The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-09
An EIGH1-CLUB CIRCUIT
The Orioles and Senators Dropped
From the Big League.
Cleveland and Louisville Teams Also
Bought Up-The Nagners VIII Re
ccive $4,000 for the Washington
Franchise - Great secrecy Attends
the Meetings of the MnGnatcs.

| NEW YORK, March S.-After deliberat-
! ing all day the national baseball magnates
reached a definite conclusion at midnight
| Eleven clubs signed an agreement, by
which the circuit is reduced to eight clubs
| Freedman was absent. but his representa-
| tive, Fred Knowles, was there He re-
ceived no authority, however, to put the
| club on record but from what was said by
his friends. Freedman will sign the agree
ment tomorrow morning
compromise was effected. by which all
I four retiring clubs will receive pretty near
ly what they lave asked for 1t was learned
that Louisville will get $4,000; Cleveland.
$4,000; Baltimore, about 500 coo, and will
sell all of its players later. .
The Washington club retires for 49,, 600,
but all of the players will go to the League.
| The climax was the result of willing
/ ness 10 break ground on the part of Freed
man, Brush and Sodon, who have been
holding out against these prices for some
time past II can be said therefore, that
the Brooklyn Baltimore syndicate has won
quite victory, and that Freedman did not
succeed in carrying everything before him.
As soon as Freedman signs the agree
ment he will be expected to strengthen
the New York team. The Brooklyn club
will add De Montreville. McGinrity, Kit
son. and Sheckard to its list. McGraw and
Robinson, of Baltimore, are wanted by
several clubs in case Freedman refuses to
buy them. The magnates were in a very
happy frame of mind after adjourning and
said everything would be settled tomor-
row.
Instead Of trying to reach teri:s with
the four retiring clubs involving the sale
nf ulaverS fraDphicps leases and other
assets, Chairman Brush said 1t was ad-
yised by the committee TO decker for the
purchase of their franchises alone, allow
ing each club TO sell its players to the
best advantage, while the League would
assume the leases of grounds and other
obligations.
Brush said the committee had expert
enced no trouble with Louisville and rec
commended that slo,0G0 be paid for that
franchise. Before Brush could proceed fur
Their there was blockade and on motion to
take recess the magnates went down into
the corridors. Hanlon, representing the
Brooklyn Baltimore syndicate. whispered
something in Brush's ear and in few
minutes the circuit committee went into
another session. The -Wagners, who own
the Washington Club, with their attorney,
Judge Frank Elliott. of Philadelphia, were
soon called before the circuit committee
and asked for their final terms. They said
that they had never changed their original
offer, SAG, sec for everything they owned
in baseball, but they were willing TO de-
duct from this amount s. 500 that they had
received from the Boston Club for players
Dinneen, Freeman, and Berry.
The committee pulled and hauled to no
avail 1t was suggested that the Wagners
take something for their franchise after
turning thafr laasa af grounds n tho
League, with the additional privilege of
selling their players within sixty days.
The Wagners could not see this at all and
would not bulge.
AS the Wagners came out tie big
four Of the Brooklyn Baltimore syndi
cate went into the star chamber. After
a long session, Abel, Won der Horst, Han
Ion, and Ebbets made this final PROPOSE
ton:
We will sell our franchise in Balti-
more for so much cash, reserving the
right to sell our own players and our
lease of Union Park TO whomsoever We
may see fit
While the amount named by the syndi-
cate was not given out officially, it was
said to be less than 100000
1t was said that the committee was
pleased with the fairness OF the big four"
Robson, representing his Cleveland fran
chise, once again informed the committee
that he would not sell for less than $4,000.
He was told TO guess again. When the
circuit committee adjourned three hours
had elapsed. 1t turned out that Brush
Soden and Freedman were unit on maxi
ing fight against paying a cent more than
80, GOO for each franchise. and it was de-
cided to convene the League again at
O'Clock to beat down prices.
Freedman. Brush. and .Soden were then
in more conciliatory mood, and the
agreement outlined above was reached.