The morning call., 1891-03-12
Nick Young's View Of the Coast
Leagues Fight.
Reserved Hen Must Remain In the North
western Association.
The Disputed BaII-TOSSerS Cannot Play In
the California CLUBS Al john
sons Move.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, March 11.-President Nick
Young of the National League of profess
sional baseball clubs was seen to-day re-
garding the fight between the California
and Pacific Northwest Baseball leagues,
which is now agitating sporting circles on
the Coast.
He said: "The California League does not
appear to understand that the Pacific
Northwest League has duly paid its $1,000,
and having complied with all the other con-
ditions, has right to reserve its players.
The California League cannot sign any Of
the Northwest players without the latter's
consent | will give you copy of the letter
received by me day or two ago. together
with the answer mailed yesterday, and
which will not reach the Coast for about
week. will be glad to have the matter
telegraphed and thereby disposed Of"
The first letter referred to by Mr.. Young
was addressed to him by T. E. JEFF
ferson. President of the Spokane club.
inclosing a copy of the correspond
ence between himself and Manager
McCloskey of Sacramento regarding the
signing of Houston and Peoples, two re-
served players belonging to the Spokane
team.
Jefferson claims that the Pacific North
west League, having paid $1,000 tribute for
the year 1890, the payment gives 1t the right
of reserve under Sections and - of the
articles of qualified admission to the Ma
tioDal Agreement. The salary limit of the
Northwest League WAS 800 per month,
but finding this sum too small, it was in-
creased to S120.
Says jefferson: I'VE hired players when
We were at their mercy and paid them ex-
orbitant salaries. This season, therefore,
before we offered them any contract. Man
sger McCloskeY of the Sacramento team
endeaVo?ed to sign them and they COM
menced to act insultingly. This resulted in
our mailing them contracts naming salaries
much less than we paid them last season,
which we hold We have right to do.
''The fact that Houston and Peoples went
to Sacramento, where we mailed them their
contracts, is proof conclusive that Nc
ClOskey negotiated with them before we
offered them anything, either one way or
another, for they 'wintered in Texas. This
man McCloskey has interfered very ma
terially with my signing my team for this
season, as he has tried to sign every one of
our reserved players. L have notified him,
but to no PURPOSE"
Mr.. Young mailed an answer to Jefferson
yesterday, as follows: "la reply | will say
l have never said that the North west Pacific
League clubs who paid for the right of
reservation for 1891 had forfeited that right
for any cause. | will say, If your clubs
tender to each of your reserved players a
contract at salary of not less than 500 per
month, on or before April 1st, such reserved
players cannot play ball with any other ma
tional agreement club during the season of
1891. This tender of contract is in compli-
ance with the law, but does not mean that
you shall not pay larger salary than this
to your players if you so desire. | assume
that your association intends to apply for
membership under one of the classified arti-
cles. thus maintaining your allegiance to the
national agreement"