The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-15
LOOKS LIKE EIGHT CLUBS.
MIGNiTES CHANGE TLEIR METHODS
UNDER A HEAVY FIRE.

have received all over tho country during the
mast few days. tho National League baseball
magnatcs concluded to take a slight shift in
their methods last night. Tho Board OF
Directors - Soden. Brush. Hart. Robson
Reach and Wagner - again went into
session about noon. having received
further instructions from their leader.
freedman. But thoy had read THE sUN and
somc OF them believed that It was about
time TO call halt in the high handed dealings
which have prevailed since Monday Tho
result was that the game OF bluff and
hulldozing. suggested by freedman. was
somewhat discontinued. Tho plan TO
further sandbag the Brooklyn club was
discussed and the so-caled magnatcs
were soon divided as to the opinion. They
were afraid OF the law. The Brooklyn-Dalu-
more syndicate had said nothing about tho
unjust ruling in the Wrigley case. had kept
Quiet concerning tho proposition 10 nhict
Nne Of $1,000. and had refused to discuss the
threat that both Brooklyn and Baltimore would
bc thrown out into the cold BY a franchise OF
the legally constructed ten years agreement
which binds the twclve-club circuit together.
The magnatcs were. In word. up q tree
They we're guessing and everybody know IT,
The Brooklyn -p-itfmorc-men satin the corri-
doris OF the Fifth Avenue Hotel. a. they have
been doing since Monday. patiently waiting
With them was their counsel. John VI. Ward.
His presence circulatcdthc report that the first
move OH the part Of the schemers to injure
the rights and property ot the syndicate would
result in court proceedings so thorough that tho
whole League would he tied M hand and foot
Further than this. another scare was thrown
into the directors by the sudden appearance
O, a number OF persons who are known to be
ready to Join any kind Of a new baseball league.
THOMAS Mccarthy OF Boston, who has
financial backing and an option on the
Charles River Park grounds, came to the hotel
about noon. A philadelphan who says he has
maneyed men to put another CLUB in that city,
and A c. Arson. who declares that lie nos-
sesses backing 20 the amount oi SlW.NNo -
establish new organization ~ Chicago wern
also present. George Van der Beck ~ Detroit
was arwund. too. ani conferred win the ";h'Fs.
All ot these visitors lowered around Abel.
Won der Horst, Hanon and EblctS. looking
for encouragement for they evidently figured
that II brooklyn and Baltimore should loo
forced out, according 20 tho Freedman plan.
a splendid league could be organized consist
ing OF Boston. brooklyn. nhtaie,i hia. Balu-
troit IL was l.,o illustrated by those who ike
10 draw pictures OF the future. that ~urh a
new leagu would receive the surport OF nearly
every MINOR league in the country the SUPPORT
OF the public which has been discu~'c' by tho
Understandable and uubusine.slikr methods
ofthe National League men. and also wrld hc
helped along ny many star player, WHO. are
tired 81 the treatment thcy have received from
the m-r who hold them with visc-like
Possibly. rumors Of impending trouble
reached he schemers In Pnrlor II. H.. Tor they
appeared To be in nervous stn'c when they
slipped down the stairs, to cal! VI the Demo-
cratic Club on the telephone For seven hours
the session, Of the directors 'on'uucd without
a line o! official news being turH"d l9o-" down
stairs Then at $50 O'Clock they came down
into the corridors and mingled with the crowd.
"ws so RSyS Done nY niEothns Nothtgs a, y SAID
President Ebbcts Of the BROOKLYN Club was
walking ,ou, ns3r the / l'ih ayenue entrance Of
John T Brush, who has been keeping under
cover since the first of tho star-Chamber
an hoar Frank o6i.5n "o a Sp TOO and
approached +. A. Abel. who, was atfable and
Emline. as usual. Jim Hart looked around for
Hanon, but the latter was not around. These
col!ats served TO set every boiy on edge. 10
was Troot that the schemers had CONCLUDED
10 give Ut the stuffed club methods and come
down 10 honorable dealings Brush an Rob-
son talked earnestly with the two Brooklyn
men. and when they finished nobody would
IT came to the reEor,er Of TIE sgy, however.
had decided that not more than $500
would be the proper figure, and that the final
made Just yet. 1t wa, GIso learned that
the schemers lad GOV rid Of, Louisville.
Cleveland and Washington and that they
syndicate 10 conc igtory way. II Is pretty
certain tint thSy, made an npEpintment with
ing. What The League men desire now IL to
learn how much Is wanted for the Baltimore
franchise The scheme 10 the wind is to buy
the latter at reasonable price and turn the
players over to the New York Club, under tho
mapasemert OF Buck Ewing. Whether the
Of It the f OF not s yndeSe se
fuses to be slueezel. Abel. Won der Horst.
hGnioq aud E6be'ts have never had desire
they are ready 10 talk business RI business
men; hat they have t. fixed pricH for the Bal
squurrly treated, From what could be iearncl
last night, II appears 10 be an almost safc hot
ShHt the LeaGGe circuit NJ! be rcdueed 10 eight
Philadelphia. Chicago Cincinnati pittsburg
AM ST. Louis.
Those clubs that will draw. however. must
tnsr cities unless the" arc un'cr rho Urotcc-
tnio o ., ~" national agreement Harry Qun.
was ,rep2rted to have sent on word that no
wonld buy two franchises in the East.
ihGo%TTi'nFu they Would receive pr",cc:
means 'h3, Freedman has got n setback In his
policy o' debating 10 thr. League. The mag
mates cannot sanction h!s ruic-or.rum policy.
pay tribute
his uH."rstCod that the directors. several Of
, vhFneu ,he!r hacS| on III" ola poicy yesterday
t Whe Z, hey th PpgrGeI e pay back 10 Ereodmal
tI"Sl'NVl Du'HS HOMES llncAnl mo one OF
5000 for The game fOrtc'cd last season b. the
New York; 70 tho BrooklYns. The latter dase
%hS !!agrunt violation Qf the rules.
me umpire was roughly handled
byt New iorks. and q bali was thrown at his
mead ny the pitcher Tho umpire had threat
cted several times To forfeit the game aud
When ~" assault was committed the umpire
iesort"d 10 iinnl action with q forfeiture. Under
eru!rS the New York club was liable u llne
o. 5000 and Il wis inn "ted. Tho directors
hpWeVcr, acting under the influence of Freed
mans lash, decided 10 remit the pcEnlly. which
m.ahS that rOwdylSm can continue in
Iglure at the Polo Grounds without fear Of
several OF the league owners complained
Sestefdiy that they were receiving unfair
tnrisn. They said that Freedman was not
,,no'aling 10 them and that they were not try
Ing 10 ANYTHING wrong. lut the rank and
ne Of baseball men at the hotel laughed ut
such statements; Tho magnatcs put thom-
selves on record two years ago that they
Would ksl rowdy baseball, They signed an
!tohchd agreement TO uphold the umpircs and
Y suppress kicking among their players,
Gnhrly every club.owncr who put his name to
.nht celebrated document broke his word,
anu al o. them have permitted their
teams 10 disgrace tho League and inJure
~" game ever since, Wcrc II not for
ne honesty, Of the players who. have kept
VI" game above reproAch, baseball to-day
S wonn not i" worth dollar to It's promoters.
ahl " T. the consensus Of opinion thar. no
HsaI"r now much the New York team IL
tNr"hgthennd Ivy players from other cluhs. tho
interest VIII ur YER he what ~ WINS yCurS AGO