Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-03-01
SPORTING WORLD.
ASSOCIATION CLUBS SEEN 10 HAVE "PUT
THEIR FOOT IN IT,"
What the League Nlgaatss Have 70 Say About the
Mater Spaiing's Explanation - Franz
E-a1s az 0ld-Iime Wheeling Player,
Jumps 20 Olsyeiand-Gsleral
Sporting News.

NV YorK. February 2S.-There is
GOOD deal of hidden humor in the dis
patches sent out by the Association
c'u0S, To- which they take the stand that
they viii respect all contracts and not
attempt TO sign player under contract
% League club. The signing OF
KnauSs by the Cleveland Club has
thoroughly stirred mp the Association
President Byrue of the Brooklyn
Club explained the whole matter TO
reporter Yesterday. AT the Firth
Avenue Hotel last month, he said, the
Association instructed It's President to
sign the new national agreement. by
that act the Association entered into
contract with the National League
and Western Association. II has now
broken that contract and broken
faith with the ball players it
has signed. These were signed un-
der false pretences. They were
led 10 believe that by signing ASSocia-
ton contracts they would be under the
national agreement. Therefore they
signed contracts under certain condl-
tions. and the Association has broken
them. The attempt is made TO drag the
plaverS without their consent outside
the national agreement, where, by play
ing ball with other clubs in that Organi-
zation. they render themselves inelllgi-
bic TO play in national agreement clubs
until their cases are considered. There
are many players who never would have
signed with the Association had they
not thought they were TO play under the
national agree ent. BY violating its
contract, il is the opinion that the ASSo-
citation has lost all claim TO players
whom il has already under contract
J. W. Spalding arrived home from the
West Yesterday. Yes, sir" he said,
there will be League club in Cincin-
natl, and q strong one, too. The ASSo-
citation cannot drive Us from our own
hamlet, although 10 thought by getting
johnson inside its breaStwork, that it
would. As 90 the action of the ASSo-
citation. 10 is simply suicidal. There Is
little ground for the cry OF the ASSocla-
-ion that the League treated Its ciu0S
badly. The League, by expanding
treat deal OF money 20 fight the Players
League. made 10 possible for the Assoc
citation 10 get back an its old players
who had gone % the Players League.
Then. after the League had done all
this. the Association turns around ana
shows It's gratitude.
As 90 q player under contract to the
Association, 1 think that contract Is
void. and that he is 40 liberty TO 90 10
any other club be wants 90, provided he
bas not taken advance money. lie
signed 10 play under the national agree
|meut. and he is 20 be compelled 10 DO
something that was not represented 10
/ him.
Mr.. Soalding further said that while
4 in Chicago De had a conference with
/ Mr. Weldenfellsr, who had an interest
I ip the Cincinnati club and that he had
secured his stock. This, then, gives
/ the control 10 the opposition or anti
johnson faction. II places in that fac
I TONS hands stock 70 the amount OF So
500. enough 20 control the club with a
capital stock of $4,000
/ J.. W. Spalding explained why the
/ League clubs had reserved 50 many
PLAYERS. He said that each club made
ont list OF the players il would keep
and also q list of those likely 10 be re-
/ leased. Each club sent the latter ilSt
/ 20 every other club, asking II there was
any player on the list that any CLUB
wanted. That was done with the idea
OF giving the League first choice, which
the Association or any other organlza-
tion would have done After the Selec-
tions had been made all the rest would
have been placed in the hands OF the
National Board 1t was but natural
that the League should wish to com
plete the make up of its teams before
releasing any players, as possibly some
PLAYER wanted would refuse 10 sign,
and if no other player was in reserve to
TO take his place that player would
have the club at his mercy and dictate
tprus