The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-29
ny GUS MALnERT.

I Trying by every possible means to
/ hold The United states League to-
Scther in order that tho Memorial
I Day receipts may be used to help
swell depleted treasures, owners and
inanagc OF the three or four clubs
still remaining are sending forth re-
ports of the most optimistic character
relative to the pcrmancncy OF the or
| ganization New York is gone. That
cannot be denied. but Chicago. Pitts
bursh and Reading say that they have
clubs ready. to play the games to-
| morrow.
E. C. Landgraf owner. of the local
| franchise. is still at sea so rar as 70
what he will do. He knows. and knew
Monday. that there was no hope for
the continuance of the organization.
He sat In the office of the sportins
| editor OF The Times Dispatch and dis
! cussed freely and at length the exact
status OF the league. Both he and
Hugh Mckinnon were firmly of the
opinion that the league was through.
Just as firmly these two magnates
| were of the opinion that very un-
wise step had been taken in allow
ing the league to stop operations be
fore what had been regarded as a
| most profitable holday-Dccoration
| Day.
Wanted to Play Holiday Games.
| II was the opinion VI tHSsf ~ "a "
motors that regardless OF conditions,
the league should have remained in
| tact until after the gate money had
| been received from the double header
| scheduled McKinnon left, supposedly
| for New York. but effort made TO
| reach him and John j. Ryan last night
| was without avail LandGraf not only
| admitted on Monday night mat inc
! league was no longer in existence but
actually sought the aid of the writer
in securing a position for him to take
| charge OF one OF the teams in tho Nir-
EinIa Lea guc.
Another suggestion which cmanatcd
Lfrom Landgraf was tina; new league
The organized 10 be known as the VIZ
| pinia carolina League with such towns
! as Suffolk, Richmond. Wilmington,
/ Raleigh and several other places form
| ing the circuit. Last night he apso-
lutely denied having furnished 10 mo
afternoon papers the information pun
lished yesterday. His denial was made
! in the presence of several people and
was sweeping. In other words, he tacit-
! ~ admitted that all the efforts put
! forth were for the purpose of continu-
| ing the organization until after Dec
| Grafton Day.
Landgraf said last night that IL he
had the money with which to pay the
| players he would quit then and there.
| He held in his hand telegram from
w Abbott Whitman. president of the
| league. which said that Chicago would
| play in Pittsburgh tomorrow, which
leaves Richmond in the cold. The pres
idcnt of the League frankly admitted
| in the telegram that he didn't know
! what to do about Richmond. but that
he would suggest Washington.
No Team IN Washington.
Washington has no ball club The
team which has been playing there
since George Brown uuit. has been
made mp OF some professional ball
players, but mostly OF amateurs around
! the city, who volunteered to help out,
so that the men who lived at a dis
tancc might get railroad fare back
home.
Landsraf has known for some time
that the league was in shaky con-
dltion. lie knows now and he knew
Monday that the league had dsin-
, tcgrated. His last words to the writer
on Monday night, when lie and Nc
Kinnon left, after discussing the situa-
tion pro and con for more than an
hour. were that exhibition games
would be played and the people of
Richmond appealed TO to help out a
man who had invested several thou
sand dollars in bali plant which
would become practically worthless
the moment the league disbanded. lie
also sought information as TO now
he could most prohtably dispose OF
his plant.
Hugh MeKinnon. manager of toe
Cincinnati club. left on the first train
after hearing tho unfortunate news.
He stated, or rather some one stated
for him, that he was going 10 New
York to see John j Ryan. the owner
of the club. RYAN has not been found,
neither has Nick innon. The Cincinnati
team is still here and efforts VIII be
Al l1A-
| holiday and probably for the Saturday
game.
Denies Reported Interview.
After agreeing to appeal TO the
sympathy and generosity of the people
of Richmond Landgraf is quoted as
saying that the death of the league as
reported in this paper was ''prema-
ture" He denies having made this
assertion stu it was so printed.
During the conversation With the writer,
when the evidence in tho nature o. dis
ntchcs laid before. Landgrar and McItin-
non were informed that the people OF Rich
mond would not be told. at least through
the columns of Tho Times Dispatch, that
the games which would be played were
League games when there was no league. II
was then that both McKinnon and Land
sraf agreed that exhibition games would
be played and tho proceeds used TO pay the
ball players.
There has never been question bu. that
the local club would be paid in full. There
has been serious question as to the other
Gibbs In tho circuit. The question OF bring
ing makeshlft team hero simply to get
money on Decoration Day did not appeal
to The Times Dispatch as fair to the people
OF Richmond. II looks as II Richmond was
to he given the raw end OF the deal, even
when II was purely question OF retrieving
losses already incurred.
May Hold League Meeting.
President Whitman was supposed TO have
come 10 Richmond last night lie failed
to arrive. Instead came the message above
referred to- It Is said that . meeting OF