Clipping:Ward denounced the Brush plan
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| Date | Wednesday, June 12, 1889 |
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| Text | Johm M. Ward, president of the Ball Players' Brotherhood, is outspoken in his denunciation of the classification rule, and says that it “is in spirit of a nullification of every benefit derived by the player, and, in its practical application, the National League has practically violated its promise not to reserve at a less salary. Of those classified the great majority have been held at a figure less than that received last season, and the fact that wo or three have been given an advance is a blind too transparent to deceive anyone as to the true character of the steal. The rule was passed, it is claimed, in order to allow several of the weaker cities to at least clear expenses. To the average mind the conclusion would be that if Indianapolis and Washington cannot afford the rate of salaries their associate clubs pay, then they are not entitled to the same class at ball. They are in too fast company, and they ought to get out. They have no right to stay in at the expense of their players. But if it is objected that the that the success of the National League demands the continued existence of these clubs, the fair reply is that the League then should stand the expense. Indianapolis has about as much right in the National League as Oshkosh. Yet if the League admitted the latter city, would it be fair to ask Denny, Myers, Boyle, Glasscock, etc., to play there at figures which would allow Oshkosh to clear their expenses? … It is a fact which cannot bainsaid that taking all the clubs together there is a great deal of money made each year from base ball. The Boston, New York and Chicago clubs pay immense dividends. The low-salaried Philadelphia Club, notwithstanding the wails of its owners, pays largely. Pittsburg makes something, and Detroit, which was said to have lost last season, is now settling up its affairs and publicly chuckling over the division of $54,000 profit derived from somewhere. It would not be exaggerating to say that the aggregate annual profit from the eight League clubs amounts to from $200,000 to $300,000. Now, if the National League wishes to carry several weak cities along, why did I not devise some scheme by which the deficiencies in those clubs sould be made up out of this enormous profit, instead of taking it out of the pockets of the players in those clubs? If, for instance, the League, instead of attempting the unjust and impossible classification scheme, had simply voted to pay the visiting club 50 per cent. instead of 25 per cent., as at present, the alleged losses of the Indianapolis and Washington clubs would have been made up out of the general profit, and there would still be sufficient left to more than compensate the magnates for the capital invested and the risk incurred. |
| Source | The Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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