The times., 1899-12-12
NATIONAL LEAGUE PLANS
Baseball MagnateS Are Hatching
Schemes for Next Season.
Efforts ON Foot to Form an Eight
Club Circuit - Washington. BaIti-
more, and Brooklyn Hard Prob
Iem-HOw the "Syndicatesu May
View the Selling of Franchises.

NEW YORK, Dec 11.-Nearly all of the
National League baseball men arrived in
town early this morning and devoted the
entire day to lobbying and secret confer
ences. The principal topic of conversation
was the proposed reduction of the present
circuit of twelve clubs to one Of eight cities
as follows: Boston, Brooklyn. New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago. Pittsburg. Cincin-
natl, and St Louis. This would be a most
desirable circuit but in order to form il
rice little game OF bluff must be played.
The men who are foremost in this new
circuit business are identified with the Bos-
ton, New York. Cincinnati, and Piusburg
clubs. They have been arranging matters
for several months. and, according 10 the
best authority, they intend to spring
surprise
When the matter reaches a proper focus
these schemers expect TO play their trump
card. To get rid Of four clubs the owners
of the Cleveland Louisville Washington
and Baltimore franchises must be seen. The
schemers believe they can carry their plan
through without much of financial out
lay, and that these four weaker clubs Will
readily capitulate. Cleveland is ready to
quit now, as Robson, who also owns the
st. Louis club is tired of making up losses
in the Forest City. The pick Of the Louis
Vile players has been sold outright to
PittsbuTg. and Barney Dreyfuss, the for
mer Louisville president is now a big
stockholder in the Pittsburg club. This
means that the Louisville club stands ready
to quit for financial bonus.
So far the ciTcHit schemers see their
al, .f,- q
by the Wagners, which has been a white
elephant for years. is to be used as
club to beat the owners of the Brooklyn
Baltimore syndicate into line. ]. Earl
Wagner has an understanding with Soden,
Brush, and others. He has set reason
able price on the Washington franchise
although for publication he declares he
would not sell out. The trump card,
therefore, is expected to appear in the
shape OF a threat to the effect that if
the Brooklyn club does not consent to drop
out the Baltimore club from the circuit,
both of these clubs will be compelled to
get out Of the big League at the end OF
two years, when the present twelve-club
circuit expires. In that case Washington
would like the place occupied by Brooklyn.
But the owners of the Brooklyn-Balti-
more syndicate are old campaigusrs in
baseball and game of bluff has no terrors
for them. In fact they hold the key to the
situation today and they do not intend to
let go of it. Both the Brooklyn and Balt-
more clubs made good money during the
past season. In Brooklyn nearly $40 600
was cleared, while in Baltimore the profit
was $4,000. 1t is sound judgment there
fore, for these four magnates 10 continue
with the twelve-club circuit. If the cir
cult schemers mean business they will have
to talk money to the Brooklyn Baltimore
syndicate. If they want to leave Baltimore
out of the count, not less than $50 600 will
be required TO accomplish the move. But
Soden and others closely identified with
him say they wiz not put up a dollar if
such proves TO be the case. The circuit
will remain as it is for the reason that it
requires a unanimous vote to reduce the
membership.
A scheme to further frighten the Brook
lyn club may be used as a last resort.
The League constitution says that each
city shall be represented by one club.
As Greater New York is one municipality
now the idea is, if possible, to enforce
the constitution and force Brooklyn out.
If such trick should be played, the
League would still have the Baltimore
club on its hands, which with Washing
ton. would make an unpleasant surplus.
But the wiser heads in the League win
DDS, for any attack on the Brooklyn club
would precipitate a baseball war At the
end of two years the freezing out of
Brooklyn and Baltimore would also bring
along a disastrous war. The movement
10 establish a new association which was
started few months ago, has suggested
ideas. new league would welcome both
BROOKLYN and Baltimore and that addi-
tion alone would help to establish rival
club in Boston to make matters interest
ing or Soden.
Freedman, who was in consultation with
SOden, Conant, and Brush this afternoon,
reiterated his declaration that he would cut
the circuit down and would also abolish
syndicate baseball" Il was apparent to-
day that the majority of the League club
owners recognize Freedman as a leader It
was said in some quarters that if Freedman
asks for the presidency of the League with
n. &. Young as his clerk he can have
the job. 1t was also stated openly that
whether Freedman attended tomOrrow's
meeting Of the League or not his magnate
friends would produce a set of petitions
from Freedman that would be acted upon.
One request. it is said, is the return of the
81 600 fine imposed upon the New York
club in 1898, for Freedman's participation
in the 'Ducky' Holmes riot at the Polo
Grounds
1t is further rumored that the New York
club will ask for a general contribution of