Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-07

The long deferred meeting of the directors
Of the Local National League club was held
yesterday at President Nimick's office. Al
ter all the waiting Messrs. o'Neil and Con-
verse were absent, but they were represented
by proxy. Some very important business
was discussed and if the programme as
mapped out is fulfilled there is any amount
of fun ahead for baseball cranks. Guy
Hecker was appointed manager of the club,
and the Southern trip project together with
the proposed legal proceedings were deferred
until further information on the matter is re-
ceived
The first business done was the appointing OF
Mr HeIker as manager Of the club. President
Nimick stated Mr. Hecker's terms and added
that it required more than two hours talk on
Tuesday to secure these terms from Mr.. Hecker.
The terms were acceptable to all the directors
and Sir Guy was unanimously elected. He will
commence working in the interests of the club
atonce.
THAT SOUTHERN TRIP.
The proposed Southern trip was next dis
cussed, and there was some diversity Of opinion
on this point Secretary Scandrett very strong
lymaintained that many years experience had
taught him that there was more loss than gain
in such trips. He argued that as rule the
players are not improved in condition, and that
many of them contract colds because Of cli-
matte changes: and as a rule, therefore, the
money is almost entirely wasted, Mr. Nimick
favored the trip maintaining that 1t would as
sist in discovering who were the likely players
among the young men on the team. Finally it
was decided that Secretary Scandrett write to
the proprietors of the Southern grounds and
to he NJ ~
and then report to q meeting Of directors, when
the matter will be settled.
The next question was tho most important,
VIZ, that pertaining to the proposed suits
against stockholders and players of the new
club. This was discussed at length, and
although Mr.. Converse was absent, it was
known that he desires fight to the finish In all
respects.
WILL CONSULT LAWYERS.
Mr.. o'Nein holds a similar opinion, and after
q lengthy discussion it was resolved that Secre-
tary Scandrett secure the best legal advice on
the matter at once and report to the directors.
II the advice is TO the effect that the old club
directors have anything like good case against
the parties to be sued, proceedings will be CON-
menced without delay.
After the meeting Secretary Scandrett said:
lit has come to a bitter fight and we have re-
We think we have chance of scoring point
/ don't. Of course, believe in legal hghts.
but when players and their hackers
have violated their contracts and honor
with the object of running our business why it
is time to employ any honorable means of stop
ping it. will consult with counsel at once. and.
if we are given to understand that we have any
thing like reasonable case, we will sue all the
stockholders and some of the PLAYERS of the new
club for damages. Almost every lawyer tells us
that we can get damages, but we also want to
secure inJunctions against the players.
ABOUT THE PLAYERS CONDUCT.
Most certainly suits would never have been
thought of had the players acted honorably with
us They all know that each of them signed with
us last year, and gave US an option on their
services for this year. They all know this plain
ly, and that fact prompted us to pay out SIS, 900
for releases. Now we would never have done
that had the common understanding not been
that these players would have been true to their
contracts and remained with us this year.
Now if they had played with Us
both us and the National League, and we could
have had no case against them at all. They
could have signed with us for the one year only
and have no reserve clause at all in the con-
tract. This would have been the honorable
and the business way of acting. However,
am confident thatwe can secure damages from
somebody. Here is a fact. Last year $4,000
would not have been an unfair price TO ask
for the clubs franchise and players. Now we
couldn't get anything like that.
VIOLATING AGREEMENTS.
This has been caused by players violating
agreements with us; agreements that are re-
corded in black and white. Somebody will
have to pay the damages"
Mr.. Scandrett went on to say that if the club
went South all the 20 players would go, but
that when the season is fairly commenced only
about IA or Is men will be retained 1t is denied
that Hecker will be at first base instead of
Beckley, The latter will be retained, it is
stated, at the position at which he has made
himself famous 1t is further understood that
the local suits will be commenced irrespective
Of the result of the Yard case Some people,
however, claim that no suits will be commenced
here until decision is given in the Hallman
and Bufinton cases at PHILADELPHIA