Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-14
ALL YET UNCERTAIN
Base Ball Magnates at Sea Regard
ing the Future.
FREEDMAN INSISTS ON EIGHT CLUBS
Buck Ewing Comes to Terms With
Him ConditionaIIy.
FREEDMAN INSISTS ON EIGHT CLUB
CURRENT SPORTING NEWS

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, December 14-"There has
been a great deal Of exaggeration in the
assertions that Brooklyn would be fined
heavily for signing Wrigley." said President
Bbbets this morning. II don't believe any,
thing Of the kind, although I admit there
isn't a chance for us to get the player.
The case was tried, and we were sentenced
before even word was spoken to the ma
tional board. But what earthly good does
1t do? The league has Simply established
a precedent that will make plenty of trou-
BILE with the minor organizations In the
future"
Earle Wagner says that II the wranele
keeps up much longer in this city the price
of the Washington club will be raised.
Every day that they delay" said he,
makes the Washington franchise in my
opinion worth a little more. seeing what
extraordinary value they appear to attach
to some of the other franchises
Freedman's Demands.
Never in the history Of base ball has one
man dominated general proceedings more
than Freedman dominates them at this
meeting. Every move made thus far has
been after a carefully laid-out plan adopted
some weeks ago at the conference between
Soden. Brush and Freedman. The league is
fighting energetically to reduce the circuit
to eight clubs, in order to placate Freed
man, who insists positively that he will not
attempt to strengthen the New York nine
unless an eigtt-club circuit is formed.
He was asked by telephone this morning
whether he would consent to go on with ten
clubs, and replied to The Star correspon-
dent that it must be eight or nothing.
On account of this stand, and the fact
that the other magnates want to see New
York strengthened, in order to get the ben
eft of the business here, the former friends
of Won Der Horst willing to sacrifice
him. Both Won Der Horst and Abel laugh
at every move made. and say they will be
playing base ball when some of the other
clubs are out of business.
What Wagner Says.
Wagner said this morning that 1t looked
to him as much like a twelve-club circuit
as anything else.
81 believe some sort of a conference was
held last night" said he ''at which 1t was
agreed that it would no: be best to antag
onize the Brooklyn club too much. If that
is the case I don't see how 1t is going to
result in anything but continuance of the
league in present form. What else be
done? The club that will suffer most from
that action will be Louisville, which, strip
ped of all its players, will be able to draw
neither at home nor away from home
Arson Wants to Buy Chicago.
Arson laughs at the report that he will
be made chief Of umpires. Il wouldn't take
the job" said he, for 5000 year. 1 am
here to buy out the Chicago club If its own
ers want to sell. i have got the cash and
will pay any reasonable figure to get hold
of the property"
President Hart was asked II Chicago
would sell. and replied, jokingly. that any
body could get the club who had the price.
The figures. however, necessary to pur-
chase the property he would not name.
Ewing May Manage New York.
Ewing has come to terms with the New
York management conditionally. II it is
to be a good team next year he will take
charge. II not he prefers to rest year.
The American Association people are here
and insist that they are in shape to put
mines in the field next summer. This, how
ever, is thought to be impossible owing to
the non-success of the promoters in building