Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-14
AGAIN IN BASE BALL
Freedman El-cted to and Will Serve
on Board of Directors
MAGNATES AGREE ON RETRENCHMENT
American League Affairs Entirely
Satisfactory and Tranquil.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

The decline in the public sport of pro-
fessional base ball and the consequent de-
crease in the receipts of the various Ma
tional League clubs had the first place in
the deliberations of the National League
meeting at New York yesterday. Other
matters clamored for attention, but the
managers calmly put them aside and gave
their concentrated consideration to ques-
lions relating closely to the national
games" loss of popularity, all of which
pertained to retrenchment in the conduct
of the clubs and reductions of outside eX-
penses The decrease in the gate receipts
of the National League clubs last season
was touched frequently in the days
business that the matter which was of
chief public Importance received but few
moments attention, and then was dis
missed bodily. This was the claim of the
Protective Association of Professional Base
Ball Players, for which the players expect
ed fair treatment. These claims OF the
players were set forth fully yesterday. The
club managers, however, found difference
between the demands made by the players
in the public hearing Wednesday morning
and the claims made in the abstract pre-
scented by the lawyer for the players, Har-
ry Taylor, and on the ground that the play
ers asked concessions which the league
could not grant, the entire matter was dis
missed. NO formal announcement or TINS
decision was made to the committee repre-
senting the players, but the fact that the
contract suggested by them was rejected
was made known indirectly early in the
day.
Another Hearing Promised.
The players committee promptly made
application for a rehearing, and this mat
ter was presented early In the day to the
league meeting No action taken on it,
however the league meeting declining to
delay other business on hand; and the men,
bers of the players committee waited
around all day without hearing any Off
cial decision from the governing body.
Late in the evening, however, the announce
ment was made that the league would give
attention to the players application to-
day. The players aEege that all the con-
cessions they want were stipulated in the
public meeting Wednesday. These are that
the term of contracts shall be limited to
certain number of years, that the reserve
rule shall be modified. and that the farm
ing of players shall be abolished by
rule fOrbidding the selling, transfer or as
signment Of a player without his written
consent. Other matters in addition were
mentioned in the abstract OF the players
demands, but the one which met with the
unanimous dsapproval of the league meet
ing was the provision which gives players
equal representation with the club owners
in arbitration on disputed points. The play
ers, who are willing to drop the matter of
having their members represented In dis
putes, are still hopeful of gaining their
ends; but, from the announcement OF views
by the league managers, an agreement on
the question Is very improbable.
Election of Directors.
The league held the annual election of
directors in the morning, after having de-
cided to reduce the number from six to
four. These were chosen by ballot. and the
following were elected: Andrew Freedman.
fh,,r So1a
for the Boston club; Barney Dreyfus, for
the Pittsburg club and John 7. Brush, for
the Cincinnati club. Mr.. Freedman some
what surprised hts associates by consent
ing tc serve: Last year he was chosen Tor
the same office, but then he declined to
serve in any capacity, This season, how
ever. he has entered into the work ON hand
with eager interest
After the election the matter Of economy
In the management Of base ball clubs came
up. One of the first methods of retrench-
ment agreed upon was contained In the
resolution adopted by which all the Ma
tional League clubs in future shall do
away with the spring training trips and
the attendant expenses. These trips COM
monty taken in March, compelling the
players to report for duty early in thar
month, but under the new arrangement the
players will not be called until April l.
Another proposition, by which the number
of players each club shall maintain is to
be reduced to fourteen or sixteen men, was
heard and discussed. Action on this was
postponed, but as the rule Will mean
great saving to the club owners, the league
members admitted later that it would be
adopted to a certainty.
The question of amending the rules con-
corning the umpire and providing for re-
newal of the double umpire system was
considered. but no agreement was reached.
the meeting by common consent postpon-
ing action in the matter until the spring
meeting. The club managers later said
that they wished to obtain the best UNI
pires who could be retained but declined
to mention the names of those umpires
who had been proposed.
Talked-Of Deals.
The PLAYERS and base ball enthusiasts in
the lobby talked much about deals for
players, consummated or pending, but few
of these rumored transactions actually
have taken place. Hugh Jennings Of the
Brooklyn team said that he had been asked
to become athletic instructor at Cornell
University, and would accept the place and
quit base ball unless he could get employ
ment as manager of a baseball club. A
deal for Strang, third baseman of the Chi
cago team, in exchange for Alex Smith,
catcher on the Brooklyn team, is pending.
An offer to trade Waddell OF Pittsburg for
Griffith of Chicago was rejected. SINH
lar offer by Pittsburg of Tannehlll for
Hahn of Cincinnati was refused. Another
deal-of Catcher Clark of Boston for Stein
field of C!ncinnati-is still pending.
1t was currently reported around the
corridors of the Fifth Avenue Hotel yester-
day that Boston had obtained the sigma
ture of Dick Padden to a league contract.
This has been denied and corroborated from
different sources. SO that it is impossible to
say whether 1t is true or not. Padden was
formerly second baseman on the Washing
ton team, and last year signed with Chicago
of the American League, with which he
played all the season, and was reserved. If
the Boston management has signed Padden
it is the opening gun of bitter base ball
war.
Umpire Question Discussed.
There was little done at the afternoon
session Of the league magnates. They went
into session at 4 o'clock and did not break
the silence of their conference until after
8. L.,,le Information was given out, Presi-
dent Young being the authority for the