Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-08
NOTHING BUT A NAME.
The Base Ball brotherhood Fail to
Effect an Organization.

1t really looks as though the brotherhood of
ball players have reached their zenith and are
now on the wrong side of the toboggan slide.
A week ago their stock was above par and
things looked squally for the league, but today
public confidence in the new scheme is badly
shaken and the league is jubilant. The cause
of this detection is the inability of the brother
hood to perfect an organization, which, it was
expected, would be done almost imme diately
after the first meeting. AS it is, this new body
Is simply an anonymous mass of base ball
players with name but no machinery, and
magnates Of the league and association are
offering
ODDS THAT THE SCHEME WILL FALL THROUGH
before springtime. A dispatch from New York
says: The players national league has adj
Journed without perfecting permanent or
ganlzation. All day long have the delegates
been locked up in their meeting room strug-
Silng with the great problem of how to Or
ganiZe. Besides the delegates at these meet
inSs, Judge Bacon of New York was present to
keep the new league out of illegal ruts, and it
was by his advice that the delegates finally ed
journed at $50 pm. The delegates had pro-
crossed SO far as adopting PLAYERS contract
ana nominations had teen made for a perma-
nent secretary, when Judge Bacon stopped
further proceedings by saying: "Gentlemen,
yOu NaAHOt titCt permanent OICeTS IOT cur
Poratlons that do not exist" Chairman Al
johnson at once called halt, and then after
snort discussion it was voted to adjourn until
tuesday, January 2, or sooner. If the chair de-
clded that 1t was necessary. Between now and
the January meeting the clubs in each city are
to be incorporated.
THE NEW CONTRACT
submitted by the committee and adopted by
the meeting is for three years. The financial
QCreament bafx he to1 cfa nd olo
as embodied in the contract provides that
there shall be an equal division of all gate and
stand receipts. After paying salaries and
SZ,5jO each into general fund for prizes each
CLUB Is to divide the first $4,000 in profits
among the stockholders and any surplus profits
remaining are to be deposited into general
fund for equal distribution between all the
players OF the league. Each club is empowered
10 hx Its own capitalization OF stock. club
can issue go, 900 or S20O00 worth of stock if
it so desires. There has been no distribution
OF players by the new league. The brother
hood agreement, signed by the players with
their respective clubs. holds them the same as
a contract, but new contracts are to be signed
by each individual player soon as the new
form comes from the printer.
COMMITTEE on ORGANIZATION.
Before adjourning this committee on perma-
nent organization was appointed: Col. Nc
Alpin OF New York, chairman; Henry NJ Love,
fhuaCeIphla; Al Johnson Cleveland Ed Han
Ion, Pittsburg, and John Addison of Chicago.
This committee will formulate constitution
and bylaws and also draw up an agreement
which is to be presented 80 the minor leagues.
A vote was taken for permanent secretary on
the names of Harry Wright of Philadelphia
and Frank Brunell of the Chicago Tribune, with
the following result: For Brunell-Buifalo, 9;
Chicago. 2; Cleveland, q; Pittsburg. 2; New
York, 1; total. votes. For Henry Wright
Boston. 2; Brooklyn, 2; Philadelphia, 2; New
York, l. total, votes.
Before the result of the ballot was announced
Judge Bacon nterposed his legal veto, and it
was decided to postpone the election until the
January meeting. Just before the NEE ting adj
Journed John Morrill, resigned as temporary
secretary, giving as a reason that he was going
to California with the Boston club. John Mont
gomery Ward was unanimously elected to fill
the vacancy. MIR. Ward was authorized to re-
ceive sealed proposals for base ball supplies, to
be opened Mt the January meeting.
1t Is said that telegram was sent to Rad
bourn OF the Boston club asking how much
stock he would take. 1t was understood that
he had expressed q willingness to take SO 600
worth. No answer was received to the telegram.
Atelegram containing practically the same ques-
ton was also sent to Clarkson, but it elected
no reply.