Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-23
Mr.. BRUSH'S VIEWS.
The Hoosier President Talks About
Brotherhood Demands.
THERE WILL BE LITTLE CHANGE.
Some Interesting Gossip From the Spiders
and Cleveland.
NEWS FROM LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS

INDIANAPOLIS, June 22.-The recent
action of the Brotherhood of Baseball
Players in making certain demands relative
to the classification system and other alleged
hardships, has caused some speculation here,
and the matter has been discussed in its
different phases by nearly everybody inter-
ested in the future of the game. 1 find,
however, that those who appear to be well
posted do not anticipate any serious trouble.
President Brush left suddenly for Chicago
last Saturday, and was gone for several
days, and the belief obtained that he had
made it point to see Spalding in regard to
the matter, but when I met him to-day and
asked for his views he assured me that he did
not see Spalding at all, and was entirely tree
from fear as to the ultimate outcome of the
threatened strike. Mr.. Brush says that
he thinks the players will do nothing
rash, but supplemented this statement with
the additional one that if the League was to
have any difficulty with the players it might
just as well come now as any time. "For my
part" he said, Il am ready for 1t now" The
players have no real grievance and fail to see
what they will gain by the move just made.
Knowing that the official head of the Hoosiers
had received one of the Brotherhood circulars
from President Young, with a request for re-
ply, made quite persistent effort to extract
some information from him relative to that
matter, but it was failure. Mr.. Brush, it
should be understood, is about the last
man in the business to discuss affairs
of this character. He said, in
substance, that he had answered President
Young's communication, but declined to tell
what view he had taken of the subject. AS he
regarded the circular as private and confiden-
tia Mr.. Brush felt that he had no right to make
public his reply, for the reason that by SO doing
he would to certain extent give publicity to
the circular ITSELF He stated, however, that
he cannot see what the committee appointed
by Mr. Young can accomplish, and did not
know when or where it will meet. He ad-
mitted that the Brotherhood circular made no
specific demands and was as whole rather
vague and indefinite.
Mr. Brush said that SO far as the classifca-
tion plan is concerned that cannot and will not
be changed In any manner by this committee.
1t is one of the League laws and a part of the
constitution and nobody other than the League
itself can annul or alter it. AS all other League
laws are subject to revision only by two
thirds vote at some regular meeting or unani-
nous vote by mail. In view of this fact Mr..
Brush is of the opinion that the committee ap-
pointed to meet the committee from the
Brotherhood has no power to do anything other
than agree to recommend certain legislation to
the League to be acted upon at the proper
see that Mr. Brush is still in favor of the classi
fication system and means to stand by
it in spite of fate. From his talk
too. l very clearly understand that he feels Sc
cure in his position for the reason that several
other members of the League are with him.
In fact, when asked him how many favored
the plan he very promptly replied, seven.
He admits that the system is not perfect and
may undergo some notifications. but seems
confident that with few changes will be con-
tinued as a law of the League and special pains
will be taken to see that it is Obeyed. Mr..
Brush says that the time has passed when one,
two or even three members Of the League can
disregard the laws of that body simply to ad-
vance their own interests, taking no account OF
the injury such violation may work to others. :,
There is too much money invested in baseball
to permit such juggling and 1t will not be al
lowed. rather think that the Hoosler Presi-
dent feels that Mr.. Day, of New York, has no
right to openly oppose and try to discredit the
system. He very sensibly argues that SO long
as it is a law it should be respected and obeyed.
If. however, at the proper time, amajorlty de-
cides that the system is not good one it ought
Mr.. Brush maintains no one has a
right to violate it. 1t is my opinion, based
upon few facts recently obtained, that there
is even at this time
readopt, at the next annual meeting, the sys-
tenn Of classification now in vogue, and bring
every player in the country within the ran OF
its provisions. There will be exceptions
Mr.. Keefe, Mr.. Kelly. Mr.. Connor, Mr.. Ward
and all others will stand on the same ground
MI. Ward argues that II indianapolis, Pitts
burg, Cleveland and. Washington cannot pay
salaries demanded they ought to get our
of the League. On the other hand
it can be argued that If Mr.. Ward and those of
his class think they cannot afford to play ball
for the salaries fixed by the classifier let them
get out They do not have to play ball If it
is against their best interests. The country is
full of rising young ball players 1t seems
rather singular business proposition that the
League cannot say what the salary limit will
be. Time will tell and we shall see what we
shall see in the sweet by and by.
The Hoosiers have braced up, and Just at
present are playing great ball. The pitchers
have settled down and Getzein and Boyle es-
specially have been doing good work. The
team is batting heavily, and the fielding has
been above the average. A. G. OVENS.