The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
MR. BYRNE AND THE LEAGUE
Are the Leaders of the Latter Growing
Jealous of the Formers Power?
Successful Ball-Players and Their Salaries
The indianapolis Players Asking More
than the Phillies-The League Meeting.

It is not unlikely that there will be some sem
national baseball news emanating from New
York gcity within the next ten days. When it
was given out that the spring meeting of the
League had been called, to take place at New
York city, March 2, everybody opened his eyes
aud said, 'Why, thought the meeting had been
called for March s." And so it had. When the
board of arbitration met in Cincinnati, In De-
cember last it recommended that the League
and Association hold their spring meeting at the
same time and same place-New YORK and
March being the time and date recommended
Both organizations appeared ito agree to the
proposition. The Association. indeed, voted to
hold its meeting at the time recommended.
There has been no meeting of the League since
that date, but it has been generally understood
that they had consented to the suggestion, Of
the board of arbitration.
There is little doubt that the intention of the
League is to hold their meeting first, adopt a
schedule, and let the Association shift for
itself. This action may have been inspired not 50
much by desire to get the schedule fashioned
according to the League idea by something
else. The probability is that the League lead
ers are getting exceedingly jealous Of the very
active part Mr.. Byrne, of the Brooklyn club. Is
beginning to take in the adjustments OF base
ball affairs. Mr.. Byrne is without doubt one
of the brightest men that has ever
come into the profession. No sooner had
he entered the Association than his active spirit
manifested itself in disposition 10 take the
lead in the conduct of it's affairs, but there, too,
he met with opposition. and for a time the or
eanized effort against him was inSurmountabe.
But the opportunity at last came. year ago
the Association began to see its need or some
leader who was competent to cope with the
leaders of the League. 0. p. Cayior was gone,
and with him went the only one in
the Association possessing the proper
g. rvffh he
matters of legislation-that is, the only one save
one-and the latter was Mr.. Byrne. Mr..
Byrne's abilities are extraordinary. Not merely
does he possess great executive and business
ability. but he demonstrated at the Cincinnati
banquet in December last, that he was a fine
speaker and that his insight into the situation of
When the Association, therefore. found itself
last year in an almost deplorable need of a
leader, it began TO let Mr.. Byrne take gentle
but gradual hold the relns. He made his
way slowly, but before fall had become almost
universally recognized as the head of the
younger organization. And to his credit it can
proved accordingly. To him, doubtless, was due
the recommendation of the arbitration commit
tee for joint meeting of the League and Associ-
a sypns could the expset in 10 d.riH. from Il.
either TO himself to the Association,
does not appear clear. but 1t is natural to as
cribe the suggestion to him, as he was MEM
Der of the arbitration committee. Since the
Cincinnati meeting Mr. Byrne has not publicly
done anything which would appear to furnish
ground for alarm to the Leaguers He has been
an active member of the Association schedule
committee, has virtually been the committee,
doubtless: bat that is all Nevertheless pro-
nounced grumblings have been heard from GER
tain Lea que quarters against the activity of Mr..
Byrne, aud the statement has been made
ball affairs into his own hands. Perhaps
it is merely that he insists on schedule which
the League will not accept; but more likely it is
because Messrs Spalding, Day and company
have thought it advisable to summariIy stop the
rapid strides into prominence and influence of
Mr.. Byrne. By disregarding Mr. Byrne's pet
scheme for joint meeting, and by utterly ignor-
ing him and his Association schedule, they will
do this pretty thoroughly. But will not such an
action endanger a rupture of the amicabe rea-
lions with the Associationf IL the schedule is
no framed as to ignore the interests
OF the Association clubs, yes; but that
will hardly be done. The League can adopt q
schedule that may be satisfactory to the ma
jority of the Association clubs and still not be
the one which has been born of Mr. Byrne's fer
tile brain. as the one adopted by the joint sched-
ule was. doubtless, TO greater or less extent.
However true this presumption may be- 1t Is
certain that the League has some secret object
In calling an early meeting 1t is to be hoped,
whatever 10 done. that no breach will be created
between the two associations, for on the existence
and observance of the national agreement de-
ponds tho of professional base ball. Itmay
be- after all that instead OF antagonizing Mr..
Byrnc, the object of the Leaguers 10 to swallow
him, and take in the Brooklyn club in place Of
the Washingtons From the way in which the
Washington clubs affairs running such
thing looks reasonable, but 1t is not likely, even