Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-11
MUST CUT SALARIES.
Players Compensation Too High and
 Must Be Lower to Save the Game.

The future for baseball see ms shrouded in doubt. Attendance at games this season is below former ay- erages Meanwhile the advent of the Federal league forced the salaries of players to record figures. The time has arrived when owners candidly admit they won't be able to make both ends meet this year.
 The depression has hit the minor leagues the hardest Players salaries in the minors have nearly doubled, while the crowds have decreased in many instances almost 50 per cent. On top of these misfOrtunes the Federal league went through the bushes" like a prairie fire picking up the best players without paying the waiver price, which had been the best rev. enue for the minors. This condition of affairs has thrown the smaller leagues into a state of chaos A large number of clubs in these leagues won't be able to finish the season un- less baseball times suddenly change for the better.
 The Baltimore club in the Interna- tional league is illustrative of condi- tions in the minors. John Dunn gath cred a strong club and led the Inter national league. The team played fine ball, but 1t couldn't draw a corporaPs guard in opposition to the Baltimore Federal league club. Dunn in des : peration sold some of his best players so that his club might finish the sea- son.
 Only last week President Ed Bar row of the International league an- nounced that players salaries must be reduced if the game was to continue. A few days ago a baseball critic on the New York Evening World asked owners of big league clubs if they agreed with Barrow that salaries must be lowered and in most cases the an- ir,f h2 off f7-v1nc ncf President Harry N. Hampstead of the Giants drew a very gloomy picture | of conditions that now exist in profes- sional baseball. According to the 1 Giants owner the minor leagues are up against it this year with rising sal aries and falling attendance. Theil present condition, in the opinion oi MT. Hampstead, is most pitiful. And the big fellows are not farfng much better. President Hampstead said: | Generally speaking, the present salaries cannot be met by gate re- ceipts. Many minor leagues have beer | badly injured by the tremendous rist l in salaries"
 Following are opinions from othel l club owners:
 i President c. E. Thomas. Chicago Natfonals| agree with Presiden that baseball salaries are too high ant in fact I think they are out of all pro portion to the amount, of service ren dered by ball players.
 President Joseph J. Lannin, BoStol l Americans-tMany minor league club are unable to pay present high sal | aries Some major league clubs vii surely lose money this season owing t increased expenses and lack of publt
 support I am well pleased with con
 ditions in Boston to date. Our atten
 dance far exceeds last year, and an
 ,,1n &a {roreo-od Ia vii the public so liberally supports us
 August Hermann, Chairman Ma
 tional Commission = Have not give
 the matter to which you refer the at
 tention it deserves. After all, it is on
 for the club owners to determine an
 should be given careful thought be
 fore any definite expressions are give
 out with reference thereto.
 President Barney Dreyfuss, Pitts
 burgh Nationals-Do not feel it con
 sistent to discuss in public the matte
 of salary arrangements between em
 ployes and employer.