The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-13
BASEBALL WRANGLE.
MEMBERS or THE LE.fGUE ar ODDS
OyER THE MINUTES.
a Dispute as To Whether an Amendments
to the National Agreement was
Adopted Wednesday.

temporarily thrown DOWN in the mat
ter OF approving the minutes OF the
League. The point at issue was whether
the action of the National Board In dele
eating itself the power OF amending 'ne
national agreement by n unanimous VOTE
and in increasing its membership from
.to : Including President Nick Young
ex-ofiicio member should stand.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
An. amendment found at the emu OF
the national agreement reads
This agreement may be altered OF
considered at any time by the unani-
nous consent OF the board. This amend
ment shall become operative after Feb
ruary q, 1896. -
Such a clause practically gives unlimit-
ed control to the board. The minutes
as read yesterday indicated that the
League had approved the action OF the
board in inserting the amendment, ana
further ratified the Increase OF member
ship from TO j.
Immediately there was a question as 10
tho correctness of the minutes. Presi-
dent Young and one or two others as
serted that they remembered the APP
prevail OF the amendment In question
at the League meeting Several did not
know. ana the rest were positive no such
action had been taken, boldly announcing
that they would nave opposed II ~ the
time II IL had been under consideration.
The pet plan, generally credited to Mr..
Brush. was thus to give the whole power
TO tho board rather than TO the league
itself. There is also a clause IN the
league constitution. which provides that
amendments to tho national agreement
4,ff,,
vote of the league. The two clauses
were, therefore, in direct contradiction
TO each other. but the League virtually
waived its right in behalf OF the board
If the minutes were granted 10 be cor
rect.
Cincinnati. Cicl Gland. st. Louis Bal
timOre Washington, and Brooklyn will
JOIN with Louisville in Mr. Brushs IA
vor. the opposition consisting Of Chicago.
New York. Boston. Philadelphia. ana
pittsburg.
TWO FACTIONS.
Both sides were earnestly lobbying all
the morning over The arbitration board
wranele. and neither would admit de-
feat. Only A vote can prove the success
or failure OF the Brush combine The
negotiations delayed to-days session I'M
I'll after Y o'clock. by o'clock the
league mad become split into two factions
over the Arbitration Board matter and
they held their meetings far apart III
the hotel and behind locked doors. The
one under the leadership of DR.. Stuckey,
| of Louisville, went to room on top
| floor, and the big five remained on the
parlor floor At that tine the situation
was chaotic with Louisville holding the
! coveted balance of power, ana stuckey
making all kinds OF demands for crack
players in return for his vote against
the major combine. The fixed demand
Of Louisville was for Hallman, OF Phila-
dephia: Catcher Clements, and Right
| fielder Sam Thompson. in exchange for
Chick" Frazer and McCreary. The deal
| TO! this trade was started yesterday, but
the Arbitration Board wrangle comph-
Gated matters.
At o'clock the factions came together
and the report which obtained most
credence was that Stuckey had been won
over to support his old colleagues by
liberal transfer of players. Or. Stuckey
said before the meeting of each faction
| at o'clock.
Or. STtcKEY TALKS.
= want something. the Louisville club
wants something. and fortunately the
| despised Louisville club is in a position
to dictate I want concessions from
both sides no matter how | act. II |
| remain with the smaller faction the tie
| vote Will not be changed. and Louis
| willie will be i'm line for representation
on the National Board of Arbitration. For
| years we have been mulcted, ana nrin-
| w believe we have been squeezed win
| the intention of getting rid Of us. We
| Will demand the strengthening or our
| team. / am for Mr.. Byrne, of Brooklyn,
for the Board Of Arbitration. He has
stood by Louisville when we so badly
| needed help and / never go back on a
| man who stands by me. ] do not care
| ANYTHING about the Brush feature OF the
case Personally. I think no man con-
| nected with "a minor .eaguc or Interested
! I'm a minor league frarchise should be
| a member of the National Board.
BRUSH WINS.
| Brush won the fight when the Gilman
was reached at the late afternoon as
sion. Or. Stuckcy. OF Louisville, be-
came his permanent ally. and the fac
| ton which has formerly been unsuccess-
! fully opposed to the big five minority
! Boston Chicago Philadelphia, New
York. and Pittsburg-became the big
seven in the American national game.
The coup was recorded during the de-
laycd meeting. which began at o'clock
and ended III 100. \ motion was put
| TO reconsider the adoption OF the minutes
| OF the previous meeting. This was car
ried 10y vote OF, - 10 ;. and the minority
realized that Mr.. Brush had outplayed
them In League politics. DR.. Stuckey
voted with the six on the adoption OF
the minutes. which leaves the National
Board Of Arbitration practically with
no authority over the National League
except as to minor league matters.
The old members OF the National
Board were then reelected.
The question Of membership and au-
| thority OF the board will be brought be-
| fore the spring meeting OF the League
| by the fivc-club combination and an
| other lively tusslc is promised. Brush.
! Robinson. Byrne. and others Of the ma
jority were chatty and smiling over the
situation while Freedman. Sodon. Hart.
and their colleagues were glum and retI-
cen. after the meeting.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The board OF directors was elected:
| Messrs. Freedman, president. Soden. Bos-
ton; Wagner. Washington; Robinson,
| Cleveland: Won der Abe. ST. Louis; Stuck
ey. Louisville.
In voting Tor the Arbitration Board the
| combination OF seven clubs held together
against the five and that ended the strug-
| gle for the present.
II developed to-day that Vice-President
Dehler, OF the Louisville Club. and not
| DR.. Stuckey voted at yesterdays meeting
| in Stuckey's absence with the Big Five. -
when the amendment TO the National
| agreement came up. This made the tie
vote and necessltated hard laboring with
Stuckey on Brynes part to-day. This
| DELAYED the meeting six hours.
Sunday ball. il IS said on reliable au-
thority was used as o club to-drive Stuck