combr sat,'H
that would seein to assure the Shlppoi"-
ing city a play In the game regardless o.
the oufcorne of the fight.
! This latest move of Secretary tsrren
is taken by the fans to mean that nothing
will come out of the appeal TO the ma
tional commission, and that within an
other week the tangle VIII De straisht-
cned out and the circuit fixed. with all OF
the teams arranging to get themsclvea
together for the opening OF the season
April p
Although lie has not yet signed and the
outlook for ball next summer Is shady.
Manager Stocksdale, who VIII manage
the local team again IL there rs Dali. ma
been busy with his new material and Will
soon have a full quota. signed. One of
fhe surprises is the announcement tha~
pin Keister the old Baltimore .tpfielder,
has been signed 10 play second, where
his exuerience ought to be a great biz
helm to the Shoemakers. This leaves short
and second open for Zannelh OF Wash
inpton and Heating OF Philadelphia Ia
fiaht out with several youngsters. In the
points the team looks stronger than last
yea Two good cstchers are already
signed and another is being negotiated
for. Woolanis will have a man or two
,o keen from landing first. but Hooker