The sun., 1895-03-14
AL. JOHNSON'S VISIT.
HE QUIETLY cOEFERs WITH THE
EASTERN LEAGUE MEN,

Aua Thsp Isduiges IN = Heated Argument
with q. ". Byrns-Ths Finh Avenue Ho-
eel the scene OF More Baseball WIRE
puIiipu-A Case for the National Board
10 ssttie-saIsry Limit RAISED sud Cn,-
pIrss Appointed 90 What Byrns Says
About tss we-teru Ci-Ss which Are
Talking OF Revolt, and Are Finding
Fault with the N.tie.sI League Schedule.
Tho Eastern League magnates held their an.
nual spring meeting at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
yesterday. They did everything but adopt tho
plaving schedule. which will como up for con-
siderntiun this morning. Everything went
along smoothly until about o'clock
when the assemblsge Of cranks and play
ers who were waiting In the corridor
startled by the sudden appearance OF Albert
l.. johnson OF Players League fame lie
hurried directly to tho room in which the dele
gates were discussing the baseball situation ana
held an extended conference with President
Powers and several other influential Eastern
League men. Afterward johnson had a heated
argument with G. II. Byrne Of the BROOKLYN
League club. but neither would say
what the conversation was about. The
Eastern League men. too. declined to say what
was the object of ,Iohnson's visit. and this OF
course gave rise to al! sorts OF rumors. One
was that johnson wanted an Eastern League
franchise and willing to pay for IL. An
other was to the effect that he was anxious to
locate a club in Allentown and enter the Penn
pylvania State League, and third
son for his visit was that lie wanted
TO know why he hadn't been allowed to buy out
the minority stockholders in the Brooklyn club
Whatever was revolving in his mind. the fact
remains that he left the hotel in n rather excited
state Of mind while Byrne and the Eastern
League men rclapsed into sphnx-like silence.
That the Eastern League to-day is tho strong
est baseball organization outside Of the National
League in the country was proved by more than
one action of the delegates. The clubs repre-
sented ali reported that they were in the best
possible shape financially. aud the fact that they
unanimously voted 10 increase the players sal
ary limit showed that their claims quite
true. Their method OF handling various matters
that came up for discussion were most business
like, and in more than one instance they set an
example that could be followed with good re-
suits by tho major League Legislators. The
hotel was crowded with baseball celebrities all
day. and the greatest interest was shown In the
deliberations of the delegates. 1t was shortly
after 10 o'clock when President p, 7. Powers
called the meeting to order, the clubs respond
ing to the roll call as follows:
Gf%ns" ana anG Ghsrss II
ef A. helmsrghGr ana j9hn e Shapmmn SScrSnton
$s5@s; syfas%.s k@niS:sS 55e5s"'%
william STARK anu tharieS MauGCtH WlIkesDIrre, L.
:. Bogert, l.. W. Long and Daniel shannon.
After reading the minutes, the Circuit Com;
Who wanted to secure franchise for Newark.
still he felt that club could be located there
irnnchises franc % from New Haven and and Fail River YER
were also placed in evidence, but it was shown !
the connecticut State League, Burns of Spring
field then took occasion TO deny that his club |
some discussion Tho league voted to retain the !
present circuit of eight clubs and not to extend
an, mex, ysar .rsns II at ak ,sss bv tho
the notice Z; The league With the explanation
& du nn, 10 oslOss 4. recess vas
on Constitution consisting of Messrs ioscrt,
Barnie, and Morton. made "a report. Section
tho cities in tine circuit are rs follows:
Buffalo, Pr9yidence, ROCHESTER, Syracuse,
ton. Section Is was so, changed that the
President can call a meeting OF the board of |
m As reads ha the
dsts dns fsP the be of fe % Of each
also been changed as follows:
The President shall levy semi monthly assessments
expenses Of ,hs Leagns The rrst payment to be made
any any club fTns III t. Hay sad in
amount duo the League from the Delinquent club in |
t H h'' s iii'e ' hs III
Section % has been uttered so that each clubs |
monthly salary limit is 81 500 but there is no |
stipulation as to how much shall he paid TO any |
one player. John Dennet OF Erie and Lawrence |
7. Fassett OF Albany were elected honorary |
The most important business OF the day was
the consideration OF the clash with the Western |
Es nTss nd Ts signed si8 G
Western League clubs. When Detinst Of Eric
Sd in ds his hnso trnsGse op and nHyer TO Franz
the idea that no organization outside
Of the Eastern M League could sign any of tho
ously refrained from tampering with the Sioux
City clubs players last year when that club was
9uested President johnson OF the Western
League IT TO notify his clubs to keep Their
iiy complied with Powers's wishes, but
in spite Of that Manager Barnes of Minneapolis |
Dan Lally. while Comiskey of st. Paul baGged
Catcher Berger Powers then notified Presi;
Young refused to promulgate the contracts un-
til,the matter had been definitely settled.
the reQuirements of the national asresment,
and had never failed to pay for protection when |
sn .s s s s
they ought TO be recognized in some way, and |
mSrs Sc especially S in the above specific case in
Accordingly tho League voted to take action |
in such u way that the matter would he settled |
one way or the other, and Messrs. Definet OF |
Erie. Franklin OF Buffalo and Powers were ap-
pointed a committee to make n statement to the |
National Board and request a decision. As one |
delegate put 1t:
We are paying for protection right along |
every year. and we'd like TO know now Just |
what we are getting for our money"
A prominent Eastern League manager. how |
ever. told SuS reporter last night that the Ma |
tionhl Board would surely decide against tho |
Erie and Buffalo clubs. He said that c. II. |
Byrne's Interpretation of the national agree |
ment last fall, to the effect that any leagues or
assoc iations outside OF the Eastern League and |
under the protection of the national agreement, |
could negotiate with the Erie players, but that |
NO Eastern League club could sign them until |
they were formally released by Bunalo would |
hold good.
When President Powers announced his UNI |
pire stAff II was tho general opinion that IL was |
as good, II not better than the National League. |
II is composed OF Tim Hurst John j, Gaftney, !
Herman DOescher. Charles y. Snyder and Ed |
ward Swartwood, the last named 10 be n substi- |
tute. The meeting ad dtourned until this morn
ing TO take up the schedule, which will consist |
OF ll2 games for each club, the season opening |
April 20 and closing Sept. 8.
Ii was generally supposed that President |