The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-05
THEY SEEK PEACE
A RumOr That the Association
is Weakening.
THE LEAGUE is NOT AvERSE
Al JoLlson Cannot Deliver What He Has Sold
to the Associations Enemies-An
Interview With Thurman.

There can be no doubt that the Ameri-
can Association regrets its hasty action in
breaking away from the national agree
ment, and is now anxious to get back under
Its protecting wing. Indications multiply
that such is the fact, and the Association
is throwing out "feelers" all along the line.
In at least three directions attempts have
been made to discover on what conditions
the national agreement clubs will receive
them back. That an under the rose" eff
fort is being made "unofficially" to ar
range the terms of the readmittance is in
dictated by the resignation of Allen w.
Thurman as chairman of the board of con-
troll.
The League men are reticent as to terms
andconditions of the surrender for twill be
a surrender plain and simple, preferring to
walt until the bridge is reached before at
tempting to cross it. All the League mag
mates are in favor of peace, and the Asso-
citation will have little difficulty in getting
back on application. The League men,
however, Will not consent to have any con-
ditions imposed on them. They consider
that the Association has put them to some
expense and great deal of trouble, which
the players taken from the Association in
retaliation will not recompense. Neither
do most of the League men seem to be de-
srous of making hard terms for the Asso-
citation. 1t is not likely that the League
will demand anything more than an undis-
puted territory in Cincinnati. If the Asso-
citation insists on having, a club in that CITY
there will be no peace. This is about the
way it appears to me after considerable in
yestigation.
The League has been having more trouble
with Al. Johnson, after every one Thought
he was eliminated from the game. John
son on his part claims that the League has
broken faith with him in declining to nav
the $4,000 promised him. The League
men on the other hand say that they are
ready to pay the draft when johnson de-
livers the goods. 1t appears now, accord
ing to the injunction tying up the base
ball park, that johnson did not, as he as
serted, own the stock of the Boston and
Philadelphia people He claims they gave
1t to him, and they say that they merely
allowed him to control it for his and their
best interests. Their interests not having
been considered, they apply for an iniupc-
ton and the appointment of a receiver.
gets into type.
If johnson loses and receiver is ap-
pointed the League viii have nothing from
johnson. Now they do not consider John
son poor man, and do not propose to give
him $4,000 for nothing. If Johnson proves
in court that the Boston and PHILADELPHIA
parties gave him their interests in the Gin
cinnati club outright and wins the suit
the League will pay the money, otherwise
not. In order to be prepared the League
has leased new grounds, so that they will
be ready to open April %, as advertised.
They cannot afford to wait several months,
perhaps longer, for the final decision of a
lawsuit; for even if johnson wins there is
sure to be an appeal, if for no other pur-
pose than to keep the ball park closed. OF
course these proceedings might be dropped
in case of an agreement of peace, which
the Association is trying to bring about
The truth about the charges of broken
faith is simply this: johnson sold some
thing which he couldn't deliver, and is
bowling murder because the purchaser
refuses to pay for goods not delivered. The
public Will size up the matter as it sees it
and act accordingly.
Catcher Farrell and Outfelder Duffy.
both good batters, will be included in
the Boston Association club, and will
strengthen the team materially.
The resignation of Mr.. Thurman from
the board Of control, if permanent, can
only be viewed as a severe injury to the
national game. His course throughout
has been one Of strict integrity, despite the
slurs thrown upon him. In an interview
with your correspondent Mr.. Thurman
said that he did not consider that he owed
any explanation or apology to the Associa-
ton, and had none to make. The charges
made by newspapers, particularly in his
own home Columbus, where he had lived
so many years, demanded some answer,
His was somewhat brief
81 was appointed" he said with earnest
ness, Ito serve as one of three Judges to
determine such cases as came before the
board under set of rules known generally
rs baseball laws, drafted into and under
the national agreement. / WIS not sent
there as partisan president to decide al
ways in favor of my organization, and
when Imet in board as one of three Judges
! ceased to be an Association partisan. On
account of the negligence of the very
people vino appointed me one of the judges
in the vexatious baseball muddles, I de-
cided as the rules practically ordered me to
decide. | should have been unfaithful to
my trust had made any other decision.
By refusing to violate that trust the Asso-
citation charged me with treachery and re-
moved me from office. That's the whole
case"
While we are quite in the dark as to the
reasons of Mr.. Humans resignation
there are three quite apparent. One that
he resigned as concession to the Associa-
tion in the peace conferences, alleged
TO be and probably going on in Cincin-
natl. The second one is that the League
insists on Thurman's reinstatement as
president of the Association, and he has
resigned in order to give them a chance to
do the trick as easily as possible
The third reason may be that Mr.. Thur
man is utterly Disguised with the ingrati-
tude of the Association, particularly the
Columbus club, and has chosen to retire
and devote himself to his own business,
which has suffered more or less during his
constant pilgrimages as the white winged
angel of peace. You can take your choice
or figure out new theory.
w. /. HARRIS.
John A. Mackay.