The morning times., 1896-03-17
Minor League Clubs Have No
Cause for Complaint.
MURNANE TALKS BASEBALL
Veteran Journalist and National Came
Official Says Sensational Reports
Have Been Promulgated without
Foundation-Meeting VIII BE Held
Today on Important Questions.

n
| ma gnates of the country gather there in
| annual or scmi-annual session.
True, the big guns were conspicuous by
| their absence, bat what was lacking in
| quality was made up in quantity by the
| presence OF those 1S-karat fine promoters
| Of the national game-PTesident Pat Pow
| ers of the Eastern League, Col. John b.
| Day of the National League, President Tim
Mumane and Secretary Jake Morse of
| the New England Lea que, Horace A. Keith
| Brocktown Club; c. A. Marston, Fan River
| Club, and L. +. BOgart OF the WilkGsbarre
| Club, WHO'S the owner editor OF the Wilkes
| barre Leader, and a candidate for the ap-
| pointment Of postmaster OF his city to sue
| ceed the Republican incumbent, whose
| term will soon expire.
| As was stated in The Times yesterday
| morning, the occasion for these gentlemen
| coming to Washington was TO be in at
| tendance upon u meeting OF minor league
| representatives, the purpose of which was
| to discuss several problems OF Importance
and interest 10 their respective lea gues and
| clubs.
| The local baseball lights dropped into
| Wizards early TO see what was going on,
| and TO have a chat with the friends they
| would meet. Charlie Snyder. the umpire,
| found congenial company i'll President
| Powers, his employer last season, and
| Manager Belts talked over matters in
| general with Col. John b. Day.
| Charley Abbey dropped In 10 see how the
| minor league managers looked since he
| had graduated from their sphere into fast
| company, and Ed. Cartwright brayed the
| rain and soaked the pet boil on his neck
| To get into crowd where base hits and
| put outs were the main topics Of con
| versation.
| OTHERS WHO WERE THERE.
Among the other lockers on in Venice
1
! OF the Washington bah club III days gone by;
| Jack Thornton, the promising young minor
| Lacquer, who will probably draw salary
| from ma iOr league club next year and
! vino will play firstfor Ted'S Texas Steers
at New Haven this season: J Jimmy Knowles
| manager OF the Atlanta club of the Southern
League; Harry Mace ex-pitcher on the
Washington club and an umpire IN the Texas
league last season; George Wood, the old
Athletic who will handle an Indicator
In the Virginia League this year; Johnnie
Heydler, the well known local umpire, and
Billy Baker ana Bob Barr, former stars OF
the diamond.
Capt. Harley of the Georgetowns. also
mingled with the professionals, and took
advantage OF the opportunityto say good
word for young pla yer named COnnor, who
wants 10 earn the salary paid regular ball
player in the established lea CUES.
President Pat Powers. who was the CEN
tral figure of the gathering. is roly-pOlv
gentleman, with a CountenanCe as suave as
diplomats, and manner as engaging and
pleasing rs that shown by society
debutantes. He is the head of the largest
and strongest of the minor lea CUES, and is
held in such favor by the owners OF the
clubs under his control that at a recent
meeting they voluntarily increased his
salary to an amount that allows him TO
wear diamonds every day.
SOME OLD-TIMERs.
Col John B. Day. another prominent
attendant, was the manager of the New
York Giants in the days when they were
giants. indeed. AT present he is employed
by the National League as envoy extra
ordinary and minister plenipCtentiary 10 the
minor leagues, or, as he remarked joCularly
to The Times. To keep an eye on Pat
Powers, Ban Johnson and the other minor
agueTs and see that they didn't become
obstreperous. or do anything wrong"
1t was rather q lonesome day for PTesi-
dent Pat Powers and Col. Day until the
Boston contingent arrived in the evening.
They called on President Nick Young i'll
the forenoon.
Toward evening Mr Powers and Col
Day came to the conclusion that they had
come TO Washington "snipe hunting so
far as a minor league meeting WAS con-
cerned, and they agreed to return to New
York on the O'Clock train.
BEGINNING To ARRIVE.
But they were not to go so soon The
evening flyer from the East brought
Jolly crowd OF fans. and talk OF departure
was abandoned for the time The late
arrivals were Tim MUrnane, president of
the New England League: Jake Morse, sec
retary of the same, and MessrS Horace A.
Keith, of the Brockton club, and c. A.
Marston, of the Fan River club.
he Emo af 50
on not finding Il full representation from
the Southern and Western organizations.
but like The even-tempered, steady going
people that they are. adapted themselves
10 circumstances and were not at loss for
a minute.
Tim Murnane. the veteran sporting writer.
who, in addition TO his regular duties, has
undertaken for the season the onerouS duties
of the presidency of the New England Base
ball League, was on hand.
Said Tim to The Times:
NO, it is not true that the minor len CUES
are in rebellion against the national body
far from it. We are in full accord with
the parent body and are abounding in our
confidence in Nick Young.
The public at large seems to misunder-
stand the object of the minor leagues in
holding a meeting. 1t is not a case of
RcbeIliOus Susan at all. AS we, OF the
New England League, understood it. the
meeting was for the purpose of organizing
the minor leagues into Il body. having for
a purpose such ends as would result in
our benefit under the national agreement.
As we understood it, no complaint was TO
be leveled at the National League, and
the organization OF the smaller bodies was
TO only serve as wheel within wheel.
TIM DEFENDS HIMSELF.
THE reports that am kicking and that
/ am saying ugly things about the National
League are totally unwarraDted and with
out q scintila Of truth. l am too old in
baseball to cut up at this stage OF the
game.
Our object in coming TO Washington was
TO meet and bring about a harmonious
understanding between the ma jor andm
leagues. The other delegates have failed
thus far to put in an appearance. which,
however, is no serious disappointment
to us.
Jake Morse, of the Boston Herald who
is doing Damon to my Pythias on the
Journey, will Join the Boston club with
me in this city Thursday and go to
Charlottesville, Va, 10 spend the time th e
club will put in in preliminary practice
for the opening of the league season.
We will be at Charlottesville about two
weeks.
You must say that Wagner drew prizes
in Lush. Rogers and McAuley, and with
them, the Senators should hunt place
in the first division. Boston's club is
stronger than for several years and in my
opinion the race viii end Boston. one; Balu-
more, two: Cleveland, three.
WILL MEET TODAY.
A message signed by President Ban
Johnson, of the Wes tern League, and
President Hickey of the Western Associa-
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