Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-04
HOLDING BACK THE BOMB.
Rogers Illness VIII Defer the Legal Bat-
tle-Dav Said TO Have Very strong
Case-Prenldent Byrne's Opln-
L.. II nhnlu.n

tlo-Dny Said 10 Have n Very strong
Case-Prehident Byrne's Opln-
ion Of Phelps.
tRPEcIAL TELEeRAM 10 THE DTsP ArcH.,
NEW YORK, December 2-The illness of
John l. Rogers, of Philadelphia, has resulted in
the putting of of the throwing of the bomb
that the League has prepared. and it is now not
likely that anything of importance Will be done
in the matter until after the new year has
opened. 1t will take some days to prepare the
necessary papers, and if the League men really
have the proof which they say that they can
produce against a certain Brotherhood player,
there will be some fun before the next season
opens. President Day is keeping somewhat
quiet at the present time. and refuses to have
anything to say as to what he viii or what he
will not do. but certain it is that he has deep
laid scheme that viii be >discovered at no dis
tant Gay.
The much-taIked-of suit will be against John
NJ. Ward. and will be brought on behalf Of the
New York club. The League committee, con-
sisting of Messrs. Day. Byrne and Rogers. VIII
probably come together during the latter part
of the week, and form some plan upon which
to work. The suit will be brought in this city,
and will prove red-hot fight from BEGINNING
to end. Ward will be attacked where he least
expects it.
The League men are keeping a sharp lookout
on the movements Of the American Associa-
non, and from present indications It would
seem as if they would like nothing better than
to havethe Association ioin hands with the
Brotherhood as in such case the League
could make combined descent on the players
now with the Association. This they cannot DO
now. on account of the national agreement
The Brooklyn club has added another impor-
tant name to its galaxy of players Tor 1880. The
latest addition is DR.. Busbong, who met Presl-
dent Byrne to-day and stated his readiness to
resign with the Brooklyn club. It was pleas
ant moment, of course, to Mr.. Byrne. who al
ways believed that the famous catcher would
remain loyal: still the fact of his signing with
the old club sets at rest all doubts as to how he
stands in the quarrel between the Players, and
the National League. This makes the four
teenth player signed by the Grooms. The only
ones remaining out are the two pitchers,
Hughes and Lovett. and Catcher Visner. All
these are very desirable men to have upon
team, and there appears to he but little doubt
that their names will be upon Brooklyn
League club contract probably before the new
year is ushered in.
Regarding the sfbreak" of CorkhiIl, wherein
the clever center-felder is reported to have
said that he signed to play with the Brooklyn
club in the American Association and not in
the League, Mr.. Byrne said it was the veriest
trash "Only few days ago" added Mr..
Byrne, Il had very cordial letter from Cork
hill and there is not the slightest intimation
that be was dissatisfied in again signing with
the Brooklyn club"
what do YOU think of Mr.. Phelps opinion
of the reserve rule"? DISPATCH reporter
asked President Byrne. "Oh, there is an ex-
cuse for anything that Mr.. Phelps may say
upOu budb SuDloCb ne Is necessarily plQueQ az
the turn of AFFAIRS in the American Associa-
tion. If Mr. Phelps however. really believes
now that the reserve rule won't stand in the eyes
of the law, as the player received no consider
alton for the privilege, then he must be a very
inconsistent man. Why, the gentleman was
one of the original trainers of the national
agreement and for two years we were to-
gether in the Board of Arbitration. A player
gets no consideration for the privilege, eh ?
think he gets a great deal. There is not
player in the country who would not play in
club for much less salary than elsewhere if
he was assured that he would not be reserved.
Take the case of DAILY, for instance who has
signed with the Brooklyn club. A number of
clubs were anxious to secure him, but be
chose to play with the Washington club and
await future developments by signing q con-
tract with the reserve clause stricken out The
fact of Washington backing him under the
circumstances, so as to give him a chance to
get a greater salary at some other time, is
giving a player great latitude, don't you
think ?'