The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-15

partisan Petersburger to take umbrage
at such remark. It IL the same
story all over the world. Even tre-
mendous New York with over 1000, 900
people to draw from turned out less
than 1000 people day to witness the
Yankees play when tho Yanks were In
the nut. Richmond draws more pco-
pie TO the park to see loser than Pc
tershurg, for the simple reason that
Richmond has more people to draw
from.
There Is not city in the world but
decreases I'm gate receipts when the
club is losing So why expect more OF
Petersburg. And then there is tho his
tory OF the past to support the con-
tention. Petersburg was In tho Vir-
ginia League once before. and as long
as Petersburg was winning. the club
was supported: when tho club started
to lose Petersburg dropped out OF tho
league, and had no baseball no pro-
fessional baseball fo- years. indeed,
not until three years ago. It was In
the last days OF the season of 1910 that
Petersburg took over the Portsmouth
franchise
What Is true OF Petersburg ia true
Of Norfolk. In addition. Norfolk has
many attractions and diversions not
afforded in the other cities In tho
spring md fall the races attract n
great many people who otherwise
would he In the ball park. The sea-
shore resorts during the heated sea-
son take hundreds out OF the city. And
there IL only a certain percentage OF
the population OF any city that will
and can patronize baseball under the
most favorable conditions. Richmond.
with no counter attractions and the
greatest population OF any city in the
league, stands the best chance OF draw
ing we'll under any conditions
People Here Apatheuc.
il is of small moment TO Richmond
whether tho ball club IS here week
ends or not. 1t may mean much to tho
owners. but to the people II means
little. Fully co per cent OF the fans
attending the games here go in n
Iethargtc mood, caring little whether
Richmond wins or loses. but present
largely because there is nothing else 70
do, and the covered stands furnish shell
ter from the sun. II they see n good
OF which way the tide OF victory turns
THAT'S another condition tho smaller
cities are unable to appreciate, but
It's very real condition.
SO that from the standpoint OF the
vast majority here. week end or mid
week games matter little. There are
thousands who attend tho park who
wouldn't caro- rap IL there never was
another ball Enmo played In the Vir-
gin!a League There are mn equal num-
Der who would be glad to SEQ tho
league quit.
1t is tho Virginia League that must
inevitably suffer. Any schedule which
seeks to give each city In tho league
the samo number of Saturdays at homo
is suro to increase the mileage ne
count appreciably. unless the magnntes
decide TO continue under tho abortive
schedule already adopted. which means
sure death to the organization. No use
trying to fool each other by the pooled
mlengo proposition. Pooling the milo
age means nothing when tho cost Is
increased nppreciably. for the only
town that actually benefits from the
pooled mileage proposition IS Rich
mond. the ono city best able TO stand
the strain OF long and costly jumps.
For Bencnt OF League.
Not for Richomnds benefit, hut for
the benefit of tho league. do we urge
the adoption of tho original No. l
schedule offered by President Boat
wright. Or * tho desire is TO cut
Richmond off from some week end
games. don't put tho burden of Rich
mond's being away from home on the
shoulders OF the two weakest members
OF tho lengue-Roanolse and Ports
Likewise, in framing n schedule. 1t is
usually tho policy to give real test
OF strength as between each of the
clubs. i'ho present ARRANGEMENT makes
1t three-cornercd race between Rich
mono and Petersburg. Norfolk and
Portsmouth, and Roanoke and New
port News. 1t might be advisable, sc
this schedule is ultimately to hold, to