Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-09

There are few men more interesting
takers about baseball, and particularly its
historical features, than Justice Thorner, OF
Cincinnati. Mr.: Thorner was one of the
''braveg' who stood with Mr. Lucas in the
establishment of the old baseball union. and
he was one of the founders of the present
American Association. 1t may be that
Mr.. Thorner says many things that other
baseball historians will question and that
other lawyers-he is lawyer-will doubt. But
he is = very interesting talker when it comes
down to baseball, and is an ardent admirer Of
the Brotherhood movement.
Mr.. Thorner was in the city yesterday and
naturally was full of ideas and arguments in
favor of the new departure of the players.
During long conversation with the writer he
said: The venture proposed by the National
League players ought to succeed and will sue
coed if the programme arranged is carried out.
have Just come from New York andI think
know
WHAT THE INTENTIONS ARE.
can name some of them, because have been
solicited to assist in forming the new organiza-
ton. Now, the first thing TO consider in es-
timating the success of the Brotherhood's
scheme is the part that the players will play in
It As far as 1 understand each player is to
be prepared to make sacrifice for its welfare.
That is if a players salary is fixed at so much he
is to receive only certain amount per month
to live on until money sufficient is received to
pay salaries in full. OF course if sufficient
money is received from the start to pay all.
that will be all right; but if there is shortage
the players are expected to allow part of their
salaries to run on. This is the only way that
the new venture can be made a success, as it
can't be expected that capitalists will run all
the risk at the offset.
In saying this" continued Mr.. Thorner 81
talk from experience for certainly have had
experience in baseball affairs. think the
Brotherhood will succeed if it is rightly
guided, because we started the present Amer
ican Association under discouragements hun
dredfold worse than now surround the Brother
hood. Let me tell you how the American As
sociation was formed by few of US in Pitts
burg. and then you'll see that, however small
the beginning may be, we never can tell what
the end may be. Well. Horace Phillips,
THAT REMARKABLE HUSTLER,
conceived the idea to start up an organization
in rivalry to the National League and he wrote
me time and time again about the matter.
Finally we called a meeting at Washington
and all who were present in the room at meet
ing time was Horace and myself and a little
boy who shined my shoes. We didn't lose
heart, but packed up and left.
We called another meeting at the ST. Clair
Hotel, Pittsb urg, and brought on with me O.
P. Caylor, from Cincinnati and another re-
porter named Wright These two. Mr..
Phillips and myself were all the people
who showed up then and it really looked blue.
Phillips and took stroll into Diamond street
and there learned that baseball crank named
AL Pratt was working in one of the mills and
we found him. He told US of Denny Mcknight
and he also was secured. We then held our
meeting, and as a starter suggested myself as
Chairman and Mr. Cayior. We were SO few
that was compelled to ask the meeting to
vote as I suggested.
Then" Mr.. Thorner went on to say, I'VE
were organized for all practical purposes and
/ suggested that we have baseball representa-
tives a. Louisville, Washington Philadelphia
New York and st. Louis to send me their
proxy as to where the next meeting should be
held.
A DIPLOMATIC MOVE.
1--WE led everybody wired to believe that he
was the only one absent from the meeting, and |
that caused an immediate reply. Among others |
we wired Messrs. J. B. Day, James Mutrie and |
Jerry Scanlon. As result we had a rousine |
meeting the next time. 1 remember that Mr.. |
Appleton represented Mr., Day. and the former |
held aloof at the meeting until he saw that |
there was plenty of money behind the scheme. |
However, we soon had plenty of money and the |
whole of America knows now that the Associa- |
ton not only started amid tremendous opposi- |
ton, but is now living, strong and WELL"
Regarding the National Leagues threat of |
enJoining players, Mr.. Thorner said; This was |
tried in the old Union in Ohio ana failed. Tony |
Mullane violated Union contract and went to |
Toledo. Mr.. Lucas, my friend, applied for in
junction against Mullane's PLAYING with the |
Toledos, and it was granted by Judge Conpor 1
However. the Supreme Court of Ohio dis.
solved the injunction and that ended the
matter. 1 therefore believe that a similar re-
suit awaits any action on the part of the
League to enioin their old players. 1 firmly am
Of opinion that if rightly conducted the
scheme Will succeed. But there
are many things to consider and the principal
is the integrity of the players themselves
However, why mention the birth and progress
OF the present Association is to show that a
small and uncertain beginning does not