The Bourbon news., 1913-04-11
Sporting Paper Sees a Profitable
Lesson

The ST. Louis Sporting News. of st.
-Lauis, Mo-, has the following edi-
torially of the expulsion OF the Blue
Grass League from organized base ball
which indicated there is a profitable
lesson to be found in the action of Sec
retary Farrell:
| Though we still hold to the opinion
that the Blue Grass League should
have been given an opportunity to re-
consider it's intentions. before an order
eXpelling it was issued based on charge
of violation of a rule. where there was
no violation, but only an announced
intention to violate,yet organized base
ball is to be congratulated On the out
come of the trouble. 1t is lust.as well
that the National Association and the
National Commission are not forced
to show down.
"The developments in the situations
of themselves argue in favor of more
consideration for the Blue Grass than
was given. Apparently there was an
element in that league that did not fa-
vor the stand taken by its leaders in
starting a suit to determine territorial
rights, and had the proper 0vertures
been made to this element it might
have refused to endorse the action of
the league officials. This is indicate
by the refusal of certain of the club
owners to favor a warlike attitude.
Instead they brought about dissolution
of the league and then two of the most
important clubs, Maysvile and Lex
ington, being free from alliance with
the disturbing element, MADE applica
tion for membership in the Ohio State
League, and being properly lUcated
geographically. were admitted, subject
to the approval of the Ma ional Asso-
citation.
"There is food for reflection on the
part of the National Association in the
circumstances which brought about
the ruction in the Blue Grass. Here
was a league that comprised five cities
well able to support minor base ball.
These five could not round out their
circuit because there was no sixth city
available outside the territorial limits
of another organization. By the addi-
tion of Covington a compact six club
circuit could De formed and COvingtOn
was desirous of entering in that cir
cult.
"But Covington, though in another
State, lies within the five mile radius
over which August Hermann is given
suzerainty under the rules of the Ma
tional Agreement. Mr.. Hermann
could view with complacency the in
sta!lation of an outlaw club in Coving-
ton. or even in Cincinnati. but he could
not show such:philanthropic disposition
to an embarrassed minor league 10 or
ganized base ball.
1.-The Blue Grass League took cog
nizance of the situation as it relates
to Jersey City. which, though within
the. five mile radius of New York City,
was expelled from territorial claims
by the major league clubs in the me-
tropolis. The Blue Grass is Ken
tucky organization and Covington is
Kentucky city. Kentuckians are some
times inclined to clannishness, and
Covlngton held out an opening and a
welcome to fellow Kentuckians. An
Outlander across the river in Ohio de-
nied Kentuckians their own-and there
was another Southern rebellion.
''Ghe outcome is that three Ken
lucky cities that can and would sup
port base ball are denied that privi
lege, while two cities which happen to
be so situated geographically that
they can join circuit in another state
are compelled to identify themselves
with a combination somewhat foreign
to them in order to get in the game.
Had the National Association, with
the counsel land cooperation of the
Commission. taken up the
matter of redistricting minor territory,
as was advocated two years ago and
again last year, this situation would
not exist. The minor league divisions
are made on hit or miss plan without
regard to convenience as to railway
connections or allowance stor natural
rivalry of cities. The 40-odd circuits
are the result of hap-hazard develop |
ment. The result is unnecessary ex-
penditure in the matter oflmileage and
uften lack of interest because of cities |
in league kbeing strangers toEeach
other. No greater constructive work |
could be done by the authorities of or
ganized base ball than that of read |
justing these anachronisms. But or.
ganized base ball .has been blind to
the condition. Instead. swhen there is
a revolt agaInst such unnatural condi- /
tions, it rushes iI to play the tyrant
asking the whyfor of the
grievance.
''There is lesson to be drawn from
the Blue Grass case, but we doubt if
the men who control the game are
broad enough to grasp 1T, that opinion
being based on past performance.
Loose Screws.
Very often a screw hole gets so