The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-10
SCHEDULE IS DELAYED
WESTERN BASEBALL LEAGUE COM
MITTEE STILL Al WORK.
New Drafting Rule Killed by Indian
apolis and Observation-Disclosures
Censured and Fined.

DETROIT. Mich. March 9.-The Western
Baseball League magnates to-day spent
much time discussing the question whether
the season should open East or West. The
morning session began at II o'clock. There
were schedules TO burn as one member
of the schedule committee expressed 1t,
but the committee reported that it was
unable TO get together. a long discussion
ensued, the Eastern men claiming that the
West furnished a very poor article OF
weather during the opening dates in that
section last year and that the Easterly cit
les are entitled To the first series this sea-
son. The Western representatives are not
disposed to concede this. There were also
the usual differences regarding holiday
dates. After hearing suggestions from all
present the committee sent back with
instructions TO agree on a schedule report,
if possible by 3 O'Clock. to which hour the
magnates adjourned. X. Ii. Leadley, OF
Grand Rapids, was appointed an additional
Eastern member OF the committee and
President Johnson met with the four COM
mitteemen as referee
During the day the newly proposed rule
was circulated requiring that any players
drafted from the Western League by the
National League must first be offered to
the team from which drafted, in case OF
their return TO the Western League. In
dianapols and Detroit declined to sign the
rule, which renders il void. The board OF
directors, consisting of MeSsrs. hlllllea, OF
Milwaukee; Comiskey. OF st. Paul; Lead
ley, of Grand Rapids, and LOTUS, OF Co
lumbuS, with President johnston, held
lengthy secret meeting during the after
Nicol and Hahn into the Detroit team,
were discussed. Nicol played in outiieid in
fIsa \ To-. oh la Of
drafted by Philadelphia and then turned
over TO Detroit. The national board or
dered Nicol returned TO Milwaukee and he
is now on Milwaukee's list. President VAN
derbeck, of Detroit, says he is making no
tight to get Nicol, but the question whether
Vanderbeck should could be fined or
censured in the matter was discussed by
the board until late this evening, the di-
rectors refusing TO give out any conciu-
Hahn was drafted from the Mobile South
ern League team by Nanderbeck, who
Comiskey, OF st. Paul, says tnat in the
meantime he had engaged Hahn and tfat
the money for his draft was in President
Johnson's hands when Vanderbeck drafted
him.
After considerable delay a short session
of the league was held this evening ana the
meeting adjourned until IL O'Clock p. m.
The directors resumed their meeting and
the schedule committee renewed its efforts
for final agreement on schedule report;
The ma gnates met again at ii O'Clock and
the board of directors reported their action
on the two questionable drafting cases. In
the Nicol matter the board decided that
President Vanderbeck of Detroit was gull
ty of tampering with player OF the Mil
waukee club in violation of the constitution
of the league and decreed that Mr.. Van
derbeck, in lieu OF expulsion from the
league. pay a fine of S1O0 to the league on
or before March 10. In the Hahn case the
board found that Nanderbeck had drafted
Hahn from Mobile. knowing that he had
been practically contracted for by ST. Paul,
a letter from the president of the Mobile
club being produced an evidence of this.
The board decided that Hahn goes to st.
Paul. Its decisions are final.
A committee consisting of Saupaugh.
Watkins and Nanderbeck was appointed to
Iovise the rules for the Free Press cup con-
test and President Johnson was authorized
to purchase balls for the league. The meet
ing adjourned till tomorrow morning, when
the schedule committee will announce its
final report