the sporthstq life. base ball. baltimore...

Jan. T. THE SPORTHSTQ LIFE.

BASE BALL.PLAYERS'LEAGUEA LULL PENDING THE FIGHT

IN THE COURTS.

The Organizers Resting onTheir Oars Movements of

Minor Import, Etc.

Now tbat tbe Players* National Leagtw has been perrannently organized ft lull has succeeded the exciteraeut of tbe piut few months. The teams are nearly all manned, and but little more caa bo done save to await the National League's Jega! assault which be/ina in the New Ycrk courts, Jan. 6. Appended will be found the news, gossip and comment of a week:

THE PLAYKRS* POSITION.

John M. Ward Points With Pride to the New League's Clear Record.

NEW YORK, Dô. 25. In speaking of the de plorable doable- coo tract ijipectaole now being given the world. John M. Ward said yesterday:

" d t-fy uny man who in mid*T contract to ccme forward tiiiil say that of tfit Br»tiier.ii*id triedto Induce him to urenk bia agrtt-mdut." SAM tha popular c "We recognize till coutracts, but we.d** uot pay any atuutio i ti> th« reserve, bfc»u*e it is not leg*!. VVnile we ha?e noted io good ftiih itt thia niitt< r, the Li-ague aing u B have done juit the reverse. Tlipy have appr'itclr d our im-n uu-ier cmtractan 1 re sorted 10 ft 1 sort* of petty duricos to «et thorn io their grasp. Som* were weak Htnl fell. Others turned a deaf enr to the entr--a(ies anl refused to enter into negotiations. Of corns'*. I am sorry to f-ee any man sell himself for gold, but it is better char ihe weak- feneeU of our btethreu aho* th«-ir hand now arv! ^jve CB an opportunity to get suit.hle meu to fill their places. As regards men, we can pet all we want. Dozens are clamoring f^r aimwsion int> our Le«gu -. They are H!) good men and it U a difficult matter lo matte <;ood s*l»cti-n9.

"Tha affairs of -he new organization on the who'e," h* continued, "are aa bright un-1 rcny rut couM b* hoped for. To be frank, the outlook at thU srttge is better than I eveu hoped for. Our moo are all satta- fie I, and our only wurk just now con$i*ta of ke<-piug the rank nml file from btiug tempted by the Leagun onViab aud their hirelings. Tha leaders of this movement are as solid aa the rock of Gibraltar. I honestly do n«t believe that any amount of money could Induce Ewing, Ke?fe, Hdulon, J'teff«r, Irwin, Brouthers, Foârty, Ao-lrawd auJ a uamber of others whom I could mention to desert. They are men of principle, and have a certain amount of pride about- them. The u«w League is ail ri^ht. For everv man that deserts we can get a dozen recruits cuni[wtent to fill a poei'ion on a first-clasj team. But I look for very tew deaertionu now. Everything possible to cuar- tutee the men their salaries hag bean dou«, and the old League men will have t» como down off their lofty perrh and quit trjinz to make the bovs beliuve that they b.ive no redress in case their salaries are out Forthcoouas;. Our guaruutte fund settled tbat quea- tfoa." ______

A FEW MORK DESEKTKBS.

and had U not been for tbe fact that I didn't want to be left a!on«, I would not have gone Into it. I can draw the flc*t free breath to-day aloce I attended the first meeting that leJ to thia nfipI<-aftantne-<0. I had no i:rioT«nce against the Cleveland Club. They always u-od run bMter thaa anybody 1 ever worked for. Th«y gave Dio $2'}i) extra last season for my work. I had ptiuifri-us fritfQils, also, in the cily who were strongly opposed to my £oiug into the Bio herhood scheme. I'll «1< ep easier lu-nigM than In a mouth.' 1

Al J.'ti'.Boti hat >ent back tbe check i-r $200 which Zimmer r&tnrned, aud al*o noUfled Zimuifr th-tt he would be legally held to bia contract with tbe Cleve land Players' Club. J>.>husi>n further siya:

''/lu.m- r had no show at all of RHitiug away from the Players' Lîune. fid "ill play with m or he willnot piny at« I have hu aignatnra to four different

s in wh ch he promises or infers Ihat ha is will-to pUy uext year. One of the the contract

which be stoned and up<m which I paid him *20o «d- va ce nJ >ney. Another fa the agreement whiuh he signed with fourteeu other members of the ciut>. A tlurd pjip'T is ou« which he ai^ned atc-'ptmg the dl- rectoraMp of the club aud vi»ling for two ottier men who worn temporarily selt-cied lo act aa directors, until tltu Brotherhood meeting iu April. A fourth signa ture is A tttlottram winch he sent mo."

The Cleveland League Clnb people say they will pr, t ct /-im;mr in aoy leK »l prooeodingd that may be brought aâiu4t uiui.

AN OPEN LKTTER,

A Metropolitan Editor Accused of Unfair an<1 Uiiiirofessioual Conduct by a Brother Scribe.Mr. J. M. McDonongh, the sporting editor of

the New York Star, asks us to publish tbe ap pended letter to set himself ami toe New York players right bo fore the public, a request we comply with according to our well established rale to giro every side a hea;i< g. By the way, Mr. MoOonough mu^t be commended fjr hia good judgment in selecting THE SPORTING LIFE as his medium for reaching the public. He evidently knows that anything in THE SPORT ING LIFE ia sure to be read by the entire base ball world. Here ia ilr. McDonouga's open letter:

O. P. CATI.OB, EPQ . Editor Sporting Tnmes. Deir Sir r In your iaeup of lost Sunday there w«a piiHiahed a portiun of a letter clmijed fnun the Mail and Kcpres* uucier wiiich appeared the names of nil Uie uifUibera of l*Rt year's New York team. This same extract was published iu your paper aotue weeka ago, nnd in that inane, aa well as in your \»*i, you tojk jianiculur d*- li^ht m calling the atteiituxt of yuur renders to the fact thiu all thokn.d woM9 caid uf Uottri. I*»y andMutrie in the extract written by the very mt>u

The First of the Giants to Go B.ick on Hid Brotherhood Pledge.

NEW YORK, Dec. 23. The New York League on Saturday signed the first of its old players, namely, the noted right fielder and batsman, Mike Tiernan. Tiernan visited John B. Day's office in Maiden Lane about 1 o'clock Saturday, and after a short conference with him n^ned hi* name to a New York Club contract. He signed a three year's contract at $4000 a year. He will receive $5000 for the first year, and $3500 for each of the next two years.

Tiernan, when asked to give his reasons for withdrawing from the Brotherhood, said: 'When I signed that Brotherhood agreement it

Stipulated that I was to receive no leas than I got from the New York Club for last season's work, f have had four consultations with the Brotherhood official.", but they offered me $oOO IVaa than I got la.t aevn. I WHS with the boyi until they triad lo grind me down, and tht-n I got out. One day thnt elirer-Ungued or.itor, JamtM O'Kourke, trtrd lo talk tbe natter into me. Bo spoke at leagth and finally said: 'Look at what t aat aa^riHcing. Just 'consider thVrialf Tarn "liking.* "Tfiat a atnaTeiiVcauaed me to lau.th. Why, the old players are taking no rldka. Tbe D»W or yuaoe pUyers are taking chances. Some of th« veteran* of tha diamond, who uugbt to b«r in aomtt oid ff*ntteniito'a horn*. ar» the men that are going to be benefited. The men who ura playing ou tbe strength ef raputatloasmade a dozen years a*jo are reading the harveat, while we >OUBK ttli d rirflnt; nlny- «ra are handicapped. Wlieu I looked at both *ide« of tbe matter I quickly came to the conclusion ihat the proper place for mo waa with the old tiiants. I would hftve alined a regular Ltague contract we»fcB ago were IS not (or the fact that I waa fea-fnl «.f beme called a traitor. Ia iptakiof of Tiernan's d«wrti')n Tim K»efe aid: "Tiernau erred when ho aU'ei titatth» Pliyer*' League wanted him to ttign for ?500 lew than he re ceived last year. It waa jnat the ophite, so it ia tfttod. He received S2500 from tha New York CJub, and it is quite likely that he would hnvo been paid feus:; by the Players' League. Hut he a«k*d for J3800, an>i that was an amount which the magnate* thought itaey couldn't stand. Tbe fact i*, the players who ara demanding such enormous salaries are sim ply taking advantage of the differsnc-s between the National League and thy Play era' League."

THOMPSON AND MYERS JUMP.ISDIANAPOLIS, Dec, 23 Secood basoman Al Myers'

who are now di>mg their u:niuet ti> destroy theii busi ness or words to th»t effect.

Js'ow, Mr. Oaylor, you knew that every word yon wrote al>"Ut th»t article WHS false. Yuu knew I wrote it, and u-'t thu men whom you accused uf duiug it in ordur to make in grates out of th- m.

I tay you knew ir, although >on told me after the first publication tbat you d d uot then understand the full ciicumsUncâ iu th« case. If vou did not it WHS your muster'* fault, for Johu B. Day kuew all about it long by lore yon U*ft Carthage.

Tne history uf that articlu I will tell BO that friends of ihe New York players may understand it.

About the cloaa of last sea ton on* of the editors of a Dtjwsj>ii|mr syndicate aaked me tu write a aiory, giving the chief reasons (or ihe GiauU1 «ucce«a, aud get the consent of sutue or all ol the pla> era to hare their names printed with it, all of which waa to be done iu tweuty-fjur hours. 1 consented. The tinid waa no britt Unit I could only aeea few of the boy a. I am not positive, but I believe they were Ewiug, Gore, U'Day, Urown »nd Rich.inlson. T" tbem I explained iu a lew worda that it wasîmt-ly to be a summing uj> O! the at'oug p'luta of ttte U*»m iu a Koueial wav with out reflttotmij on anybody or giving nn<Jue pruiuc. 1'hey agreed that the other man would be pJeaead tc have it written, and said that thej- huevy all would favor haTing iiê uaniea «pp«ar together.

moraing tho instter wa^ in thu printer's bands

he decided that he had no fnrthor nse for the la'ter'a brother, who wa? accordingly dismissed. Young Gtasscock waa, on making known tha story of his dis- Dil8S%l. euiployeJ by the Superior itreel railway con-

WARD'S WISE WOK03.

The Little General Pays His Respects to the Deserters The Lawsuit.

NEW YORK, Deo. 27. John M. Ward haa nearly recovered from '*Ja grippe" and appeared out of doors to-day for the first time this week. His time for the next few days will be devoted to his lawyer?, Me?ar9. Anderson and IfowUnd, in preparing an elaborate reply to the prayer for injunction made by John B. Day. The case will come up in the Suvremo Court Monday, Jan. 6, In conversation Mr. Ward said:-"I haê not the flightfat donbt that ihe Court will

decide the case in our favor. The sapplemmiNl con tract wi.ich tha old New York Clnb h&a with me niiiuimtd to nothing. The word 'held' in thia case ia simply 'reservation.' Tne whole matter will narrow down to the meaning of the word 'resTfe' iu our cf.n- tmrt*. We think we can make it clear to tne Co-irt w hot the word, in Us base ball aen*e, means, and If we do that ihe injunction will quickly be dissolved."

"What do you ihink of the defection of Thompson and Myers?" waa naked.

' AU these defections haro been dUconnt«d by the new League," replied Mr. Ward. "They annoy, but di> ii"t di-shcnrfen us. These mea who have 'j umr-fd' aiened (tie Agreement to join tho Players' Leagne. By double denlinrf they have ruined their reputations be fore a fair-mind* d b&so bnH public, and juat aa soon aa the rangnat^s have finnhe-1 with them they will be given the '(en days' notice,' and be allowed to shift for themsolfM. When the baxe bail eertson opens next Apiil both the m <gn;!t«s and the deserters will realizetheir mi»ttlc*>. With the it will he an in-.a'ance of 'a fnol and his moo«y soon parted, ' and with the deserters a case of di^race and dishonor, and fln- aliv diNinia**)."

When a^kel why tbe Players' Leagne had not bid against its competitor for men in the market Mr. Wurd laid that it would not be fair to the honeat plaveiB who had accepted the new League's term", which ff»vo the plav?ra the âme salary aa in 18S9. Thene players, he said, would not be discriminated gainst by navinar more to those who were uaing the quarrel between the leagues to secure exorbitant pala- riea. He stated, also, that ac'ion wonla be taken against the men who had signed the Players' League contract and afterward signed with the National

EWIXG HEARD FRO3I.

without a player baviug a it, and »h<.-u thewas aeitt flit the name i/f tvery Mow York man waa printed at the b'tt.>m.

The very day H appeared in the Stall and Express ae*eral uf th« mea were in the Sporting Times office, aud, when shown the pap^r, said i&ey knew nothing of it. They eveu said they would go to to tue office aud deny its authorship Uut John B. Day aud Jamt-a Mntriu, who were present, Umghed th« mailer off, aying tbat it wa.'* doubtlees wall intended (it-d woaU do thu team a great deal of gouti. Thus it Is a«eii ihat th ee m»n knew ull abj.it the c:tse ui^>uUia axO, but still thef all .wed yon. Mr. Caylor, to put mitletiding heads orer a a'tuRta «x tract in uid«i to Lyls er up their Caniy b«(oro tha public. I afterwards txplained thu ca£« to both tntt gentlemen uamed.

Ihia Mtateuivut J feel called upon to make, after saying ttmt I »m the author uf ttte article in question.

At tho time it waa wri;twu I did not kuu t the___ complications were likely to ari.-e, and auch

being tbe cnae I referred to Mr. Day iu very compii- meutary terms, and all on account uf my own friendly feeling to the New York president.

Perhaps 1 praised him »> niKoly that be lost most <jf hi* ii«iml jjo-xl aeuiw, nine why did be permit his paper to pubjith stich^rpt R.f'iijit ionorent men?. ^. > "lie must have'sanctioned it* aec-md appearance iif th* paper, and yet he knew just aa w«ll as you did th»t aver? tt&uuieut r.harK.ug too intm with writing it was false.

Aa for vuu, Mr. C*vl<>r, do Ton, not think Jt waa cowardly to use that letter with malici-ms intent, uot- withtttitndiug the fact that I tuld yuu all about it bf»ia« writun without moat ot the iiteu knowing aujtbiug *>mt it?

It mny b« vour style of d-In? buainess aud if it ia it will never help >our cause out at nay rate it is unfair, unjust ani unmaoly.

At the same tune, Mr. Caylor, do yon not feel ,bamed of youf pitty action in tue aflair?

Vtry truly you<s, J. M. MclAtNOUOH. NBW YOBK Dec. 26,1889.

The Great New York Captain Unbosoms Himself to a Reporter.

CINCINNATI, Deo. 25. Buck Ewing waa en- terviewed to diy by a reporter relative to the situation, and talked most entertainingly. Said he: "The papers have misrepresented the ease of Mike Tiernan and the Brotherhood. The Players' League offered him just as much as he received last year from the New Yorks. I am in a position to know just what he drew in the way of a salary last season, as I went to his home to sign him for the club at the request of Mr. Day. Tiernau is agond man, und I wouldlike to have fwn him with the Brotherhood, but we could not have p»id him any more money than he receired last ye-tr in justice tt» other pluyers."

"What are the chances for St. Louis breakioar Into tbe Brotherhood?"

"Not very i;ood. If some of the clubs hail failed to get the ueceaaary backing, the Browns would prob- ablv have been takm in to fill out the circuit."

"Why wa the scheme abandoned of placing a club In Cincinnati?"

"Tho people here who were willina to back the club Mid they wouM do so with the nnderstttndiugtbit I waa to take chant* of the club. I would have been per fectly willing to come to Cincinnati and take charge of tha club, but there ia ju<*t where tho hitch came iu, Wurl and others would not agree to it aud the plan was knocked io the head."

"Do yon think the Association will be reorganized?""Certainly, and they have aeked the protection of

thn IMaven.' League. Working liaud in hand, we an? sure to make the League bite the diut. The talk that we can't arrange for any exhibition tames in the spring ia all hnah. The Leagua has tried to prevent the college cluba from arranging dates with us, but they haveu't nuccee-kd very well. We will have all the exhibition games we want.1 *

O'DAY SOLID.

agreement, every Brotherhood player is to be carried through the first yenr, even if he never participates in * single game, but Mickey wan «loo mnch."

Ill* Pittdhnrg ['layers' Clnb mtde formal applica tion fir a charter on the 20th inst. The organization IB to be formed under the provisions of the limited co partnership act of 1874, that the stockholder* will be responsible for debts incurred under certain circum- sUuct-s, and tbat the debt* &nd liabilities shall nut ex ceed th« amount of the capital stock of the coacern. The stibscriberato the applicttion are William McCal- lin, Morria B*er, C. K. Deymer, Edward Hanlon, W. W. Kerr, IJ. B. lie* and W. A. Stone.

Catcher Morgan. Murphy claims to hare an offer from the Brooklyn Plavers' Clnb.

Hoy denies the reports about Chicago tempting him. (le a»ra that tie h«s received advance* from no League clob, beyond the notice of the Washington Clnb that they were ready to aii£U him for 1890. Hoy declares he will play with the Brotherhood.

Silver King sitya he has subscribed for $1000 worth of the Chicago Players' Club stock.

Yank Robinson, of the St. Louis Club, Is still con sidering a Brotherhood offer. He says he ia in no Isniry to ai^n, bat will never play for Von der Aha aprtin if he can help it.

The Pittsburg Club delegate to the Players' Learns meetme baa this to say of ihe rumors about the St. Louis Club: ' Nothing irritated us so much aa the groundless rumors tlmt St. Louis wan to t*ke Pilts- huri;'s place In tho League. Permit me to state that such a step wtis never contemplated, was not conaid- erbd ID the nutting, nor will be broached in the March meeting, aa Piitaburg is a permanent member of that b-Jily. The rumor originaied in New Turk, and If investigated can be traced to a National League

The Mayor of Chicago last week vetoed the ordi nance permitting the establishment of tbe Players' I.ya-rne grounds on the North Side, attar President Weid*nfel.«r, of tlie Brotherhood club, had notified Mayor t'reger That in view of th>) great opposition to the project of rstal'Hshioi; base ball grounds <>n the Nvir'.h Side lake front the club will look elsewhere. It is pro liable a location ou the South Side will be determined upon, but nothing is \et known.

The Placers' League a gain in securing so efficient a secretary as Frank Bruuell umy be somewhat offset by the lo-e of the Chicago Tribune's support; that i% if Brunt-It's successor in the spur tin* editorship of that p;iper should happen to be a League man aud be per mitted to run bis department accordingly.

Al Johnson celebrated hia 28th birthday Dec. 24. Quite a young Napoleon, eh?

It is stated on exc*11«ut authority that the Boaton League Ciub offered Nttah a three-years* contract at

a year and a hunJôme b ^ for a

Tlie New York Pitcher Reasserts His Fealty to the New Iêagne.

Pitcher Hank O'Day defines hia position in the following card to the Chicago Inter-Ocean in auch vigorous toruia tbat it i? not likely that bis position in regard to the Players' League will be misrepresented «or misunderstood after: .

'CHicAdO. Dec. 23. TbUM E<1&» ir- ruor.ing'e iXiwca I":' u-oiiaffy^ tain a statement ihat I am ^ or a contract to pilch 0*11 f"rtertDi "f ihatci'y. Tbi* trratem-nt is nuaolntely wit :.i out the s;i«htf«t shadow of foundation, and I wis&- putjlicly fr) conlrudici it.

''I lake this opportunity to inform my Chicago frionda, and the patron* in general of our nation il $ftm*\ th«i I hav« placed my signature to a Brother hood contiact; that every clause of that conrmct, in the fe'Ur anl <he spirit, I shall faithfully observe, and that, sink or *wirn, survive or periati. I urn wnb the Rrothf-ri.ood first, Iftr-t and every Hme, and have'

Tim Manning, of Dorchester, has heen awarded the contract to grade the gruund* of the new Boston Players' club.

"Tip" O'Netl, according to Pfeffer, will play left field for the Chicago Brotherhood team next season, and Van Hdltren will do some of the pitching f° r t"8 White Stockings. Tener probably will not play hall ac ail noxt season. If be does it will be with the Chi cago Piny era' Cl ub. Captain Comiskev is expected back from California about the middle of January. He will take charge of the White Stockings immediately afterward. On March 1 the team wilt start on a trip through the South.

Al Johnson haa received Pat Tebeau's contract with the Cleveland Players' Club. I( ia Witnessed by Co rn iak ey.

According to Al Johnson, Lark ID, and not Fn*t», will play first base for Cleveland.

Catcher Tom Quiun, of the Bdltimores, has pledged himself to Ward to sign a P.ayera1 League contract. Sava he of the mttter: "While I do not desire to be regarded as either a contract-breaker or jumper, I hold that my promise to Mr. Ward binds me to carry out the intention for which it waa given. This will, of coarBe. preclude roe from signing with the Balti- morea Hg*iu, even at better terms thau (ho?e made with Mr. Ward, should the Baltimore ra.inauemt-nt ofiVr them." The Pittsburg Players' Club wauta Quiun to make good Miller's defection, and will try to have him aligned there.

Hod the players been united and remained 10, It wou.d have taken the National League at least five yuura to uiake good the defection. But with thirty or more meu for tnuuera it will uot take more than two years, if that.

A dispatch from San Franciaco says that X hn Clark- son is KOttinj; snubbed on all sides by the Browns, Kelly and (he Bostons, ou account of hia deaeitioo from the BroLherhood, of which organization he watt one of the originators.

Both Ewinif and Bruoell are working to secure Lefty llurr, hut BO far he has rejected all offers. He pays he w»n't sign until spring and will give Co Iam bus first chance. That 1 * honorable.

N«w Yi rk haa the presidency *nd Chicago the vice presidency and secretaryship of the new League.

There ia nothing iu tha atory that Arthur Irwin wili tnanttea the Boston Brotherhood Club.

Pitcher Hadduck haa not feigned witb the Buffalo Club of t 1 e Players' League. He 10 holding out for asalary offci700.

John Mm rill irrites from California that Mike

a euro National Leae

«Uer Sam Thompson, year's Puila-anddel|.hi,i L«ngue Club, li^ne^ with t ieir old ctub a to-day. Bjtb men wera signed b-, P.edident John T. Brush, of tbe Indianapolis Clnb, acting on instruc tions from Colonel John I. Rosrera. Botb pla\es Bign*d contr*ola for thi'e* yeara. Titompaon haa been ready to sign for over a week, but refused to return to the Leiicuv without Mr era. Tbe tattttr refined to aign HBlf-sa he waa given ths pam« ealary ad Thumpnon $3200 per jear. President Reach aiire**d to My or*' ternia to-day, and the men w»r» signed at once, ftiy- TB owua atock in the Philadelphia Players' Club.

MURPHY ALSO DESERT* TBE BROTMKRHOOD.WOKCKSTRR, Ma«a.( J>-c. 24. To-day Patrick Mur

phy, oae of the ca'chars of the New York Club, signtd a cun trnct to play with bis old clnb in 1890. Murphy waa a lWotherh»*d BIXQ, but he did not relish the id»a of dfsertiutf the men who buva acted in good faith with him. Last wrek be pr«mi*ed President D*y, who paid him a visit, that he w«nl<f probably ><eci>nje a Giant again. As soon aa he learned th;it Tiernun had deserted the Brotherhood ha naked for a contract, and to-day eign«d it. _______

BUFFALO NEWS.

Contract Jnmpers to be Proceeded Against The Question of Admission Kates, KIo.BUFFALO, Dec. 23. Messrs. Shire and Fitz

gerald, two of Buffalo's three capitalists for the Brotherhood club, report unbounded confidence among the players that the new League will be a success, despite the desertions of Clarkson, Glaascock, Denay, Beckley, Miller and other traitors.

"Cannot these men be compelled to play with tbe Brotherhood?" was asked of Mr. Shire.

"Those of them who pigned Brotherhood con- : tracts are the men to proceed against. A com mon suit-at-law can be brought for breach of contract, on which we have a strong caae. Aud ic ia not improbable that thoy could alto be restrained from playing In the National Lfanue."

'Did the Brotherhood j-mat Buffalo permission to cbur^ti chf*«p*r ntlmisaitm?"

"No, and it will be difficult to brloR about a conces sion. The plan, you know, ia to divide receipts m every city, and the oiher cities object to Buffalo i:harff- IDK fe*s mon»y. We can probah'y put the price for grounds and grand aland togelher for G5 cent*.' 1

Mr.Kit'/j^raM says he in miteurettut any money will .be madei the first j our, but he is tolerably sure of not Icaing any, lie does not see «'hy people anould com plain of th« make-up of the Buffalo team bef> re they kauw anything about it. Buffalo cannot expect a champion («»m on the &;t>~off. lie is confident that the Buffalo nine ia a good one.

Kt*Kftrdfog the exodus of certain players from tbe Br<.th<»rl]L».>d, Mr. Fitzgwrald eaya Ihe new League will exist jeihapa better without them, Players devoid of principle are uot the kind uf men to share in a co- opf-rativo concern.

Buffalo re'ains her IntermiH.inal franchise and

E layers for tho present. Boston fa likely to buy Le ant1 and other players have been epukeu fur by difier-

nt cluba. ______

ZIMMICK'S STEP.

PEAYEBS SIGNED,

Tbe Additions of a Week to tbe Various I Players' Clubs. j

PITTSBURG, Dec. 24. Manager Hanlon.of the ] Pittsburg Players' League Club, entered into j negotiations Saturday with Visner, of the Brook lyn National Leagua Club. The results were so ! satisfactory that Visner consented to play in Pittsburg next season at the terms offered. | These were not stated, but are known to be be- \ tween $2300 and $3000. After ascertaining ! Yi*n«r's wishes Manager Hanlon sent him a check for $3iX) advance money, which beaecept-d. More definite in formatioa regarding I'ave Orr's intention nt* cumi- to hand. Dav« is seriously conwlering the matter 01 going into business tbe first of the year Should he decide uot to do MO he haa awured tbe Players' League Club of Pittaburg that he will cover first baae for it nextswiaou. Harr, of CiacmaaU, i* still being sought alter by the satus clnb.

NEW YORK, Dec. 26. Gilbert ITatfield, this after noon, plac»« hia sigmature to a contract with tbe New Tyrk Ulob of the Players' National League. He was sifrn«d by Director E. B. Tulcott, and expressed entire satisfaction with the terms of hia contract. Hat fit-Id was nut ft member of the Brotherhood of Ball Player% but he gn«d the agreement with the capitwlibtg of ths Players' National LeAgtie in common with all th*r members »»f th» New Turk Club. He did not care to fcrwak hia compact, although by so doing he could undoubtedly h»ve bettered himself for the pres ent from a financial standpoint.

Y JOINS THB PLAYBRS.LowEi.t, Mass., Dec. 23. John M. Ward was Io

town to-iiay and signed Arthur Whitney, third base- man of Ia*t seisin's Nt*w York League Clnb, tor next getuou'a 2

been since its inception. HANK O'DAY.

York Players' Clab.

CAUROIX HEARD FROM.

A Lie Nailed.CLBVELAMD, Dec. 26 President A. L. Johnson say*

th*t the statement o»ftde by tb« New York weekly organ of the L-anue, to Ui» effect that the Players' League rliibe d" not iutoud to subscribe tne $40,000 gtianmif* fund, ia a lie, pur" and simple.

'The N-w York ahedt," said be. "nivea as its rea'wn tor mwking the aaserHon that the bond of S*creta-y Briii. o.l wwsonly made ¥25,001), whereas ifthe Players' Li'A^rue reallv intends to put up tbe money ihe boud would have I-eoo made S75.000 or f 100,000. If the editor ot the N*w York organ had waichwi the reports of our meetings, he would have ne«n that it was re solve! to place the 540,000 the money in to be ca«h In a trust company in N»w York. It can only t>e drawn out «.n ibt* order of tbe directors of th* new hague. Yei, sir, the money will be put up and U will be cold, hard cash,"

News Notes and Comment.It la rcport-i from Clovel md that Zimmer baa

chanced hia mind a«ain and will now P^J with th0 Cleveland Flayers' Club.

Secretary F. U. B anil's address is No. 90 Lnsalle tract, Chicago. HP hai a desk in the office of Presi dent C. A. Wxidenfeller.

The New York Club is said to have vainly made ex traordinary efforts to get Conuor away from the Bioth- erhood. ,_ ,The New York Sun Insists that catcher Murphy has not yet sigueJ witb tne New York League Ciub, aa claimed.

Al Jithnson sa.v« he In glad the League has brought suit. IIn is sure' the outcome will be all right for tne Players' Leuguvt

ii is «aid thnt after Mulvey jumped hia Brotherhood contract he bBC»mo very enthnni^Htic in tne League c;iUHe, and off^r-d to £Ht tlie signatures "f Farrar and S-iuders if the club would pay hia expeusea to their

Caicher T*»rrell has purchased some Block In the

Kully iHttuxiunfl to cute h regularly next se«aon. The Bonton Players Cfub will faava T«8t batting

strength, containing a* it will, Br*utbers, Richardson,Kelij.Stovey, K*sh, Johmnon, Quhm aud Kiiroy.

'I he swell rt-aident* near the proposed new ground, ' the Cb.io-.go Playera 1 Ciub r»i»-«l $2u.OOO iu one dayl prevent tlie club frum occnpviug the laud on Ohio

*jtreot and ôld have fought tbe matter iu the coorto %. t'li'ier the circumstance^ tbe Chicago Club {

.i'l Wrll not to iuvit« a cwaily l«ga! fight. i JTlui Mnruauo figures it out Uiat the League last

>ar ruadt» a net profit of £207,000, aud that the Boatonayers' Club next year Anootpossibly cUar lest* than.0.000.Wilt Johnson, who is back In St. Louis, tells the

eop e out there not to give up hope and that there is till a chance for St. Luuis in the Players' league.ow, why arouse hopes doomed only to disappoint-

John B. Dav has evidently lost !! confidence in the pal proceedings about to be initituted, for he haa Qclud*-d to give money the preference. He not only ve Tiernan $1300 more than the Players' Club romtst'J him, but offered Mickey Welch a three- ears contract at 84000 a year. Welch has not in past ears taken any cli»ncfs on "official" contracts, but us instated oo peraon*! contracts. To m««t this p«-

uliaritv of "ttujiiiitg; MwkvyV 1 Day offered io de- oait tn'hia credit iu any hank he wuuU name 512.000, o be drawn ont m installments to the amount of 4000 atinally. Thnt certainly does not indicate much nitideuce in the National league lawyer a. The Chicago Club ia rhe only one in the Players ague tbat has not secured prounds.

DANIHY TO MULFOBI>.

BALTIMORE BULLETIN.The Glaring Double-Contract Evil Man

ager* and Players Kead a Wesson The Harm That Is Rt ing Done Base Ball and Its Exponents The Local Situation.BALTIMORE, Dec. 26. Editor SPORTING Lira:

''It is a good thing for the players, but not for the stockholders," remarks Mr. Taggart, of the Philadelphia Players' League Club. Well, cer tainly that should have its weight in holding the players together. The National League people have been giving forth the impression that the capitalists back of the new movement were to reap the substantial benefits of the latest departure in base ball, that the players' salaries were in jeopardy, but here is practical testimony to the contrary. A stockholder withdraw* ard disposes of his interest, and gives as one reason that the players have the be.H of the bargain. , Again, Mr. Rogers, on whom the National League depended for its law, has been proven not to be quite infallible in the interpretation of the law-makers of his State. In the case of the Philadelphia Players' League Club's application for a charter "Mr. Rogers' law" appeared eo ab surd to the court that there waa a general smile on the dignified countenances who deal with stern reaH'iea. If Mr. Rogers is so much at fault on such a simple matter as the incorpora tion of an amusement company, it is juat barely possible that his law may fail the League on other and more important points.

POOR POLICY OF BLUFFING.Can it be possible that the dignified National

League haa been "bluffing" all this time, for its effect upon the players? Surely that is noi good policy, unless the matter at stake is very desperate indeed, for "a call" exposes the grand old body to such ridicule as will do it a growing and everlasting harm. It wou'd be much better for the National League to build up from a solid foundation, and retain the respect and good will of the public. Bluffing and sharp tricks for effect OB weak-minded players is unworthy such a grand old organization as the National League has been. Diplomacy is commendable, but this other method by whatever name it may be graced had much betier be abandoned. It is not at all probable that the more intelligent magnates of the National Lengue buTC ihe least faith that the "reserve" will stand law. No one a?serts it except the lawyers who foresee "a poislblecase," and even (hey bare not the matter in their minds in all its bearings. A man who signs a contract with the pUtol of compulsory circumstances at his head is not bound by all iU terms and these people know it. That is precisely what the old League players did when they signed the contract containing the reserve clause. They would not have signed if they had been at liberty to seek other employers in the lines of the profession.

ADV1CB TO PLAYERS.The business of base ball is now on its proper

base. There are rival concerns, a healthy com petition, and a player is free to sign where he will. There is no compulsion. Players receive offers for their services, aud are free to accept the one most advantageous to them. Theref. re, when A player make* his decision and attaches Ms name to a contract, the act is final fur the i«rm agreed up n, and any player ignoring his compact and Bigmn.* unothf r fQp, is simply laying up for himself AD end less quantity of trouble at.d ox pome, whKb, if fol lowed up, »il) eventu*ilv put him whtro he belouga, among the block sheep of the profession. THB CONTRACT-BREAKERS' INEVITABLE PUNISH

MENT.A contract-breaber la about the poorest specimen of

humanity in existence. The National Lt-asne and the Players* League art* bound to make terms with each other for mutual protection, and that very FOOD, too, and then where will the coutrnct-break*ra be? It fa very pro 1 -able tb it th>56 two organization* will repre sent the controlling Interests in bass ball. They will occupy all the territor}* in the principal citii-a of the country, and will thus wield the influence that the magnitude of the i eternals demand nod command, The player who shows himself poawess;-d of ba»e qnali- tif s, lost to all sense of honor as to his wt-rd or written bond, must then naturally and surely suffer the juat penalty of racti degradation. Public patron age depends upon a clean gime, and the magnates know it yea, and will act upon it, "when tliis cruel w«r in over." The managers rann<~>t ufiord to retain players who have proven to the public that they, can te boiikjlit tuen

they Invariably pnewed In playing some ludlerona tricks on him, unlea-* he ia a very «lick youth. From one of the Wttahinxton players we learn that the 8«ns>- tore bad a jolly time "initiating" Sullivan, tbe y< nng pfl.-her they had for a time Ust season, and on* of the jokes plxyed on him IB so funny an to be worth * little .-pace in Ibeae columns for the edification of our readers. Stid (his player: "The first night we had Sullivau on the train he was aasit-ned to an upper beit i. A deeper WHS a novelty to him, and tie was cnrioiw to know what every piece of mechanism in side that car was nsfd for. lie saw the «t>a|H dtmgliuflf from the upper railing d 'shunting the mini her of each berth, and wanted to know what !hev were there for. We tol 1 him that those occupying upper bertha always strapped themselves fa-it, eo us not to roll out during the tiiebt in going over the m/Hiutiiina. When be went t<' bed we cal:cd out to the porter, whom we lind pr^viou-tly pt *tfd, noi to forget Sullivan'* fltrafw, and Inter on, ntt'-r most everyl ody had rctin-d, the colored gfuttiman collected a hnmber of th-se sirups nnd tot-sad them up into Sullivan's berth. The Utter w-j-Sie 1 about an hour at tbeSf ttrii(;s at»d finally iu;m- atffd to tie liiiu*ell faa%«nd iben weutioa ei>p. In in* morning we found bun strapped in bis berth. Tb« next n ght Sullivan WHS a*fai*n*d to a lower l>erth, it hems hie turn to pitch the following day. After look- in* info bit be tb, he turuwl around and ashed, 'What's tint hamnji.ck in there f.-r?' 'That/ s»id >,n« ot our party, 'in t'b|.coi^l>y put in them for tbe pitcherto rest bis arm in all t. KO f at he ia in irood «hap*to pitch t'ie next d«y.' Sullivan tinally went to and crawled close enough to t->e wi le of the car to v»t his arm into ti't» clothing ri-rei't*el«, which h« termed a lianiiuo.-k, and be laid flat oo bia back all night wtik liia arm in that net."

CHICAGOGLEANINGS.The Players' Clab's First Snas The Trouble

Over the New Ground Where Will the New Club Locate? Tom Burns Talks Largely General Mention.Oixci.N.NATi, Dec. 24. Editor SPORTIXG Lira

Affairs of a non-professional character hare sent me into Hen Slulfonl's district aâin thil week, and t«ro letters to TUB SPOUTING LIFE are consequently being penned from the same desk.

I leit Chicago just as the Brotherhood craft in that city was entering troubled water* for the first time since its organiza tion. Chicago property owners on the left bank of the historic Chicago river, in the vicinity of the Lake Shore, have arisen in their indignation at the location of the Brotherhood park in their neighborhood, and have brought such pressure to bear upon Mayor Cregier and the honorable City Council that Mr. Cregier last Monday evening returned the ordinance previously p£S;:gd by council, closing the Laka shore end of Ohio street-ftujise by the White Stocking Club. The Mayor, in tion to the Aldermen, said:

h75-7*mr'nin^^^ ^M

> order pHSsed oa

Chicago Playors" Clnb. Prior to his election secretary of tb« Players

Why Cleveland's Catcher Returned to the National League Fold.

CI.KVELAMD, Dec. 24. It was not a question of money that influenced Zimmer to resign from the Brotherhood and sign a National League contract. He receives no more than if he had remained with the Brotherhood, and possibly not ai much. The fact of the matter is that he bas always entertained the highest personal re gard fir Messrs. Hawiey, Uowe and Robiaon, which has been warmly reciprocated. He has always enjoyed th« Complete coutliieuce of the j» offi- cl>tl4. aod they were thuude e ruck when he tigned with 'he lirotherlu'od, especially nfter promising out to lieforo sprlna. "1 was twbôied of tbat itep," said Ziuiinor', "but Mr. Juhusuu came to me when I wag lialf sick aud I felt a good deal ia the same position that I did *hen 1 weut iu!o tbe thing laat suaimer, you know that I wai ii«v«r yery tnUiiuiiutic ovu II.

The Plttsborg Catcher to Stand by the Brotherhood League.

PirrsBono, Dec. 25. Through a letter re ceived by a friend in this city Fred Carroll haa been heard from at last. The letter is written by his father, who says:

"Fr-d ban been proi'.rated with an attack of typhoid ferer, which ha» kept him In led for e»yeral weeks. This will account for his not r«u<yii>(i to the many telegrams aud letters concerning the b:i«e ball aiuia- tit>n which have been sent to hiul during the period of his il!n*«. He had leeo toul of the defection of Miller aud Beckioy, and when informed of it t>aid It wa* no more than he expected. Ai !or himself, be is still with the players, despite the receipt bv him of several tempting offers fiom President Nimick. Th-ia he re turned to tbat official witu tbe statement that nothiuif would move bfm from bis purpose to Etund by the players' cause. He ia mending rapidly Hid eipocla to be in Pituburg not la!er th»u Feb. 15."

BP.oKEJJ PROMISES.Ed Morris, when shown the letter, said he

knew Carroll would stand by the Players' Leagua. Said he:

"If for no other reason tbnn that tbe Plttsbnrg Na tional League Club brokn a promise to him, Carroll slu'Uld abandon tbu Kntional League. When tna club was transferred to Pittthurff from Coluinbun, President Kimick gave Carrtfll a written putrtntee

th»t at the end of the first season be would be given a release to CO wherever he desired. When the season eudej, though bia guarantee nore the percnoai signa ture cf President Kiaiick, be absolutely refused to live up to tt, giving as an excune that whila be WHS willing to do no ttie other tttockholdars objected. Ha also took tbe pains to astnre Carroll that any attempt to go to law abuut tbe matter would result fruitlessly, as ha (Nimick) had no right to make the piomiiv without the consent of his co-partners, and tiiat '.he document would not hold in law. Carroll then asked fjr an increase of salary, which was also ignored until he was forced to sign at the old terms on the o|»nln< of the season. Grievances sucb as Caroll's could be cited without number by the members of the PitU- burg Club. Take my own case. One season I signed a written contract promising not to drink daring the season. Unfortunately 1 broke It, and was fined $52*. When I complained of the severity of the penalty, Mr. Mmick said: 'Go In and pitch good ball and the flne will be remitted.' This I did, only to bo told at the end of the season by this same Mr, Klmlck, that while he wouM elatly comply with the agreement, tbe other ttockholders said no, anil that settled it"

Jack Glasscock's brother ii no looser an employee of tbe Brooklyn street railway company. When Al

League. Mr. F. 11. Brunei! oi/enlv stated that if the Players' Lea«ue should prove a failure, be would go to some far off, isolated section of the country and never again writs a word about base ball, but he woul'i HTB a life of seclusion." Biston Herald. F.snk isn't that kind of a fellow. He couldn't keep out of bass bailor a scrimmage same thing, you know for any length of time.

Tbe Buffalo Brotherhr.od Ba-e Ball Club filed a cer tificate of incorporation Dec. 21. The inC'.roorator are MessfS. J. C. Rone, James L. White, Mo*es Shire F. T. Gilbert and C. R. Fitzgerald. Tbe capital stock is»200,000 in $109shares,

Jimmy Kyaii indignantly denies the report that h. is dt-r-Bti»Bi>d wi-h biic!iauce» in the Players' League

Colonel JlcAlpine, recently elected president of the PI iy«rs' League, is chairman of tbe Republican State Central Committee of New York.

William Hoey, of Evans ft Hoey, has signed as m»scot for the Players' League.

At last accounts Clarkson wa* endeavoring to slen several California players fur lb» Boston Club. Whil openly declariuB his »lle-i«nce to tbe Brotherhood, h was secretly working ai-'inst its iutToita.

President Ninlick's bluff abuut selling out Is met by the Pittsburg Bro'beihood people, who have aske him to n?tnie a price, not on his franchise, wbicb Hun Ion et al. consider worth nothia/, but on his grouni ,iid fixtures, aud ouch desirable plaj era as be may

Arthur Irwm says the new Boston Club will play serins of games with the old Leaguers In tne sprin for money or fun, or for tha right of baanug th

The Pittibnrj Players'Olub claims to have secure an old League caiciier to replace Sillier, who IB superior to Miller as Miller is to an amateur.

"T:ernan not only signed au a;;ree;ueut to play fo the same ..alary he received in 1S8!I, but IM subscribe for 8KMH) in stock of the Players' League Club." New York World.

Bruuoll's election to the secretaryship of the Play ers' League Is well received everywhere. One n-te correspondent writes: "I wish to «ay that from a mos intimate acquaintance with the gentleman, extend!- over a series of years, 1 think the election a first-rs one. He is a very intelligent eentleman, exceptional well posted in base h^ll matters in all (heir branch' au industrious, methodical worker, with plenty ol en thaiiasm to carry him tbiouah. flis business train lap out«ide of base ball and newspaper work will be great value to him in his new field of labor, the du ties of which are peculiar and manifold, and at time perplexing, but Frank has tha tact and ability to g away with them,"

Mickey Welch hu Darned his terms to the Brother hood, and they have been refused. He wants $4500 year 52000 advance and a bond for the security bis salary. In speaking of the matter Tim Keel* -ai "Weare perfectly willing to pa? Welch the sala he demand.-, but we don't want to guarantee it f three year^ whether he is able tj play or not, as he de

wbo have 8*leiiiuly their aoal<i fur a woufu nTni"irn- will, like the

one contract and then bold Another O'ie>,

"Gcntlfmnt: The conditions of the ordoi , __ the 16th lust, by jour honorable body autli'orizmjr V ba*e bat] association t» occupy 455 feet of Ohio slreutf 1 to be uricd as a baee bull ptirk, have nut bo*!! compile'' wi'h, the written consul of tbe iaimeliati* propck owiie-'S Dot having been obtained. On tL* c-utrHry, 1 am in tlii* |>"u>e5.i»a of a Diimcroucly-gigned remon~ Irauce a^Hlneit the use of the streftnmnml fertile |>nr- (io*(» of a bnll park. In view of t-it* Don-compliiiQc* with tbe council order and with a due regard for tha ri^li'a "f tbe property boldeia m tue vicinity, 1 deem it proper to return the order without approval.

Bcspectlully, Ds WITT C. CBEUIER, Muror."Of course, it wa» known by Weidenfeller,

Pfeffer A Co. some time before Conncil met that the ordinance in their favor would receive a black-eye in Council Monday night, and wild stories of what the Brotherhood people would do to the Mayor and all : 'weak-kneed members" of Council in retali«tion were set afloat. Luckily for the Players' organization, however, the moderate counsel of that smooth and far- tighted gentleman, President Weidenfel.'er, pre vailed, and, after hours of labor with his stub born and unreasonable associates, his advice prevailed and the following communication tru penned and dispatched by a messenger:

CHICAGO, D«?c. 23. To the HouoraMe Mnyor and Common Council of the City of Chicago: May it please jour Honorable B.dy: The Chicago Wbito Stocking Baxe Ball Club ot the Pla\era* Nutiotml Le*K"p, tha"k!nsr you f<r the kindness shown in giv- !UK it pprlnig'ion to occupy tbo ea*t end of Ohio street, betf leavo to ray lliat strong oppositi.in hi)d arisen oa the North SHfl to it^ o'cupatioo uf Ihe lan<J, and, «! though the elub ha^ already incurred expense in |>i paring itapl«n.*,yet entirely owifi^ to ancli opitusiti' .t r<»pectlull.v siiireo>J0r8 Itsri^ht to the perumaiouj kiudlf grauted. Very reaped fully,

0. A. Wt President Wlj

Th

tufllij have to go.

The Rochester Rustler Hits Back at the Cincinnati Hastier.

ROOHKSTEB, Dec. 24. Editor SPORTING LIFB: Mr. Inlford makes a serioils mistake when he writes toHE SpoET'MG LIFE »nd clainH I accuse him of selling is ]«u to a "fchUock of Cincinnati." I inquired of ini in an informal way more iu jeet than in earnest.I am ic'aci he c»me «ut boldly to replr to my ques-

i,,o aud for his able defence of Ufa brother writers.I never pictured Mr. St«ra as Sh*ke»peare, or

Ihakâpere, pictures him in his famous drama.I will say I do not know one writer to-day who

avsa b:tse ball who will sell au opinion or try and break the National Agreement.

Mr. Mulfoid, my mind b not narrow, nor is my 3piuiou bated on what I see and hear in this new Aaa-ciatiou city.

lain now fighting for tbe American Association, and what looks very suspicious is tbat meu who >oome<l up the Association Use year are trying to jreak it un this year.

Thare mint be something in i'lThere must be something In it besides spite, glory

or apace-writing!Writers of base ball should ateer clew of private

feedsor banquets. It i-a mill way of bribing a goodriter's pen, though I dou't accuse you, Mr. Mul-

furd, Jr.You can approach a man with a drink, cigar, or a

private feed quicker and better than you can with a aundred dulltr bill.

Mr. .ttulf >rd, I might as well say right here, I haveai<l lo go into every gtane of base ball I have witnessed,

I never was a deud-heuii.I do not accuiie you of being weak, but your new

feeliuit looks very suspicious. I fear Mr. Stern ha* intoxicated your better sense by bis hale-fellowship- well-met, aa you say:

"No bill of complaint haa ever been flled by any newHpapt-r man against A. S. Stern,"

'He never fulled to recognize the press." If every member of the National League wars as

approachable as *. 3. Stern ''The wise mea of R.<iue (N. Y.) have been fooled by

approachable meu, Mr. Muiford, so do not belittle the tiUpping-atouea to great ttitngd In baae ball.

"From whom did Mr. stern demand a pound of flesh?" you writ*.

NVhv, hundreds of tbem from the Hamilton, Ont., Club, and sold Serad to Syracuse, O'Counor to Colum- bua, Naah to Buffalo.

I like your du'ense of Mr. Stern, and I recard yon

magnates «ill . anoWe their investments go to the dogs il th-y «-,in help it7 «u I so these de graded plai ers will b she ved n. a matter ol necessity. Oh, when ihe public does speak it spnaks in thunder tones. It has spoken before, and it will speak again. It there rue rea-^n* well known reasons to believe tbftt the players, and there'oro came*, can be bou/bt and hippodromed, then all interest ceases nnd the paradox eisnes of silent empty benches speaking. In terest dies out, and the managers begin to buut around for 'he reason. Perhaps the players wbo Fold themselves to managers bv double contract dealing are putting up square and hone-*t rame-f and the managers know it. No matter for tbat. these players are unforiutiate iu their reputations and must be sacrificed to pnVnc sentiment. Managers cannot afford to kill their business by keeping such men and will not. No doubt the maaayers wh^ enticed tbew players to do wrong would, out of gratitude, be glnd to'mpley them for that aud for their .uperior skill, but tneir gratitude will not be exbrcised at the expense of their pockets.

STICK TO COKTRACTS.No player Is to be blamed for simply holding off

from signing nutil the base ball lines are firmly estab lished, but when he once does sl^n a contract he is bound to stick to it no matter what superior offers he receive* afterward. No doubt this wild competit on for playets aud the fabulous sums resulting for salaries Is to snme extent demi>ral'zing, bnt who can say It is not a good thing iu one respect. Certainly it nubjocts the players to exactly the test and the only test whereby the public can judge of their honesty. It has furnished the means of «r>ittinir Hie black sheep, and sorting the good element from the bad. Base l-ali will eventually be all the better for it. It has furnished some evi dence that is surprising, but still if any player viasweak in his moral S'-nneB It exposed Certainly,

JpUnsou learned th»t Jack bad'signed, with the League ' ikes Ui» contract to tx drawn. According » our

_ one of'the foremust ba-e b«ll writers of which ther» are but few. I bear on all sides that you are a gentle man of culture or Mr. Itk-hter would not permit you to associate with him In his paner.

Wbat I <*id was "pe/meJ unwittingly."Kow, would you like the Cincinnati Times-Star to

sell your pen and services to Ihe Rochester Star in spite of your protect?

Every pure-minded base ball writer is down on the sals of players, and yet you uphold a man who has sold them. .You fall to distinguish the Shylock of Shakespeare In our modern <>hj lock, because he Is the prince of good fe.llo.vs, and not a hideous old Qemi of the past.

What right has a b idy of men to make a scale of salaries fur ball players who have dealt In beer and clothing all their lives?

If Cincinnati cannot support S5000 ball players, let tbem to where they can »ui>port tbem.

You nill say we must not Kill tbe goose that lays tbe golden egg. (Jea F. 0. Bichter's Millennium Plan.)

Now, If King Kelly or Ward kills tbe goon let them suffer.

Tn«te never was a disaster in base ball bnt what it has been for its good fide Craver, Hall, Michols and Devlin.

If tbe hard-working players at S100 per hour, as your sarcastic writers have it, want uiura why should you all poke fnu at them?

Would >ou not like to make 81000 per diem running a newspaper? MAtiaici F. DAKIUI.

SINOII th« new Players' L»ago* refused to admit th«

St. Louis Ciub, Mr. Vou dei Alie has come to tbe oon- clnslon that the players don't kn .w enough lo come In oat of the rain. Said he the other d } : "Although 1 have a groat deal of lespect for the players'as players, 1 am of tue opinion that th«? u» uigbt/ pout man agers."

this revolution has furnished the means of sifting t'ie chaff from the Wheat. The peculiar circumstances surrounding oxhihitioo io baae hall, req«ir« that the participants in th« game should Le absolutely above euspicion, and a<> this cleansing method of tcetiug tbe morale of the personnel by golden temptation, may prove its elixir of IKe

HOW THE SPORT WILL SUFFER.Unfortunately for the National League that body

appears to hav« a monopoly of this class of players ihat ia, ihe double-dealing, triple cet:t*ftct fel'ows- So far as known the Players' League has refused to countenance this bnd stute of moral* by introducing the cu*too* within thetrranks. They will be all the better for it. Professional bicycle racing Is dead to day for Ihe same reason, and It died In » week's time. PiKUcnei-ty ia a sure and end den death to athletic sports. When pHrticipaBts prove to the public that they think more of the sirdld part of itthan tht-y do of the sport iiaelf then the thing whether it be base ball, cycling, rowing, or any other tport is as dead as a dour nail.

Of course, the public understands that participants mnst make a lit ing by their profession in order that they may devote »ll tnetr time to developing and per fecting their skill, and there ii no object! n in this di rection to participants taking advantage ot the market to enhance their salaries, but the momor t they at tempt to do this br such illegitimate rue tin* aa to prove them to be of dishonest principles, then theaport anfle-s until the element of the Mack art is obliterated. IIIH Satanic Majesty might be able to play iKoe bt-.ll lo perfection, but patrouage of him may be dctbted after ihe first curioeitr IB satisfied.

THE LOCAL SITUATION.Tbe situation in Baltimore ia unchanged. From all

tlie circumstances surrounding the unme here it is be lieved that the Monumental City will retain its repre sentation in the Atlantic AsfC-Hailon. From the peculiarities surrounding tb* National League ar.d ita relations to this city, it Is Lot bcliov«;d that orgttuiza- tion will be repreaeuied here, and too, pimply because it cannot he afforded to pu>cha&« a franchise. The monied men bat k of the club ard ucfortULate in not being ubla to caier lo itmusjmenta to any great <-xtent in thia citv without antagonizing internets upon which thcv depend in more legitimate lines of business,

M<»ttof tbew rnonifd mt-n also cater to the pleaa- nres of the people, and they will not countenance any thing thtit depletes the amount of the floating fund In the pockets of the people that is usually expended for entertainment, whether it ts for beverages or shows. Cutiauquentl) tbe backers ml«:ht be willing for any tempo ary arrangement that haa the least promise of g ttjue them out whole. B'lt investment of more capital? and iu the direction of purclm^ng a League franchise at any considerable price? No; doubly no.

This situation la emphasized more and more at the Players' League becomes more and more of a certainty, for with the National League without the oid p>-r- honnel of the clubs a League team here would surely be a flat failure. Therefore you may expect to wee Baltimore try tha experiment of the Atljtutic Associa tion, with players at moderate salaries. Aa expanses will be much let«, both in tiaveliog and in wages, there Is a better prospect of mahlug mont>y than in the nioiv expensive National League. B«aid*-8, aa ntatter*> now stand, the Atlantic Association would pruhably draw as good a patronage as the National

1890 atlagain beengrounds. The South side, it isscene of future Brotherhood games.

A PROBLEM.Just where the club will settle is a poser.

When it was compelled to leave the old lake front grounds the Chicago National League club scoured the entire South district from the river to Fortieth street in vain. At that time there were three flue pieces of properly adapted for bise ball purposes one r.t tho north eud ot Grand Boole- var.l, between Thirty-fonrtli and Thirty-firth Ureets and another on Michigan avenue, netueen Tbirty-Boveth and Thirty-eighth streets. These have, l,otii since b«en built over, however, and the third piece, the Wanderers' Cricket Ciub sronuds, OB Thirty-seventh and Indiana avenue, cannot be pur- cbiiied for base ball purposes to-day any more than il could bavo been five year« aeo.

Tbe City League a local base bill organization bos a rousb looking giourtds down among the rail road sho»s and freight yards uf ihe South Side beyond Twenty-fifth street, and I was told these might be scoured, but if the Brotherhood teams arc comi«lled to play there, they will do so under greiit disadvant age, as the locution is anything but "hint-turn." It luoka very much as though the bays were going to have "barn-picking" In their siiirch for grounds, al though »ith 1'iesHent Holmes, of the South Sids) Street Railway Comyany, to asei.t Ihorn they ia«y do better than present prospects indicate.

BL'RNS OS THK SITUATION.Tom Burns arrived Saturday lost, looking flner than

silk. W bile 1 wis chating with hi.n at luS Madinoo street Anson dr'fpe-i in, and in a fewm.tnems Bob Caruthersaud Billy Sunday nude their appearance. Ai Ihe four shook hands it occured to R.u tb.it thsj pr.'fessiou bad no qnarte-lte of better-dressed, clean- cot, fine-looking fellows just the stamp of men ihsj Leagne f< e s a pride in, on tbe ball field or off of it.

I bail quite a talk with t-ur third haiemau upon ths) situation and it« more inteiestms features. "Did you at uny time enler into correspondence with the Chi cago Brotlierbojd Club, v,ith a view to obtaining - position," I asked, "or, iu other woi application to PWTer A Co. toji]s\î«Tflur them?"

Tom smiled. "Well, Luouder if I did," *aid he. "I'll l-et 8lnO to the chip of u finder-nail that no man iu Chicago ran prove such a charge. The men wbo printed such a report as a fact lied, and kueto they lied when they printed it. I have never at any tuna enter tain*;! any notion whatever of joining forces against the League. I have no grievance, and w«rer hav» had any. Moreover, 1 do not approve tbe methods of Mr. Ward and bis followers in this fu-ht. They got the boys to pledge themselves under Ih^ Brotherhood banner by representing that extr*int« meii<urss would only be resorted to when the League had refused 10 reai-ind the clas* fixation and other objectionable laws, and then held the ft-ar of Brotherhood hadlnAga and Brotherhood slura over tbem to keep them in line, when it (the Brotherhood) wag c<mii**lled to throw off the cloak of nei:re»y and show ita t'uehari<i. Uml ih» Brotherhood gone ah?ad aud made its nrranênients for a brf>ak witb the proviso that th& bteak would b* made unless the League granted tlie coiices-jionsHsksd and not < therwise, the pUv «rs would to-uay ponaea* the s\mpathy uf all cla^â of pttople. Tndee), had tht-y done that, there would to-dny bo no Brotherhood Lfrngue in existence, for the National League, I am .. sure, would havo leiiialated fairly just as tV^ haw done. Ward and his fellow leaders io thia rev. It uuy perhaps bone&t by the plar they are making, but the le*i th» rank and tile of the players can get will, ia uiy opinion, be ibe worst of it. Under the Players* League clnesi6catioiJ rule and that ia just what U ia, nothing more nor lea* th« boys will receive the same salary under tb» Brotherhood for 1890 that they received under the National tesuue iu 1689. Ward will get

League, T. T. T.

INITIATING YOUNG PLATERS.

A Sample of the Tricks the Old Leaguer* Play in Breaking; In Young Beginner*.

Whenever a gre*n amateur or minor leaguer get* Into one of the major leagues the old leaguers gener-

ve SOUM fun "breaking him in," ae it were, and

84300, and Hugh I»ufty, ior Instanw, *?2000. Bahl If Ward is worth &3UO Duff ia worth Jja60U. If Duffy plays f«r $2000 n»-xtyear he will j'lay f»-r nny«h-r» from £500 t<» JK'OO leaB than he could have got Irom the National League. Now, where is either the ad vantage or justice ot auch au arraDi^ni^m? I might a<lv-tnce a hundred go->d reasons for not hein< a Brotherhood player in thia fuht. Bnt what is tha UHC? Time will thow whoth-T I am right or wrong, und I don't beliive I am Tery far wrong.' 1

GBX8RAL MKNT10N.Gh*c-igo has eignefl Charley Garvin, of the New ,

Ca?t!o, Pa., teem of '89.The Chicago Herald i-i to be congratulated upon tha

clean-cut, logical, and in every way admirable policy it bus adopud upon the base ball «itiutiori since the return of Mr. J. H, Robbing fn»m Ouliroruu. For two months, ending with Dt-c. 1, Robhins' haud^ wera full in ensiHieerm^ the attempt of Tom Roe to break the bicycle record (under the Herald'1 RU-pict-a) b*- twfen 8nn Fmuci-co and Citicarfo, and thn Herald?* policy during this time was a decidedly eiratio one. During the past two weeks, however. the Her«W* base ball depirtment IIM improved until to-day, it is far in advance of its !oc*l couten»r»ntnefl upon ali that pvrtaius to the nation*! gmue wi'.lrn its province HS a news medium au^l as an al>I» and clear headed critic. Mr Robbina* specially is hora«-a, '»nt ff h't continues hia effort* as a base bull writer, h« jitlc fair to *o«u become oue uf the prominent bass ball correspondent* of hia time.

Tom G«!lft«;her lias tukeu Frank Brunell's place si sportiug editor of the Ouicafo Ti-ibnne,

'- Jir- ^J

Tm Clcv.land Club hu ukfel Ilonr; Kapjwl fat hk Unu*.

the sporthstq life. base ball. baltimore...

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