The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-12
WILL MEET PLAYERS
NATIONAL LEAGUE MAGNATES SUD-
DENLY CHANGE FRONT.
Decide to Hear the Complaints of Ball
PIayers-Ban Inns "Fixfng"
Things at Philadelphia.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE Players Pro-
tective Association will be given a hear
ing by the National League magnates now
in session in this city. Tomorrow morning
a committee consisting of A. II. Soden.
Of Boston, Col. John /. Rogers, of Philadel-
phia, and John T. Brush. Of Cincinnati.
will meet the committee from the players
organization and listen to their demands.
This concession on the part of the mag
mates came this afternoon after the men,
bers of the players committee made the an
nouncement that they were going over to
Philadelphia to confer with Ban Johnson
and American League associates. Up to
the time this announcement had been made
the solons of the big league had shown no
disposition to treat with the players. The
decision of the magnates to confer caused
a hasty change in plans as to the Philadei-
phia conference, and as a result it was de-
clared off for the present at least.
Just before the magnates went into ses-
sion Col. Rogers said: "I don't see that
the league can do much in reference to
the American League. They have failed to
sign the agreement, and as far as we are
concerned they have practically withdrawn
from the protection of the parent organi-
cation. They are no longer q part of the
national body. 1 am at a loss to under
stand Mr.. Johnson's action in not coming
to see me when he was in Philadelphia re-
Gently. I certainly expected he would do
so. In fact, l was SO certain he would come
that / purposely had the trial of an i'm
portant legal case postponed so that /
could be in my Office when he came. 1
waited for him an entire day, but for some
inexplicable reason he kept AVA from
me-"
Although the magnates promised to get to
work by IL o'clock this morning, il was
more than three hours later when the
board of directors, consisting of Messrs.
Brush. Robinson. Hart, Soden. Rogers
and Young, went into session. They COM
pleted their labors and were ready TO re-
port to the regular meeting of the league
shortly after 5 o'clock. The magnates
promptly went into an informal session.
At Z o'clock they adjourned for an hour.
Those present were n. E. Young, president.
A III. Soden, w. III. Conant and j. B. Bill
ings, of Boston; W.. w. Kerr, P. Auten and
Barney Dreyfus, of Pittsburg; Col. John
l. Rogers and A. j. Reach, of Philadelphia:
e. w. Hanlon, f. A. Abel and Charles
Ebbets. of Brooklyn; Fred Knowles. f.
De Haas Robson and Stanley Robi-
son, of st. Louis; John T. Brush, of Gin
cinnati, and James Hart, of Chicago. Pres
ident Young announced late in the even
ing that the regular meeting of the league
would not be called until tomorrow morn
ing. There are several matters the mag
mates wish to talk over Informally before
going into executive session." said Mr..
Young, land it will be very late before the
informal discussion ends. For that reason
we decided not to call a regular meet
ing until tomorrow"
In reference to the statement made by
President thinner, of the Players Associa-
ton, to the effect that the players Of the
National, American and Eastern leagues
were pledged not to sign contracts for next
year until the demands of the organiza-
ton had been acceded to by the m~agnates,
Frank Selee, the Boston manager, said:
That is not so. Several of my players
have already signed. and j know that some
terms and signed contracts"
President Young was taken ill during the
meeting tonight and was forced to re-
tire. His illness is not serious, however.