St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-28
John l. Rogers Production Is
Full of Flaws and Mis-
takes.
President Hart, Of Chicago
Determined to Oppose It's
Adoption,
With Presidents Robson and
Brush Strongly Backing
His Position.
Specific Objections Stated in
Letters to the PhiiadeI-
phia Lawyer.

CHICAGO, Jan. 27.-President Hart,
of the Chicago Base Ball club, and Pres
ident Robson, of the Cleveland club,
have Informed President Rogers, of
Philadelphia, that they do not approve
OF the proposed national agreement,and
will not vote for.it unless the document
IS materially changed. Mr.. Hart says
President Brush,of Cincinnati, will also
oppose the adoption of the agreement
as it now stands. The principal objec-
ton advanced by President Hart is that
the Western league will not become
party to the agreement.
lie says that should the drafting"
system prevail, except between seasons.
the plans OF the Western league would
be entirely diSarranged. Rather than
abandon these plans, which contemplate
making the clubs in the Western organ
lZatlon AS nearly equal in playing
strength as possible, Mr.. Hart believes
the Western league would forego ma
tIonal agreement protection, and that
the Eastern league, which is incubat-
ing, would follow the Western league.
He declares the charges for protection
to be excessive.
President Hart has sent to Col. John
l. Rogers, of Philadelphia, commune
81 l.,
as follows: Il have positive informa-
ton which satisfies me that the Western
league viii not become a party 10 the
agreement. That league has adopted a
new and practical plan by which they
propose to control the salaries of their
players and eQualize the playing
strength of their teams. This they pro-
pose to accomplish in the following
manner: Their secretary will contract
with ninety-siX players direct to the
league. These players will be divided
by committee into eight teams of
equal strength. The teams will then
be submitted tie the league for changes
and approval. After they are declared
as nearly equal in playing strength as
It is possible to make them, they will be
distributed by lot to the eight clubs of
the league.
Should the drafting system prevail
1t would entirely disarrange their plan
and compel its abandonment. l deem
it most important and desirable to the
major body that these leagues be al
lowed to conduct their affairs on the
plan proposed by them, consequently, l
shall not favor an agreement to which
they will not become parties. | also
disapproye of the excessive charges pro-
posed for so-ealled protection. I also
diSapprove Of the number proposed to
constitute the board. | also dIsapprove
the payment of any salary whatever to
members of the board. as that should
be an honorary body. The secretary of
the board should be paid a nominal sal
airy for his services as secretary of the
board, and should be paid an additional
sum by such leagues as require him to
keep the records of their players.
The Eastern and Western leagues
should not be subject to the drafting
system'I during their playing seasons,
but should be between seasons, and the
price paid for the release of player by
club of the major body between sea-
sons should be nil. or most nominal
sum. This would avoid injustice to
ambitious and deserving players. The
drafting system" should prevail at all
times with respect to the leagues whose
players are engaged by the clubs and
not by the leagues. With these changes
L should be glad to record my vote in
favor of the adoption Of the document
as submitted to me by you"
The following telegram from PreSi-
dent Robson, of the Cleveland clu b, is
self-eXplanatory:
Col. j. l. Rogers Philadelphia: Have read
new national agreement as prepared by you
Must say do not approve of it, and cannot
should be unanimous in favor of this dOcu-
ment before we should be called upon to
vote upon such an important matter. We
should not be too hasty in jumping into a
new national agreement. The last one was
very expensive.