The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-08
II SHOULD Be CUT DOWN
Eight Clubs All That the League
& Can Support.
THE SILENCE is BROKEN
National League Magnates Finally Give
\ an Explanation of the Proposed
Changes-Brooklyn and
" Baltimore

TChicago, Jan. THE National league
magnates who have been trying to keep
quiet on certain questions which were
discussed at the league meeting, and
Rre of the most vital Importance to the
baseball world, are giving out a hint
once in a while. Many of the leading
questions which have been a mystery
TO the baseball world are certain to come
nut sooner or later. President Hart of
The Chicago club is the first magnate
to come out with direct statement to
the effect that the league circuit should
be cut down to eight clubs. He also eX-
plains how, in his opinion, it could be
done. He has the following to say:
off the people concerned would look
at the matter in a business light there
would not be so much fuss raised You
see, sentiment enters largely into the
consideration of the question and senti-
ment and business are different things.
Here is a champion club at Baltimore
and the town will not support it prop
erly. At Brooklyn there is a team that
needs to be strengthened Brooklyn is
a good town and with a strong team
would do we'll.
together and see how the thing could
be fixed up with advantage to both. If
the two should combine, as the talk has
been, the matter would resolve itself
this way, l should think: Brooklyn
would have the choice of the best of the
Orioles and the weak ones of both
teams would be put at Baltimore. OF
course, if the present Baltimore team
should lose. say, $751; 900 year, it stands
n ra wit mol lyar Il flp
It would lose at least twice that much.
Yhen the natural place would be in the
gtrong Eastern league.
with Brooklyn strengthened New
York would become jealous of it's pres
tge and would begin to look about for
material to strengthen itself. 1t would
fear the strong competition it would get
In its own territory. Then there is
Washington and Louisville, from either
of which the New Workers could draw
material enough to make it strong
enough to scott at any competition.
suppose it should draw from Louisville
With Brooklyn and New York provided
for there is left Pittsburg and Philadel-
phia, and these would want to get more
men. Washington is left
In the West the same relations exist
between st. Louis and Cleveland as be-
tween Brooklyn and Baltimore in the
East. Cleveland is strong team that
1t not appreciated at home, and st.
Louis is good baseball town with a
weak team. If some arrangement We're
made by which the Clevelands could be
grated on st. Louis this problem would
be solved Cincinnati is strong. and it
situated in an .appreciatiVe town, and
Chicago is able to hold its own.
"Of course these are only my indi-
vidual ideas on the subject. There has
been a lot of talk to the effect that the
National league at its meeting in New
York talked over the circuit question.
but this is mistake. The matter was
never brought up. and if any changes
come about they must come from the
outside, by application from the clubs
most interested. OF course if the
change in the circuit does not come
about in some way there will be
change at the end of three years The
present circuit was arranged to last
for 10 years, and seven of these have
gone by now"
That there are powerful influences
being used to have the circuit reduced
to eight clubs, eliminating Baltimore
and Washington from the East, and
Louisville and Cleveland from the
West, no one viii deny. That these
powerful influences are still at work
will be shown at the directors meet
ing of the Louisville club this evening.
At that time a proposition is to be
made, if one is intended, to the direct
ors of the club to sell out This will
leave 10 clubs in the league, as the
proposed Baltimore Brooklyn deal is
an assured thing And this from the
men who are said to be in the game
for only the sport that it gives them.