Evening journal., 1913-12-18

AGAIN FOR
SIX CLUBS
Tri-State President Sees No
Advantage in Expanding
to Eight
CLOSE RACE NECESSARY
IF LEAGUE IS TO STAND

ALTOONA, Dec. lS.-Whilo none Of
the club owners of the Tri-state
League has expressed dissatisfaction
TO him over the present six-club cir
cult, President Charles f. Carpenter
has given out the following interview
for the benefit of those who seem to
believe eight clubs would prove a
"cure-all.'
Concerning the agitation to i'm
crease the membership Of the Tri-
State League to eight clubs my opin-
ion the past eight years is unchanged
after close observance of the condi-
tions surrounding a minor league cir
cult of this class.
Il have always believed six clubs
the ideal arrangement in class B and
lower circuit and the belief. based
on experience. is advanced for the
/ following reasons
six clubs in this locality admit
/ Of compact territory. and eight de-
sirable cities that would finish the
season are not available without a
substantial increase in operating ex-
penses.
Under our four months schedule
each club visits the others at timely
intervals. but eight clubs mean q two
days series once a month. and if rain
interfcres that attraction which may
be particularly desirable one is not
seen for two months. when its posi-
ton In the race may change to make
il more or less undesirable.
THE best argument in favor of six
clubs Is that experience has conclu- !
sively shown that only two or three /
clubs do satisfactory business which !
means with eight clubs you have five
or six dead ones whereas six clubs /
reduce this unhappy condition TO |
three In other words you have few |
er tail-enders to contend with. which
may not sound logical but. neverthe-
less. is n fact.
The 1919 season was not fair
test OF a six-club possibly owing to
the Atlantic City club being on tho
road the first two months where II
naturally acquired a tail-end legacy
Then home the last two trying To at
tract attendance with this handicap
which not only resulted i'm very moor
business for its opponents but itself
i have yet TO learn of one convincing
argument favoring eight clubs where a
TOUR months schedule and no Sund1v
games obtain. A long schedule which ad
mits three days series along with sum.
day games enables the patrons in the
Nahlous cities to become acquainted with
the different clubs, but without that
theN are strangers. and rivalry is com
pletclv eliminated.
Rivalry N'ing r paramount necessity
TO draw the crowds ] do not understand
why It is disrogardcd by advancing an
arrangement that lessons the chance.
Tor th feature to prevail
The club owners Of course. have the
'ision' in ihcir nds as 10 whether
the league shall be comprised of six.
eight or dozen clubs. hut any number
they decide upon will not necessarily be
the remedy Of any unsatisfactory condi-
tions that have confronted them in the
past.
"A close race is always the rcatcst
factor necessary for pleasant ana
profitable season. but IL seems that rea-
son Is advanced for failure except this
vital one. hence the vain search for rem.
edies that cannot reach the trouble.
Success in baseball depends upon the
closeness of the race for the pennant.
and this is as likely To prevail with
six clubs as eight
Barring the possibility of providing
new hcrths for players or managers
who may seek change from their pres
ent surroundings. see nothing Of
merit IN the advocacy of expanding