The times., 1898-12-16
THE BASEBALL MAGNATES
A Deal to Amalgamate Brook
lyn and Baltimore.
THE NEW COMBINATION
Washington Relieved to BE Taken
Care 0f-Money May Figure in the
Change-The Brush ObsccEity Res
oIution-Suscstions by the Board
of Discipline-A Late Session.

New York, Dec. 15.-The s.ory to the
effect that the club owners of the Ma
tional League are trying TO organize two
eight-ciub circuits under one lead
created a sensation among the baseba !
men at the Fifth Avenue Hotel ana tie
facts. as stated, were soon confirmed by
various magnates who like 10 tell secrets.
In line with the story, negotiations
were begun early in the day bct"een the
Brooklyn and Baltimore clubs looking to
a consolidation of interests. Hanlon and
Won der Horst, of Baltimore. and Ebbetts
and Ball, approaching the situation,
were coon invited to dine together
Whether they talked over details could
not be learned. but both sides admitted
late tonight a deal between them was on.
The amalgamation of these two clubs is
believed TO be the turning point in the
whole scheme to reOrgan.Ze the existing
circuit.
With the Baltimore team in Brooklyn,
the latter will be Il powerful factor in the
big eight-ciub league mapped out, TO con-
sist of Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Phil
adelphia, Chicago, Pittsburg, Cincinnati
and ST. Louis. With the present Brook
Iyn team in Baltimore, the latter city
could enter another league, 10 be made up
of. possibly, Philadelphia John !. Rogers
wants two clubs in his town., Baltimore,
Washington, Buffalo. Chicago, Detroit,
Indianapolis and either Cleveland or Louis
VILE. BY satisfying both Baltimore and
Brooklyn those who are behind the move
ment believe they will have easy sailing
in their efforts to bring the siXteen-club
arrangement about.
The few baseball men who learned o:
details of the plan were unanimous in the
opinion that the placing Of winner in
Brooklyn to cope successfully with for
midable New York team, under John B.
Days management, would be beneficial
thing for baseball al over the country
In bringing about the sixteen-elub
scheme it is quite probable that some
money will nave to figure in the induce
ments offered to Washington and LOUIS
VILE 10 drop out of the present twelve
club compact which has still three years
TO run. There was some talk yesterday
that If Louisville should be unwilling 10
continue a club in the new association,
the league would involve Vanderbeck. of
Detroit, in a deal whereby the Kentuck-
ians could be bought out. Wagner. of
Washington. is believed to have an under
standing with the Brush combine. which
is working the wires, and will be taken
care of. The placing of two clubs IN
necessary, in order to get the new asso-
ciation circuit in good shape.
The method of procedure to be adopted
when the different ends of the deal have
been arranged is 10 have resolution in
troduced calling for the dissolution of the
twelve-club copartnership agreement by
unanimous consent and the appointment
of a committee TO arrange the new cir
cults.
1t was learned today that the new board
of arbitration, which will have power over
all leagues, will when the siXteen-ciub
arrangement has been carried through,
be composed of probably seven members,
including the board of discipline, together
with two representatives each from the
league and association.
The only business discussed formally by
the league today was the Brush resolu-
ton against obscenity and the report OF
mates got through with il Brush was con-
graduated for scoring another victory
in his fight for clean sport.
The report of the board, prepared by
Secretary krauthoff, was read first, and
the club owners listened attentively. ii
pointed out the fact that the existence OF
the Brush rule had worked with consid-
cradle success in that the players had
curbed their tongues more than ever be-
a1
by vile language.
The board called attention to the fact
however, that there were some violations
of the rules made by the players in ad
dressing one another and the umpires, bu
as they could not make charges, tbs
board had been unable to try a case. Il
view of this, the board in its report asked
that its power be Increased, so that in III,
future players or umpires who refuse Il
make charges or provide testimony wher
called upon, can be held responsible. TIL,
board suggested further that its scope
and power be enlarged so as 10 include
some If not all of the offenses occurring
on the ball field that can be clssset
under the head of ''rowdyism'' or unGen
tlemanly conduct.
The report of the board was volumi
nous and was not given out for publioa
tion at the special request OF the secre
tary. After the document had been read
Chairman Soden called on each club rep
, resentatiVe 10 express an opinion. Th
delegates were asked to declare whethe
they believed the Brush anti-obscenit,
rule had been failure and whether tn
board of discipline should be maintained
With the exception of the Baltimore an
Louisville clubs, the clubs all united il
declaring that the rule had bsen til
means of doing some good, and that. III
board of discipline should not be aboi 81
ed. Then. by ten to two vote, III
boards report was turned over to B usf
Hart and Soden. These men are to pre-
pare another report for the considerat o.
of the League at the next meeting TO tt
held in February.
There are indications that Brush, Har