Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-14
IR|CHMOND HURLED BACK
WITHOUT PLAY|NG GAME
Victory OF Montreal Over Newark
Sends Royals Ahead OF Local
Team in League Race.
FIGHT MINOR SUSPENSIONS
4 Major Leagues Fear CONSUMPTION
VIII Take Many rIaycrs-Oprosc
"AA" Organizations Canceliing
Schcdulcs-Mcn Hard TO Get.

The victory registered yesterday by
Montreal over Newark In tho only
samo played in tho International cir
cult, sent Richmond ono peg nearer
the bottom OF the standing column. and
this morning Billy Smith awakcs to
find himself with IN insecure hold on
seventh place and matched for four
game series with Toronto. club now
leading tho second division.
ExDcrt dopeistS around the Inter
national some time ago picked Rich
mond "A sure las, place club unless
improvements were made. and their
predictions apparently are coming
true even though several additions
have been made. Billy himself is max
ing every effort to secure men. and
during the last few games the club has
been showing some Improvement. only
TO meet calamity in the shape Of UNI
pires. Arbiters in tho last series twice
were credited with doing much TO de-
feat the locals
The initial road trip has been a dis
astrous one for the Richmond club
errors continuing TO play havoc with
the defense OF tho team and inferior
hurting doing its bit also without
being pcssimistiC. il probably is true
that the worst is yet TO come: unless
there is n great change in perform
ances staged by the club. Only the
teams standing lowest in the race have
been played thus far, while Toronto,
Montreal. Providence and Newark yet
are to be combatted.
Once Billy gets the players back to
the local field and beneath southern
skies in June. it is felt that the players
will ne going better and that trcro
may be Improvement and a consequent
climb up the ladder Billy has not
lost hope CT securing additional and
stronger players. but, i'll that. he Is
having considerable trouble and the
Indications are that he will find ever
increasing difficulties along this line.
Majors 10 Fight Suspensions.
AdTiceS from major League cities last
night were to the effect that tho majors
expect 10 combat TO tho fullest am
possible plans for suspension Of sched-
uies on the part of the Glass IA
minors, as possible result OF the con-
scription or war tax plans The major
league maSnates figure the:- are to
complete their seasons. and that they
VIII find it necessary TO draft men from
the minors to III holes in their own
teams once CONSUMPTION has begun
This being true. il is probable that
the minor league managers will lose
players both TO the government and TO
the big-leaEuc clubs through drafting
operations. Richmond may suffer with
the resi-; but IL is entirely improbable
that the local club viii be able 10
secure any more men from either
American or National League teams.
and it must depend upon youngsters
or veterans who have long since passed
lie heyday OF their careers.
Unless there is still further de-
crease in the attendance around The
international circuit, j; is probable
that. Ike the majors. The local league
VIII complete is season. for ihe SOW
eminent ccnscription law will not be-
come effective until Iaie in August or
early IN September II may mean that
the inteTieasuc schedule between the
international and the American Asso-
citation. however, viii be abandoned
The local cluh 10 UP against a hard
in many ways. and de-
serves the hcarties: support OF all fans.
II they hope 10 see the c:ty remain
in the International. During the last
games the team has been playing hall.
and that is The main thing the fans
wish: the victory being desired of
course, oUt d determined and evident
effort 20 win being most essential In
maintaining interest and supper. from
the fans