Evening journal., 1916-05-26
Lawson DENIES TALK
Of CONSOLIDATION
Reading Atlantic League
Magnate Says Teams
Have Money
READING TEAM QUITS
WHEN RAMSAY GOES

AL W. Lawson, president Of the
Reading Atlantic League Baseball
Club. put an abrupt end to his stay in
New York on hearing of the story that
the Atlantic and the Pennsy state
Leagues were to consolidate by inn
mediately rushing to Reading to in
form the public that the rumor was
absolutely false and he branded IL as
call bunk" He had intended remain-
ing in New York but the story OF al
legged consolidation caused him to-
hurry home on Wednesday evening.
He said that the Atlantic League has
never considered such a thing and
never will.
Continuing. he said why should
We consolidate with league that is
about to disband? II would mean that
we would have to saddle all the debts
contracted by the other fellows. Ey-
cry club on our circuit is making
money and there isn't a manager IN
our league who would agree to COM
bine with the other league. There Will
be no consolidation as long as ] am
at the head of the Reading club. | am
perfectly satisfied with the attend
ance at The games. We have played 10
paying crowds every game az home
and we will draw even better when
the weather is more settled
Mr. Lawson is in favor Of admitting
Harrisburg, Lancaster or York to the
Atlantic League Circuit, providing
they can show strong financial back
ing. In case the Pennsylvania League
1sbands. Mr. Lawson will go after
several OF the players Of the rival or
ganization. but will not touch them
IS long as the league continues.
In discussing the Pennsy League
situation. Mr. Lawson said:
These promoters seem TO have
overlooked two main facts in starting
heir work OF destruction, one being
hat the players would require sal
aries on pay day. and the other being
hat the railroads and hotels would
want money for travelling expenses.
n it were not for those two obstacles
the Pennsylvania League might have
been able 10 exc out an existence. not
withstanding THAT It was operated by
promoters who knew very little about
baseball and had even less cash than
knowledge OF their undertaking.
The demise Of the Pennsylvania
State League was previously predict
ed by myself to occur on the second
day Of June. Immediately after the
promoters would get their clutches on
he Memorial Day receipts, II there
we're any Memorial Day receipts TO
clutch. feel sure that this prediction
will be fulfilled on schedule time.
"Thc people of the different cities
In the Pennsylvania League are now
getting wise TO the methods adopted
by the promoters of this organization
and are proving the fact by staying
lway from the game. as was evil
fenced at Lancaster the other day.
when less than a dozen people turned
)ut 10 see the game, which never took
place.
Memorial Day is a great day 10
hold funeral services and the Pennsyl-
vania State League at least showed
good judgment in arranging their
schedule up to that date. There is
nothing left now but the final obse-
luies. and we should all bare Our
heads to the remains OF the poor
devils who were once among us"
Lawson yesterday signed Manager
Hank Ramsey. of the Reading team,
Of the Pennsylvania League, to be the
playing manager Of the Reading club.
Of the Atlantic League. This ends the
baseball war in Reading
The Lancaster team. of the Pennsyl-
vania League. arrived in Reading yes
terday for the game scheduled yes
terday afternoon. but left when Il be-
came evident that there was no Read
ing team to play. Lawson also signed
several OF the other State Leaguers.
Wilmington took over ofhers