The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26
JOHN 1. ROGERS EXPOSED.
League Treasurer Had to BE "Disci-
pIined" i'm New York.

NEW YORK, March 25.-Perhaps the
most sensational meeting Of the National
League magnates ever held in this city came
to an end at the Fifth-avenue Hotel to-
night. The climax of the two days session
was the making public of certain confiden-
tial communications written to. members OF
the League by Col. John 1. Rogers, Of Phil
adelphia- That Mr.. Rogers, who for years
has been one of the leading figures in the
national game, was to be disciplined" by
certain of his fallow-members for the stand
he took in the ST. Louis muddle became
noised about the hotel early I'm the day.
Hints that certain letters were to be placed
before the public were made. 1t was not
until late n the evening, long after the off,
cial meeting had been declared thing OF
the past. however. that the letters were
given out.
These letters are long and completely ex-
pose John L. Rogers a man who stood
out against the policy of the entire league
for the purpose of holding up the other
magnateS so that Philadelphia would have
a more favorable share agreement on gate
receipts than other cities. One letter to b
s. Muckenfuss on March Z, wherein he was
attempting to block the action of the league
in settling the St. Louis squabble, says
II want you 10 hint to Becker that l am
the new power in the league and that We
This referred TO his gate receipts in Phila-
delphia, on the division Of which the Phila-
delphia Club had to give up only i2lz cents
also alludeS to Brush, Robson and Won
derhorst In a way that showed he was will
ing TO cut the throat, commercially. or any
and all the other magnateS to gain his own
purpose There is also two-faced letter to
Frank De Hass Robson given out.
Several years ago the League made a con-
cession to the Philadelphia club, whereby
ba ma
to the management of a visiting club ~.
cents for each person who viewed a game
of baseball in Philadelphia, lower "a te
than that paid by any other club In the
League. Under this arrangement the Phil
adelphians have flOurished financially. That
agreement expired with the close of last sea.
son. Since then Colonel Rogers has used
every effort TO get his electromagnetic tc
grant him a continuation OF the CONCESSION
In some circles the colonePS proposition has
met with decided disapproval. Last fall be-
gan the serious troubles In the St Louis
club. Following this came the propositioI
to transfer the cleveland team TO the Mound
City, with Frank De Haas Robson at the
helm. How to get Chris Won der Abe out
and Mr. Robson in became question FOL
the magnates to think over. The courts
at the instigation of Won der Abe, took a
hand in the matter and ordered the ST. Louis
club TO be sold at auction This was done,
and it was bought in the interest of several
creditors of the club. Subsequently Z. g
Becker bought out the purchasers at the
sale. But still the League, or certain mem
could get Mr.. Robison's crack Cleveland
team into st. Louis. AT the regular meeting
of the League held three weeks ago. the
board of directors thought it saw the way
clear. The old st. Louis club had failed
to pay up certain indebtedness to the
League This made it liable to expulsion.
The board of directors passed a resolution
favoring this method of doing away with
Won der Abe. But the majority of the mag
mates, headed by Colonel Rogers, refused
to stand by the board Of directors. The
whole matter was then laid over to be taken
up at a special meeting to be held after
tie judicial sale of the club. The LeaSJe
adopted a resolution to the effect that only
a purchaser favorable to the League would
be admitted TO membership OF the League.
On Friday the league managers again got
into town. AT the meeting Mr.. Rogers
again refused to vote for the expulsion CT
the st. Louis club The meeting broke up
in a row. Later the league went into ses-
sion and again Mr. Rogers blocked the
proposed expulsion. For over eight hours
the fight was carried on, the vote being ten
to one for expulsion. Colonel Rogers was
the "one." But finally the colonel was
beaten and the meeting was adjourned I'M
til to-day. At this session Colonel Rogers
remained only a few moments. He went to
his home in Philadelphia and the letters
were given out in retaliation for his action.
The schedule for the coming year was the
only matter taken up in to-day's session of
the league.