The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-28
forced

"The much-heralded conference of
the Eastern and Western leagues at
Buffalo accomplished quite as much as
was expected of il. But for that little
we may be thankful, since seed was
sOwn from which something may
spring" says the Springfield Union.
"The special meeting of the Eastern
league accomplished much more in the
way of actual results since it started
in to straighten out the circuit tangle.
The transfer of the Scranton franchise
to Rochester has long been discounted.
1t was predicted in these columns
months ago and the ownership of the
franchise by Deacon White and Billy
Brady. together with the choice of
Charley Morton as manager had al
ready been announced by the Union.
THE other half of the proposed deal,
however. to transfer the Wilkes-Barre
franchise to Newark, was blocked at
the last moment by the unexpected
financial strength shown by the Wilkes
Barre delegate. President BOgert as
serted that the Wilkes-B Barre people
were determined to hold the franchise,
and had been promised backing to the
amount Of $1,000. Some of the mag
mates were inclined to regard this as
stiff bluff made for the purpose of ex-
tracing the high price demanded for
Wilkes Barre's franchise and We're also
inclined to doubt the fulfllment of the
81 ,0NO promises. but they could not help
giving WilkCs-Barr the benefit of the
doubt and allowing her to retain her
franchise.
AN EIGHT CLUB CIRCUIT.
This gives the Eastern league at
present an eight-club circuit, made up
Of Toronto Buffalo, Rochester, Syra-
cuse, Montreal, Wilkes Barre, Spring.
field and Providence. And there it is
quite possible the league may stand
pat But as arrangements had been
practically completed for taking In
Newark and the prospective owners of
that club are so anxious to get in it is
quite possible, too, that the league may
he increased to ten clubs, admitting
both Newark and Hartford. That pow
er was voted to President Powers, if
at any time it became a wise or nee
essary move, in his opinion. A ten
club league is undesirable on account
of the difficulty of making a compact
schedule, and because of the diffusion
of interest; hut the present eight club
circuit isn't much better.
For instance the best division OF
clubs that can be made is to put To
ronto and Buffalo, Rochester and SYRIA
cuse in pairs in the western division
and Montreal and Springfield, Wilkes
Barre and Providence into the eastern
division. That pairs Springfield with
Montreal and Providence with Wilkes
Barre. 1t would be impossible to pail
Providence and Springfield, as at pres
ent because that would pair Montrea
and Wilkes Barre. 1t would be little
better to pair Springfield with Wilkes
Barre and Providence with Montreal
In fact, it makes a bad problem t.
have the eastern section so badly split
up. Any other arrangement, such as
putting Toronto and Montreal, Buffalo
and Rochester. Syracuse and Wilkes
Barre, and Providence and Springfield
together would meet such opposition
from the western section as to make il
impossible The addition of Hartford
and Newark wouldn't help matter:
much, and still worse problems would
confront the schedule maker.
so there you are. The dropping o
Scranton for Rochester and the reten
tion of Wilkes-B Barre makes the poores
circuit to handle the league has eve
had.
WILKES -BARRE'S DETERMINA-
TION.
This has nothing to do with the ad
miration which Wilkes Barre's pluck!
determination to keep base ball in
spires nor with the fact that ever,
writer on the circuit rejoices at the re
tention of SO sportsmanlike a city. Tn
facts as presented above are there an,
must be looked squarely in the face
Therefore it is quite possible that TIL
Eastern league circuit for '9S has no
yet been fixed.
The conference of the Eastern an,
Western leagues produced severa
agreements of excellent purpose
anything ever comes of them. In tn
first place it was agreed to observe
salary limit of $1,000 month for eac
team, or $2,l25 when handled by play
ing manager. Moreover it was agree
not to pay any single player more tha1
5000 month. The advantages of thi
are far-rea ching, as it prevents a playe
using offers from one league to boor
his salary in the other league whe
disengaged.
1T was also agreed that the practic
of taking players from one league int
the National and then transferrin
them to the other league should b
stopped If possible. To this end it wa
agreed that when a player is drafte
from a club in either league and foun
wanting by the National league I'll
Eastern or Western league club froI
which that player was drafted sha
have first claim on the right to puI