The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-02
RATHER STARTLING STORY
Concerning the American Baseball
League Comes from Chicago.

n " - e0H
terday concerning a meeting held in the
office of President johnson Of a majority
of the American League magnates. at
which some startling things were consid-
cred. Present at the meeting were Presi-
dent Johnson, James H. Manning, of Kan
sas City, Matt Kiililea, of Milwaukee. and
Charles C~omiskey, Of st. Paul. The dis
patch said the proxies of James Franklin,
of Buffalo. Harry Van1erbeck. Of Detroit.
and w. H. Watkins, of Indianapolis. were
held by President Johnson. The dispatch
from Chicago states hat the object Of the
meeting was to break away from the Ma
tional League and to make war on the
parent organization by carrying the war
into the heart of the National League ter
ritory.'
AS a consequence, unless the National
League magnates can find means to pla-
cate the %belligerent Western o%rganiza-
ton, Chicago and st. Louis in the West
and Boston and Philadelphia in the East
will be included next spring, says the re-
port. The story was published in the Chi
cage Times-Herald and the fact that only
the one Chicago paper printed it is indica-
tive of the fact that there is a great deal
of guess work about it. The report says the
new American League circuit would be
composed OF Chicago, st. Louis. Milwau-
kee and Detroit in the West, and Boston.
Philadelphia, Buffalo and New York or
Baltimore in the East. 1t is further stated
that an option is held On the Charles River
Park. in Boston, and a lease of grounds in
Philadelphia has been offered. Hanlon is
said to nave offered his franchise in Balti-
more to the American League.
President Johnson Is quoted In the Chi
cago paper as saying that there will be a
break with the National League, and in
regard to the new circuit he said that the
American League will go East.
WON'T AFFECT INDIANAPOLIS.
This story has caused a little anxiety in
Indianapolis, but the enthusiasts Of this
city can rest easy. as indianapolis will be
in the American League. no matter what
happens. President Watkins was seen last
night and asked what he had to say about
t.~ Chicago story. He read the dispatch
and then remarked:
That is all news to me. I know nothing
of the meeting in Chicago. The statement
that President Johnson held my proxy is
AZ - Az Atao OCsh "a
meeting, as reported. for such important
business / would surely lave been there"
President Watkins was asked If such a
deal were possible as outlined in the Chi
cago story, but he said he could not dis
cuss the matter. as he knew nothing about
1t. He said, however, that he did not favor
a fight on the Nauona League.
There seems to be something unreal
Hanlon had offered his franchise to the
American League is just a trifie incompre-
hensible. He could not give up his fran
chise without the consent Of the National
eague for there are others interested in
that matter besides Mr.. Hanlon. Taking
the dispatch as based upon facts and the
story as true it is not the style of Presi-
dent Johnson to give an exclusive story of
such vast Importance to one Chicago pa
per. He has too big an interest in the base
ball business to antagoniZe the other Chi
cage papers by giving out such a story to
one paper, excluding the others from the
news. If the story should prove to be true
there will be the merriest war inaugurated
in the baseball world ever known. To light
the National agreement and the National
League Is no easy task. The old Western
& clubs and franchises are owned by
men with limited capital. while in the Ma
tional league corporations of great wealth
are backing most of the clubs. To wage a
war against these corporations would mean
the financial suicide of the men who began
it. No conservative mind can imagine how
sound business men in the baseball world,
especially in the American League. could
enter into the scheme, as contemplated, in
the Chicago story. 10 be blacklisted by the
national agreement lis a thing not relished
by any magnate, manager or ball player,
for he would forever be forbidden from
playing in any league doing business under
that agreement-the National, American
Inc Eastern leagues.
SOME POSSIBILITIES.
Then, again, If such a league should be
organized as outlined in the story from
Chicago. the American League would still
be in business and would be composed of
a very strong circuit For instance, In
dianapolis. Louisville, Cleveland, Toledo,
Detroit, Minneapolis. st. Paul and Kansas
City are eight cities which would form a
good league. Va~nderbeck cannot boast OF
too many friends in Detroit and should he
engage in the fight, as rumored, there
could be a stock company organized In
would run him out CO business, no matter
what league he would represent. Buffalo
could also be included and Franklin could
go Into the tight Strobel, of Toledo. Is
anxious 10 get back into a league more
pretentious than the Interstate organiza-
ton, and that city could replace MiIwau-
kee. But, as has been stated. this is only
problematical and those who have followed
the situation believe that the American
League IN 1900 viii be composed of Indian
apolis. Louisville, Cleveland, Buffalo. De-
City. After the Chicago rumor is aired IL
will be found. Ii is believed, that there will
be no fight against the National League.
The American League viii hold