Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-23
ASSOCIATION PLANS
Mr.. Seaman Tells About the Revised
Circuit.
DROPPING OF FOUR LEAGUE CLUBS
Reserve List Of the Remaining
Eight to Be Respected.
MON IN BASE BALL

The local base ball public is greatly in
terested over the resurrection Of the Ameri-
can Association, and the fans" are indulg-
ing in warm discussions about the coming
season and the conditions that will surround
the national game with two championship
contests being waged at the same time.
The rumors of a fight Of the most bitter
description between the rival organizations
which began to be scattered as soon as the
association was formally launched in Phila-
delphia have grown in the past few days
to almost positive announcements, and In
terviews with league officials have shown
that they are inclined to criticise the new
aspirants for public favor and belittle its
chances for success.
Mr.. Michael B. Scanlan, who, with Mr..
Walter Hewett, represents Washington In
the new association, was visited this morn
ing by a representative Of The Star and
conversed at length upon the state of
affairs at present existing in the base ball
world.
THE American Association was formed
primarily for the purpose of giving the
ball-loving public an opportunity to enjoy
good games, closely contested and well con-
ducted," said Mr.. Seaman, land our object
In organizing was to be in the field when
the National League carried out its inten-
ton to reduce its number of clubs from
twelve to eight. We are fully aware that
this step Is contemplated, because Boston,
Philadelphia and New York want an eight
club league, and are bound to have 1t.
During the past season Louisville was COM
PEELED to sell Its star players in order to pay
the salaries of the others. Won der Abe
had to borrow money in St. Louis and the
club once refused to start on an eastern
trip until the players were paid. Robson
has lost money in Cleveland, and has offer
ed that club for sale. That city will prob
ably be included in the eight-club league,
but st. Louis and Louisville must go in the
vest. In the east Washington and either
Baltimore or Brooklyn will be dropped, and
II will be most probably BROOKLYN because
Baltimore won the championship. These
conditions open fruitful field for the new
it."
The league people seem to think your
Scheme Will result very much as the
brotherhood did," suggested the reporter
They may say so, but 1 don't believe
they think so,' said Mr.. Seaman. the
conditions are entirely different. The
brotherhood had no grounds or clubs in
many Of its cities. 1t is the intention of
the association to have clubs in Buffalo,
Detroit, Milwaukee and Chicago in the west
and Washington, Philadelphia, Providence
and either Baltimore or brooklyn in the
east. There are grounds and a club already
in the cities of Providence, Buffalo, De
uoit and Milwaukee,, as well as in this
city: So the expense of grounds will cut
no figure with u.s."
DO you intend to respect the reserve
players of the league clubs?''
we won't take a man who is on the re-
serve lists Of the eight clubs that will re-
main in the league" said Mr. Seaman
but we will try to get those belonging to
the other four that will be dropped out I
believe both associations can form n
rational agreement and go along nicely
ALL"
Can you tell something about the present
condition of the league?" asked the re-
porter.
That is not hard to do" was the re-
Spouse. Boston is rich That club has
made easily half a million dollars Brook
Ign has never made a dollar in base ball
MI. Abel has gone down in his pocket
out OF the business. The New York club
was capitalized for $2JO,WO and during the
brotherhood year 1t was bankrupt and was
Kept going only by the aid Of Boston and
Two other clubs. Some of the players, like
Jim O'Rourke. Roger Connor and John
Ward are still holding stock in the club
and the latter is not able to buy 1t. 1t made
some money this year, but not enough to
get out the hole. Reach and Rogers in
Philadelphia, have made money in ba Sc
ball and have got II yet. Won der Horst I'm
baltimore, made $J0,TO this year, but is
still in debt. The Wagners have made mon
Washington.
THE eastern circuit Of the league, finan-
cfally, is in good condition; but, oh, N.Y. the
west! Pittsburg is solid, but Cincinnati has
not made dollar In base ball since Brush
got control of 1T. Cleveland has lost mon
ey this year; the Louisville club is dead
broke without dollar, and st. Louis is in
the same condition. Chicago hasn't made
dollar In base ball since they began to
sell their star players. The sale of Kelly
and Clarkson to Boston Disguised the public
with the club. The attendance on week
days In Chicago don't amount to anything
up to this year-Sunday games-is the only
thing that kept the club going.
with such condition Of affairs staring
the league in the face IT Is the opinion Of
several of those interested in it that an
eastern circuit of eight clubs In the east
stretching from Boston to Plttsburg should
be formed and the west dropped altogether,
as 1t Is felt that the continual load it has
to bear In carrying the western clubs will
shortly break It down.
Our association was formed, I repeat,
with full knowledge of these facts. We
knew the rich clubs in the league were
trying to get rid of the others and per-
ceived an opportunity to aid in giving the
public good base ball and plenty of 1t. You
can rest assured that there will be NO
fight. We don't want 1t and the league
don't, either"
What If it does Gomez"
81 can only say" said Mr.. Scanlon, earn
estly, that in any event the association Is
going to have eight clubs In the field the
coming season. and they will all play good
ball throughout with the same players
they start In with, who prove themselves
competent. and what is equally important
the games win be clean and decent. and
the public will not be disgusted with I'M
seemly quarreiing and wrangiing. There
will be no buying and selling of players
and no transfer of games. and the associa-
ton will prove there is money as we'll as
fame In base ball by getting both"
Last evening about Z o'clock two horses
attached to one of Waters grocery wagons
were seriously injured by being driven into
an unprotected ditch on Whitney avenue in
the county.
The dead body of an infant was found In
Farragut Square this morning.
Walter Lucas, colored. resident of
Johnson avenue, was struck with a brick
by some unknown person. His head was
so painfully wounded that he had to be
sent to the Emergency Hospital for treat
ment.