The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-15
LEAGUE MEETING.

New York Dec. 14.-For two days the
magnates representing the interests of
the clubs comprising the National League
and American Association of professional
base ball clubs have conferred with each
other at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, but they
have succeeded so far in transacting very
little business.
Twice each year these club owners hold
meetings. one of which is known as the
annual and the other as the schedule
meeting. The annual meeting was to
have begun yesterday, but its progress
was blocked by two men, claiming repre-
sentation for the st. Louis Base Ball Club
The st. Louis Club has been i'm financial
difficulties for some months, and short
time ago the St Louis circuit appointed
B. S. Muckenfuss as receiver of the club 5
property. Chris Won Der Abe, whose
name has been associated with base ball
in Missouri for many years, disputed the
right of Muckenfuss to represent the St
Louis aggregation at the annual conclaVe.
and insisted that he was the proper party
to be recognized as he held the franchise
under the constitution of the National
League.
The board of directors were forced to
adjourn their meeting yesterday in order
that the delegates to the league meeting
might pass upon the relative merits of
Won Der Abe and Muckenfuss in their
claims for recognition. At lengthy ses-
sion. which lasted until nearly / o'clock
this morning, the delegates were unable
TO come to an agreement, and adjourned
until today, pending the report of a com
mittee of two--Messrs. Won Der Horst of
Baltimore and Abel of Brooklyn, who
We're appointed to try and smooth out the
tangle
Al todays meeting these two gentlemen
made a report in favor of Won Der Abe,
but it is not accepted, and the meeting, by
q vote of to ,, recognized Muckenfuss as
the proper person to vote on all matters
pertaining to the interests of the ST. Louis
Club and all matters pertaining to the
league
The delegates allowed Won Der Abe to
take part IN the proceedings without the
privilege of vote, and practically this
meant that Chris was turned down.
When the result of the vote was am
nounced much sympathy was expressed
for Won Der Abe, but he took the matter
philosophically. and said:
Il am not down and out by any means
| hold the franchise and have the right to
be recognized. l will fight this matter out
in the ST. Louis courts, and when the case
is finally decided you can bet l will be on
top"
the annual meeting was adjourned until
tomorrow, when the real business of tie
session will probably begin.
The board of directors then went into
session. and formally awarded the pen
nant emblematic of the championship of
the past season to the Boston Club. They
also passed upon the treasurers report
for the year, and decided a claim made by
Chicago against the ST. Louis Club,
which dispensed with the services of First
Baseman Decker, who was loaned to them
by Chicago with the understanding that
the player would revert to the Maroons a.
the close of the season
In July last, while in this city, the st.
Louis Club released Decker, who signed
with the Louisville Club, and the board of
directors today decided that ST. Louis
should pay Chicago $500 for the loss of
Decker's services, and Decker will remain
on the reserve list of the Louisvilles.
During the day there was the usual talk
of deals and trading Of players between
clubs, but only one trade was consum-
mated This was between President J.
Earl Wagner and Manager Arthur Irwin
of the Washington Club and President w.
w. Kerr of Pittsburg. The Senators ex-
changed Henry Rietz for the services of
Padden. Slagel and o Brien.
Harry c. Pulliam and Barney" Drey-
fus of Louisville made no secret of the
fact that $50. coo would buy the Louisville
Club, and they were expecting Wander
beck of Detroit to arrive today with that
and the rumor was general that the
league would purchase the Louisville Club
as well as the st. Louis. thus reducing
the league from II to 10 clubs
However, this is a matter which will
come up for consideration at the meeting
tomorrow, and some of those who profess
TO have inside information say that the
Cleveland franchise will be transferred to
st. Louis, and that Baltimore and Brook
Ign will be bought out. so as to make next
years circuit an eight club affair.
How the magnates are going to accom-
plish this scheme in face of the national
agreement, which has yet two years to
run was a much discussed question to-
day, and all persons interested look for
some surprises to be sprung at tomorrow $
meeting,