The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-08
NIllll.es9le
PEACE IS IN SIGHT
w. I. Harris Looks at the Base
ball Situation Hopefully.
RUMORS OF A GREAT BIG DEAL
The Prospects for Consolidation of the
Three Prominent Leagues GOod-Many
Players May Be without Jobs Next
Season.

Players May BE hlIhout "S
Season.
downright by American Press Association
Peace negotiations are apparently off be-
tween the two major baseball leagues, yet
as an actual fact the capitalists are still
dickering and all hope of an arrangement
is not positively dead. Indeed, it was never
more favorable. 1t is true that the regular
conference was broken up by the attempt
of the Brotherhood to force Messrs. Ward,
Hanlon and Irwin upon the Players
league committee. Perhaps / should not
lay the matter entirely at the door of the
brotherhood, as the player directors of the
League were aided in their design by the
capitalists from Boston, Pittsburg and
Philadelphia. The players were added to
the committee by a unanimous vote, but
this was because the capitalists opposed 10
it found that they did not have votes
enough to prevent it and therefore wisely
concluded to make no open opposition. As
is well known, the original committee when
in conference with the National league and
Association men had got pretty well start
ed upon plan of partial consolidation and
peace.
They found such smooth sailing and that
matters could be 50 equitably settled, with
mutual sacrifices on both sides much less
than had been expected, that they disliked
very much to see things go by the board IN
the face of the public demand for cessa-
ton of hostilities. When these gentlemen
found that everything was liable to end in
smoke owing to the refusal of the National
league and association to permit players
whom they considered to have been the
ringleaders in the movement which had
cost them such immense losses to partici-
pate in the peace settlement, it is not sur
prising that the capitalists should have to
"a certain extent taken things into their own
hands as individuals. This they have done,
and during the past week there have been
a number of conferences between lndl-
vidual members Of the two leagues having
eventual peace for their object. The New
York men have already agreed upon basis
for consolidation, the Brooklyn men have
got some idea of a plan, and the Chicago
and Cleveland people are trying TO find one.
The men who are trying to work the
deal are Messrs. Johnson, McAipin, Tai
cott Robinson, Goodwin, Wallace and Adj
Olson on one side, and Messrs. Spalding,
Day, Byrne, Robinson, Howe and Hawley
on the other. Just what these negotla-
tions may lead to it is hard to say at this
time. That it is the intention of Mr.. Nc
Alpin and his associates to desert the Play
ers' league is hardly possible or probable.
1t may be that they are trying TO force
general consolidation of the three major
organizations. This seems to be the most
reasonable supposition of the two, and 1T
indicates split in the cOunsels Of the
Players league which may be fatal TO 1t.
1t is plain that the men who have been
providing the money for the disastrous
war which the closing season has sus-
pended have determined to prevent its
resumption. The Boston and Philadelphia
capitalists are making a great howdy-do
about standing by their players, but it Is
somewhat doubtful If they would be so
loud if they did not think that consOlida-
ton in their cities, which would force them
into a secondary circuit, was almost i'm
possible.
Can a consolidation be forced by the in
dividual action of three or four clubs2 1t
would seem that if those clubs are New
York, Brooklyn, Cleveland and Chicago
that the answer would be in the affirma-
tive. The Players league capitalists and
the Brotherhood say that even such de-
lection would not be sufficient TO do the
business. ! am told that the Boston and
Philadelphia people are willing to put up
any amount Of money to keep the new or
ganization going, and that a new circuit
would be arranged in very short order. 1t
is also stated that new capitalists can east
ly be found to start a new club in New
York, and that if the men behind the p. l..
clubs in the four cities named decided
to pool their interests they could not
deliver their players, as the Brotherhood
would not permit them TO play anywhere
but in the Players league. The more rabid
of the Brotherhood players say that rather
than see the Players league diSintegrated
they would be perfectly willing TO have the
gate receipts salary clause in their con-
tracts enforced against them, and cheerful
ly play for such share Of the gate money
as might accrue to them after running eX-
penses had been li1uidated.
As to new capitalists in the city of New
York. it is pretty safe TO wager that when
the present hackers of the Brotherhood
there get tired successors for them will
be scarce enough 10 make the project
Ors hunting for them weary indeed. As 10
a new circuit, that is exactly what the men
who are engineering the deal propose, and
they can offer a better circuit than the
four Directing clubs if left alone could hope
TO organize. As to the question of deliver
ing the players, that is not so serious as 1t
would appear on the surface. 1t is more
than probable that should the proposed
consolidation take place at least third of
the men who last year played with the
Players league teams would not be wanted
for next year in the leading league This
n due 70 the fact tnaV many Of them did
not play ball as they could have done, that
many have lost their skill, aud that others
who were rebellious and disSipated are
likely 10 suffer for il. With a very few eN-
ceptions the players generally are after the
mighty dollar, and il Is not TO be supposed
that in event of consolidation as anticl-
pated that the Brotherhood would be able
to hold them in line. The power of the
Brotherhood in such case TO dictate TO Its
players would not be so great As some OF
its chiefs now profess to believe.
The preponderance of argument appears
10 indicate that If the capitalists in New
York. Brooklyn, Chicago aud Cleveland
can agree the other parties viii have 10
fall into line, and that the much desired
peace and national championships will be
established by a consolidation Of the three
major leagues into one. Ii the men who
are now holding informal conferences
nearly every day cannot reach a common
ground on which an equitable agreement
can be made, then the future Of the profess
Sional side of the game Will once more be
shrouded in uncertainty.
Those who believe that peace is necessary
to the stability Of the same as it is now pre-
sented 10y professionals can, think, take
new hope that peace viii be brought about
Meanwhile rumors should be received