Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-12
BALTIMORE WILL NOT SELL
National League Magnates Nonplussed at
the Decision.
Little Present Prospect That Wagner
Can Sell Out-Selee After
His Best Men.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, December 12.-With the
most peculiar situation in the organiza-
tons history staring it in the face the Ma
tonal League began its session this noon
in New York. More than anxious to re-
duce the circuit the magnates are baked
at the outset by the straightforward and
emphatic announcement that the Baltimore
club is not for sale at any price With
that pronuncfamento before them the eager
crowd of capitalists controlling the ma
donal sport scarcely know which way to
turn. 1t had looked as If Louisville's evil
dent desire to quit would be an easy solu-
ton of very difficult problem. but there
can be no solution with Baltimore in its
present mood.
incidentally a most bitter quarrel has
been fomented between the organizations
of Greater New York quarrel which It
viii take time to heal just it took til e
to patch up the differences between Brush
and Freedman. The evident target of the
New York mans criticism. the Brooklyn
club, has begun to resent his insinuatons
and open declarations. and 1t looks now like
a war to the knife. The fact that Freed
harshly Hanlon and Ebbetts retarded the
very purpose that he set out to accom-
plish with Brush, for 1t strengthened the
backbone of the Baltimores, and If they
were ever inclined to sell they have no
disposition to that effect now Freedman
says he will not try to do anything with
the New York club until syndicate base
ball Is abolished II he holds to that re-
solve. and he is just stubborn enough to do
so, the New Yorks will wander through
next season just as feeble and as poor as
they were last year.
Frank selee's object.
Meanwhile in anticipation that some
thing may happen, Frank Selee is trying
to make a dicker to secure Dineen. Mercer
and Freeman from Washington. Should
he succeed in getting their releases all of
the men will be transferred to New York,
so it Is said
In fact all the magnates except the
Brooklyn and Baltimore people are gra-
ciously thinking of bestowing players upon
the one man whom they fought and
viled for years. The anxiety of the Louis
vile magnates to quit is''written in every
line of their faces Dreyfus is out Of the
team and those who are left want to get
out, too. but are anxious to sell a few gold
bricks before doing so.
J. Earle Wagner has his price. and it Is
practically the same amount that he asked
from the Washington syndicate. He won't
get 1t, because the Boston people refuse
absolutely to pay penny to buy out other
clubs At present there appears not to be
the slightest chance for reduction of the
circuit.
New Clique Forming.
An interesting feature in connection with
the meeting is the formation of new
clique. The league has always been domi-
mated by cliques, and the most recent COM
bination is known as the big Five" 1t is
composed Of Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia, Pittsburg and Cincinnati, and Col.
John l. Rogers was gloating this morning
over the fact that the control of business
had got back, as he put it, Into the hands
of men Astounding with wisdom and there
are some mean enough to say that II the
wise men in the Big Five are left alone
base ball will die of hamilton.
Arthur Irwin Asks Release.
By Associated Press.
NEW YORK. December 12-J Earl wag-
ner of Washington seems to be the man
to whom propositions will have to be made
has been proposed.
AS matters stand, Dreyfuss, with his new
holdings in Pittsburg. might easily be
brought to dispose of his Louisville fran
chise, which has been loser for many sea-
sons. The same may be said of the Robi-
sons To them the Cleveland franchise has
been burden, while the st. Louis fran
chise, bought last year, Is a profitable one.
AS to the Brooklyn Baltimore syndicate. it
Is said that the owners are not averse to
dropping Baltimore for a consideration.
While the Washington franchise Is value
less in the eyes of the managers OF the
other clubs, Mr.. wagner has views OF his
own on the subject. Just how far Wagner
has been approached nobody seems to
know; but apropos to the subject. Arthur
Irwin made significant remark yesterday
while in the city on his way to Washing
ton. II think have seen my last year in
league base ball. he said. Il am inter-
ested in big land Improvement scheme In
Washington and 1 have spoken to Mr.. Wag-
ner about releasing me from my contract.
He has practically given his consent" r.
win has fhree-year contract with Wag-
ner, only one year of which has gone by.