Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10
President Young on Alleged DefeO-
tons in the National League.
COMING MEETING IN new YORK CITY
Mr.. Wagner to Give Up the Sell
ing of Players.
LAST SEASONS DIVIDENDS

there VIII De reduction In the member
ship of The league before the playing sea-
| SON opens next year. With his characteristic
frankness, Mr.. Young replica that so far
as he is informed there is not the slightest
foundation for any such impression.
MY honest judgment is" said he, that
there will be no change in the membership
| Of the league during the next eight years.
Some of the clubs In the west had a bad
run of luck this season, but on the whole
the league succeeded In paying every dol
lar 1t owed and besides declared dividend
| Of about s., 100, which was paid In four in
stallments. There were number Of old
claims against the league, which were in
the nature of gratuities. They were paid.
so that there Is not a dollar of outstanding
| Indebtedness after an existence Of twenty
four years. Such a statement Is not only
gratifying to the gentlemen who are COM
mercially interested in the administration
of the league, but 1t demonstrates the pru-
dent and businesslike manner in which the
organization is conducted. There are many
great business establishments which can
not present such a clean balance sheet
after an existence OF quarter OF CEN
tury."
In the midst of this interesting converse
| ton a new contract from Mr.. Wagner was
| laid upon his desk. 1t was with Herman
Collins Of the Columbus. Ohio. club. The
| to be a catcher and an infielder He comes
highly recommended and is a young and
ambitious player. At the same time Mr..
Young entered up the contracts OF eleven
members Of the Louisville club, including
Jack Glasscock, who Ii to be a Colonea
next year.
The mention of Mr. wagner's name in
duced President Young to say in behalf Of
the Washington manager: IF there Is to
be fight between the league and any 9TH
er organization, we are very fortunate In
having the Wagners with us. They are the
best fighters we ever encountered, for they
are not only tactful but they have courage
and determination that knows no ending.
/ want to say for Mr.. Wagner that in view
of the criticism that has been made upon
him for selling players who were dissatisneo
with Washington, that he has determined
to discontinue that practice. In the future
he will not under any circumstances dls-
pose of desirable players, no matter how
flattering the offers may be. II he has
players that refuse to do their duty to the
Washington club, because they are onered
| larger salaries, he will not humor them by
disposing of their release to the highest
bidder, but he will release them outright
| rather than sell them The league mas done
and is doing everything in its power to
prevent the traffic in players. 1t Is hurtful
to the organization and the constitution II
not in sympathy with such transactions"
Returning to the suggestion that there
may be a reduction In the membership OF
the league next season, Mr.. Young went
on to say that under the constitution II
is impossible for a majority OF the CLUBS
/ to force one or more clubs out of the or
| ganization. There is but one way by which
| the membership may be reduced, ana that
| is by the resignation or one or more OF the
clubs. II there Is an impression abroad
that the league is going into the business
of buying up the franchises Of unsuccessful
clubs there will be a disappointment In
that direction. 1t is not expected that all
of the clubs in the league will be as pros
porous was Baltimore last summer, but
there Is an incentive for the clubs like
Washington, Louisville, Cincinnati, ST.
Louis to make Improvements In their re-
spective teams.
A. G. Spalding one Of the ablest and
most prosperous of the long line Of base
ball magnates, will probably return to
active duty in next seasons campaign.
He has signified his intention to be present
at the annual meeting Of the league, to be
held in New York next Tuesday. al"
Spaldng, as he is Familiarity remembered In
base ball circles and throughout the sport
ing world, in connection with field and out
door games has been directly and indirectly
identified with the National League since
its organization, twenty-four years ago.
The veterans remember him as pitcher for
the Forrest Citys of Rockford, ILL.,, the only
club that was able to win q game from
the famous Nationals of Washington, when
the latter club made a tour of the eastern
and western country, and sustained but
single defeat "Grandpap' Henry Chadwick
accompanied the Nationals on that event.
full tour and he occasionally overhauls his
copious scrap book and gives the base ball
cranks of the present generation a peep
st Its contents.
AL Spalding was one of the organizers Of
the Chicago Club and 1t was during his
administratio Of that organization that the
championship pennaHt noated from the
Flagstaff Of the Windy City" base ball
park more than one season. 1t was Al.
Spalding who organized and equipped two
complete ball teams and personally conduct
ed them on tour around the world. 1t
was after he returned from that memorable
excursion that he retired from the active
management Of the Chicago Ball Club. In
the meantime Dame Fortune had smiled
most bountifully upon him in the sporting
goods business, and he delegated his brother
and Uncle" Arson to look after his in
terests on the diamond. Like all true lovers
Of the national game he has caught the
fever again, and he probably proposes to
assist in putting a winning club in Chicago
next season. His prospective appearance at
the league meeting Is not generally known,
but he is already assured of cordial greet
ing from his old comrades In the league
and the new recruits who have been en-
listed in the service during his temporary
retirement.
Without violating confidence, II can b
stated up IN the highest authority that q
pleasant surprise awaits Mr.. Spaldng and
the other league magnates. who are to as
semble at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in New
York city, next week. The surprise Will be
the financial statement of Secretary Young.
1t will show that after twenty-four years
of existence the league has met every
financial obligation, and will enter upon the
next season entirely free from debt and
comfortable surplus on hand. 1t Will be re-
called that during the period mentioned the
league has encountered some very severe
financial storms Other base ball associa-
lions have come and gone after gallant
but unsuccessful attempt to either equal or
surpass the parent organizaticn me
American, Association, the Union Associa-
tion the Brotherhood and other organiza-
lions marched upon the diamond and chal-
lenged tn. league to mortal combat The
carcasses of the defunct rivals of the
league have long since been scattered to the
four winds of heaven, and the veteran or
ganzatIon is stu doing a legitimate busi-
ness at the old stand.
Ii is understood that New York Is nego-
tiating for the services Of a young man who
played short stop for the Norfolk club. In
the Virginia league. last season. President
Young and several good judges of playing
material went down into Virginia last sum-
mer to watch the work OF the youngster. It
is said that he Is one of the most prom
Using young players seen in this vicinity for
many yeas.