The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-06

The Western League magnates want
important concessions from the Ma
tional League. They wish to add Cleve-
land and probably Louisville to their
circuit and are DESTROYS of locating a
club in South Chicago. The officials of
the Chicago club. it is stated, will not
consent to the presence of a rival club
even in an inferior organization unless
they are interested in its ownership
says the Sporting News. President
Hart and his associates are within
their rights under baseball law and it
is to be hoped that the parties inter-
ested can reach an understanding.
Chicago is capable of supporting two
clubs and it would be an easy matter
to avoid a clash in schedule dates.
There is no better baseball city in the
country than Chicago, and the at-homa
Sunday patronage of the Western
League club would more than pay it's
operating expenses for the season. The
only way for the Western League to
get footing in Chicago without bring
ing on a baseball war is through an
arrangement with those in control of
the, territory under baseball law.
President Van Derbeck would not per-
nit Michigan League club to be
located within five miles of Detroit,
nor would President Franklin assent
to the operation of New York State
League club within the prescribed dis
lance of Buffalo. The Western League
magnates are accorded the same ter
rtorial rights that they are asked to
T oh ha
conclusion that they can do business
more satisfactorily and profitably by
breaking away from the National
agreement and locating an opposition
club in Chicago, there is nothing in
their way.
But men of the ability and experience
of Messrs. Manning, Comiskey, Lotus
and other owners of clubs in the West
ern League want to live at peace with
each other and their neighbors. Their
interests are too large to be sacrificed
even in fight for principle, unless it is
forced upon them. War would depre-
ciate their property and might wreck
the savings of lifetime. The Western
League has grown in strength and i'm
portance in spite of handicaps by the
major league magnates. Year after
year it's teams have had to contend for
championship honors with a team COM
posed, in the main, of National League
increase their salary lists beyond the
limit set by prudence. The Indian
apolis club is of late run in a far less
Objectionable manner. Mr.. Brush, the
most powerful parsonage in baseball,
sought to confiscate the plants of six
clubs of the Western League in 1895,
but was checkmated for the first time
in his baseball experience. The West
ern League asked for an amendment
to the National agreement, permitting
it's clubs to retafs player for two
years. The National League was will
ing to make this -2ncession provided it
was given the light of trying out a.
drafted player before his purchase
This brought about friction and there
was no change in the reserve rule.
There is little reason for complaint by
the minors about the drafting rule. |
Competition for first-class talent is so
keen among the National league clubs
that the minor league stars are pur-
chased long before the end of the sea-
son at figures in some instances, closer |
to $4,000 than $500-the draft price of the |
class A organizations. After the stars |
are sold, it is seldom that a player
worth more than the draft price re-
mains 1t is unusual at least. that one
Western league club pays in excess of
that sum to another for a player
The National league magnates should
govern the minor league on a policy of |
live and let live" That is the theory
of the national agreement, and a broad |
gagged policy in dealing with the |
parties of the second part to that Mag
ma Charta of baseball would do away
with all friction and promote the best |
interests of the game. The troubles in |
Cident to the reorganization of the ma |
jor league prior to or at the termination |
of the 12-club agreement excepted. the |
chief danger to the National league is |
in the class A leagues. This can be |
avoided by wise legislation and fair |
treatment. With the miaer leagues 10y |
al. contented and prosperous allies the |
National league need not fear rival or |
dread a rebellion. -
'I will never believe that the Ma |
tional League is to have rival until |
I have conclusive evidence remark |
ed Treasurer Lloyd. II do not believe |
the stories that have been sent out !
from various points to the effect that |
the new organization will be in the |
field next season. A man who would |
invest money in such a scheme cannot |
be well acquainted with the facts of |
the baseball business. II | were offer |
ed a franchise in the new league and !
800, 900 in cash, providing I would hold |
the franchise for five years. I would not |
accept 1t. No man win invest a lot |
of money in venture without first |
assuring himself that there il n chanpa