Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-06
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH. I

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.i
CLEVELAND, March 5-One whole day
has been spent by the National League dele
gates in debate. 1t was an informal con-
ference at that Not until this evening was
the League called to order. The problem to
be solved was, how can the circuit be re-
duced to eight clubs. John 7. Brush was
the king pin. He held the key to the situa-
tion, and he held it close to his breast.
While he and Walter Hewitt were in close
communion in a corner of the Weddell lobby
the representatives of the eight other clubs
were meeting IN caucus. 1t was not secret
one, but was held with the knowledge and con-
sent of the two clubs without which the League
would be so happy.
MR.. BRUSH WAS COOL,
And something like smile of triumph played
about his thin lips. Young Hewitt, with
pretense that all he needed was a good short
stop. seemed in good humor. All sorts of
stories we're a1oat. 1t came pretty straight
that Washington wanted $4,000 to withdraw.
The picture was drawn that Washington was
like a railroad with nothing but a right of way
and two streaks of rust Even Mr. Hewitt
and Mr. Brush admitted that in a financial
sense an eight club League would be the better
thing, but they wanted financial salve before
burnt sacrifices on the League altar. The De-
troIt contingent remained on the ground Wig
orously urging the advisability of taking that
that city into the League in Washington's
place. There is no question about the latter's
willingness to retire. for the love of the sport
that was implanted in the breast of the elder
Hewitt does not seem to have descended to the
son. ExPresident F. K StearnS has been
earnestly pleading with the League delegates
to turn their eyes towari Michigan, away from
a city which has poor excuse for a team to
one that has a champion aggregation.
WHAT MR.. MILLS SAYS.
President NJ. B. Mills, of the wrecked Inter
national Association declared: "If l was
League man l think would look at this mat
ter as if Washington had no team and no
grounds Detroit has elegant grounds and q
strong team. Washington is anxious to get ont
without further loss. Detroit is just as anxious
to come in, feeling that the champions of the
international are clever enough to come in not
worse than fifth in this years race. The League
ought to be glad to have the assistance of such
a club and such a city. do not think it has
been treated exactly right We might at least
be granted hearing. If we fan to get into the
League intend to 60 at once to Buffalo and
try to place an International Association club
there One thing you may be sure of, Detroit
will have a ball club this year. If we fail TO re-
vive the International will certainly offer the
Brotherhood people our grounds and stands
rent free if they will give us baseball. Detroit
is not after money; if we can scratch along and
make both ends meet we are satisfied, tor we
do love the game have had little or no en-
couragement while here. A man would think
that the League would throw its arms open to
embrace such a chance. All we want is fran
chise. There is not player Walter Hewitt
has that we would care about. Give US place
in the League, that is all we ask. We will pay
for that Detroit's admission would place
PittsbuTg in the Eastern circuit
ALITTLE TOO BUSY.
The League people were too busy with this
eight club problem to listen to the pleadings of
the Michlganders who were discouraged and
not bit backward about acknowledging that
to be the case. President Mills asserted that
indianapolis wanted $4,000 for its franchise
and that the League would not give it, His |
threat to 90 into the Brotherhood was received
with a show of humor, although Albert L. |
johnson, who has stuck to the Leaguers as
close as burr to a farmers pants. received |
the news with gladness. Detroit's game is for
the PLAYERS League to put Buffalo in the bag.
They would enjoy revenge on their former In |
ternational conferees if such slaughter oc-
CURED.
tingly betrayed the secret of Brush's anxiety |
when asked if there was any probability of |
transfer of the Washington franchise to the |
City of the Straits by saying: i am afraid not |
1t looks to me as if there would be only eight |
clubs in the League this year. Washington |
wants TO sell and we are anxious to buy, but I've
made good many inquiries during the last u |
hours, and am constrained tn believe that we |
have not much hope of getting in. The general |
desire is for an eight club League and in spite |
of all that has been said to the contrary. am |
about convinced that indianapolis and Wash |
ington will go out" |
AL SCANDRETT TALKS. !
Secretary Scandrett, of the Pittsburg club, |
Seemed to think that the Schedule Committee
anticipated the sale of Washington's franchise |
to Detroit, when it drew up the recommenda. |
tion providing for an equal division of the i
mileage expenses of the several clubs You |
see" he said. ''if Detroit were TO take Wash |
ington's place Pittsburg would be thrownsinto |
the Eastern group. and the consequence would |
be a greatly increased mileage expense. Under |
the present division of the clubs, Pittsburg has |
much the best of II, for when the Western |
clubs 90 East we have a shorter distance than |
any of them to travel. But if we were put in |
the Eastern division, we would have to do some !
very lively hustling TO jump around with Bos- |
ton, Brooklyn and New ork, and our mileage |
would be much larger than that of any other |
club, TINS equal division OF the mileage ex- |
penses will. OF course, do away with the objec- |
tions that we would otherwise be compelled to |
raise against being transferred to the Eastern !
group. However. think this scheme to divide |
the mledEe GAp6llStS Is Il very gOOQ |
one no matter whether Detroit takes Wash |
ington's place or not, and I'm surprised that |
something like it was not thought of long ago." |
Ats o'clock half an hour after the evening /
session had commenced, the little President of |
the League came down the stairway and ap- |
preached the waiting newspaper delegation. |
1.-The League" said he, has referred the |
back to the committee and adjourned |
until lG o'clock tomorrow morning. II will be |
rearranged on the basis of ten clubs, and one |
thing the committee will do is to avoid race |
IL y lnnra L.
steps to where the adjournment" had taken |
place Not League delegate withdrew, and |
an all night debate is doubtless on.