The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-12
BROOKLYN HOLDS THE KEY.
VIM pREVENT BUFF GdME Nv Pro-
POSED CIRCUIT CUT

Nearly AL OF tne NhtlOnul leURue DhSeDHll
men arrived in town early Yesterday morning
and devoted the entire day to lobbying and
secret conferences Their principal topic Of
conversation was the proposed reduction OF the
present circuit OF twelve clubs TO one OF eight
citics "a follows: Boston. Brooklyn. New
York. philadelphia. Chicago Plttsburg.
Cincinnati and 81. Louis. This is the
most desirable circuit but in order to
form II nice little game OF bluff Is In the wiud
The men who are foremo st In this circuit busl-
moss are identified with the Boston. New York.
Cincinnati and PittsburR clubs. They have
been framing matters up for several months.
md. according TO the best OF authority. they In
tend to spring a surprise.
when the matter reaches proper focus
these schemers expect to play their trump
card To get rid OF four clubs the owners Of tho
Cleveland. Louisville. Washington and Baltl-
more clubs must be seen. The schemers be-
Hove they can carry their plan through without
much Of n financial outlay and that those four
reakcr clubs will rca lily capitunte. Cleveland
IA ready TO quit now as Robson. who
sls, owns the st. Louis Club. is tlrcd
q, making up losses In the Forest City. The
nick OF the Louisville players has been sold
outright 70 Pittsburg. and Barney Drcytuss.
the former Louisville president. Is now big
.,ock holder in the pttsburg Club. This means
that the Louisville Club stands ready to quit
for n financial bonus. AMI its stockholders.
Harry pulhan, Charles =. Dehlcr Dr. 7. ii.
s,uckey. DR.. Van Der Espt and Casper Hammer.
are all In town with caracous pockets.
so far the circuit schemers sec their way
clear, The Washington Club. owned 10y the
Wagners which has been white elephant FOR
wears. Ia to b. used as q club TO beat the own
era OF the Brook lyn- Baltimore syndicate into
line u Earl Wagner has an understanding
with soden, Brush aud the others. He has set
n reasonable price on the Washington iran
chise. although for publication he declares he
wouldn't sell out.
The trump card. therefore, 10 expected to ap-
near in the shape OF threat to the effect that
iithe Brooklyn Club does not consent to drop
the Baltimore Club from the circuit. both OF
these clubs will be compelled TO get out o! the
big League at the end Of two years when the
present twelve-club-circuita agreement expires.
In that case Washington would take the place
TO be occupied by Brooklyn.
But Won der Horst. Abel. Hanlon AMI Eb-
bets, the owners OF the Brooklyn Baltim ore
syndicate, are old canraIgnerS In baseball and
agame OF bluff has no tcrrors for them. In
fact they hold the key to the situation to-day
and they do not intend 70 let 20 oft Both tho
Brooklyn and Baltimore clubs made good
money during the past season. In Brook
lyn nearly $4,000 was cleared. while
In Baltimore the rroAt was $4,000
II IL with sound judgment. therefore.
that these four magnates are perfectly willing
TO continue with the twe!ve.c!uh circuit. They
say that they see no reason why tho circuit
or bonn bastic talk can change their opinion.
II the circuit schemcrs mean business. there
fore, they will have 20 talk money 70 the Brook
baltimore out NJ the circuit not less than $50
900 will De required to ACCOMPLISH the move.
S aS s sSr the Sn wlI not put up dollar Il such
ptaves 10 Be the case The Circuit viii remain
as 1t is, for the reason that II requires upani-
Won der Horst said to THE SuS man last nigh
The Brooky baltimore syndicate is pre-
which established the twelye-club circuit Tor a
period Of ten years. We have two years to &c
and We are satisfied with the situation as i Is
chiSe is not Tor sale"
Edusrd Hanlon. manager OF the Brookiyns
and Pres den; Of the Baltimore Club, said:
season began We offered to sell the Baltimore
Club for $4,000 cash Now our, price IS much
larger and we do not caro- to sell at all. All
this talk about freezing US out + rot. We have
an equal standing with every other club in the
League ! do not believe there will be any
"A, scheme to further Brighten the Brooklyn
Club may be used as last resort; The League
constitution says that each city shall be repre-
sentei BY one club. A, Greater New York Is
one municipality now. The idea is. II .poss BILE
ont II such u trick should he played. the
League would stiil have the Baltimore Club on
us hands Which Win MsshHE n, would
such vFecEing s %s'Sods loT attack On "t The
war Of considerable breadth and length Al
ne snd Of two years the freezing out OF
along a disastrous war, The movement to es-
mbish new association, which was started
alew months ago. has suggested IDEAS new
Baltimore AMI that addition qlone would he 7
to establish rival club Ia Boston 10 make
FS oSSa 'o h sns srspai
the Huh and would probably be the first 10
on.Ise The treezeoHt game. although a, pre-;
That the mOgnatcs are trying e. play. A. one
oassoa.l man put T.. a rival league com posed
chso 81 Sas HwSaFrps and be25i
would max" things warm for the older organl-
ration The chlni sufferers, it can be seen,
NO oakE . b. S9ae% RSssEs ah Hprf and E9g,on 4
New, York Freedman could DO added to the
No matter how one looks at the situation.
League IN wise and that bluffs will cut very
brooklyn. Baltimore syndicate STANDS pat
owns II" best balpayers In the League,
aud hss made money liz 'q pretty Sf pSweria
coMbnation to buck w against.
, freedman, who was In consultation with
soien. Conhnt and Brush yesterday afternoon
reiterated hi, declaration that he would cut
The circuit down and would also abolish Syn
uicate baseball" Ho declined to say, however
whether he would eradicate the syndicate evil
from the New York Cub by pur hasing the
ttock OF the Boston, Cincinnati. Brooklyn and
nhicago clubs, held respectively 10y SOdcn.
Brush Abel and J. W. Spalding. II was appar-
tht Yesterday. no matter with whom THE
pun, reporter talked, that the majority Ot
The League cub owners have struck their col
Irs AMI arc, now ready to be dictate to by
t,FG.iInhn. 1t was said IN some quarters TINT
ltgedmhn Hsks Tor tho presidency Of the
League with y L, Young rs his clerk. he can
have N" lob, II was also stated openly that
Whtiher Freedman attended tp-days meeting
Ol me lengu" or not. his magnate friends
would produce set oi petition from Freedman
nat would be acted upon. One request,
lS said il the return o tho onc-thOusand-
90 ~ iluc IMPOSED upon the New York cub
" lN'S Tor Fr"edmHns participation In the
rpucky Holmes riot at the Polo Grounds,
ytNS ms been a thorn IN the side of the New
iofh cubs preside lent. and hc Is determined 10
nave MS rights, 1t Is stated that SOden and
bfNsh have agreed 10 see that the money
lsretprnrd, although the latter was a mem Der
OF The Boari OF Directors which imposed the
famous penalty. Another request from the New
lotE club ~ that the League should pay n part
OF m" rent for Manhattan Field, II IL con-
i' ..rN "a behalf OF the Now York club that
SIEJuO Ii annually paid tor the field in order
10 Keep an OPPOSITION league from locating n
IN apko l., (, IA,