Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-13
National League Owners and Players
Still Far Apart.
LATTER'S DEMANDS IMPOSSIBLE
Manager Han|on's Views Regard
ing a Club Here.
PRESENT CIRCUIT ENOUGH
pecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, December 13.-DurinG the
night the members Of the National League
had more than one consultation regarding
the action that they should take in refer
ence to the players. When the conference
meeting broke up yesterday morning, as
telegraphed, there was a feeling of con-
tentment on both sides. The players had
not asked SO very much, and apparently
would not insist on the reservation rule
being changed. However, when a demand
was made that did not please the league
owners they made no attempt to conceal
their dissatisfaction. 1t was that which
caused them to be so long In session yes
terday without accomplishing much.
Even after the meeting was over last
night party Of them adjourned to the
Waldorf and debated the matter pro and
con until far into the morning. The con-
sensus of opinion was that if they went to
the extremes that We're requested by the
players they would simply lose all control
over their men.
This became apparent early in the morn
ing when the players and the owners began
to assemble at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The feeling of confidence that was man
ifest all yesterday afternoon had been dis
sipated, and instead there were many who
DelIeNeu lndC league would Qecnne OUT
right to give the players any of the con-
cessions they had asked, with the possible
exception Of agreeing to do away with
farming" which in reality is as costly
for the league as it is supposed to be a
hardship toward the players. thinner, the
president of the players association. and
man who Is thoroughly in touch with what
the players have done-in fact, one Of those
who have been foremost in urging the con-
cessions-said he was fearful that all the
requests that had been made Of the league
owners would not go through. In that
case 1t was asked what he and the organi-
zatiOn would do.
Too Early to Decide.
It's too early to talk about that" he
answered.
will you join a rival organization?
Il don't know" was the reply
i don't believe that the players desire
to see base ball mixed up in another war
We had our troubles before, and l presume
that we will have them again If we go to
hostllities; more, perhaps than fell to our
share in the former experience. The play
ers were honest in asking for what they
DID, as they believed it would be better for
base ball. but If we can't make the owners
believe that We shall have to try some
other remedy.
1t is a noticeable fact that all the league
managers who have been ball players and
all league owners who have been ball play
ers are opposed bitterly to granting the
Is one OF the shrewdest and smartest base
ball men in the country, as everybody
Knows. said without hesitation that if the
players got what they had asked for he
would not agree to keep discipline In his
team, and would defy anybody else to do it.
Il think" said he, that am entitled to
speak both by experience as player and
as manager. All players are not alike.
You can give some every privilege in the
world. Others you can give nothing. If
you open the entire team to privileges you
Will have everybody running at skies and
sevens inside of two weeks.
"One Of the clauses which the players ask
to have inserted in their contracts Is that
a player shall not be suspended to exceed
three times during a season and that at
any time his suspension shall not exceed
two weeks. know of players in the Ma
tional League who would delibera tely court
their three suspensions inside of the first
two months, and then defy the manager to
do anything with them. That is not a par
ticularly exaggerated case either.
Difficulties of the Manager.
Even the players cannot understand what
it means to attempt to manage team until
they have tried 1t themselves. You never
saw cooperative team in your life where
the players would trust one another, and
how do they expect that we are to get
good base ball out of them when they are
as suspicious that. To win base ball
games you must have the best of work
from your men and their best intentions.
You have got to keep at least one-third in
line with q rod of iron. Another third has
to be watched half the time and the re-
naming third can be depended upon to go
along and conduct themselves as they
should.
mo question exists that the league has
gone just as far as it intends to go, so far
as the American League is concerned.
johnson can do as he pieases The Ma
tional League is utterly without fear in re-
gard to any complications that. may come
up between the organizations. A strong
eastern and a strong western league will
be built up and the American League will
be left to shift for itself and make the best
out of it. There was a rumor last night
that the National League would again ex-
pand its circuit and go back to Baltimore,
Washington and Louisville, with fourth
city to be selected from the best operated
by the American League There probably
is nothing in this, although the National
League would be in good shape to do so,
owing to the fact that 1t has grounds
and stands in three of the cities The
league. feels that with its present circuit it
is too powerfully intrenched, and does not
care what the other fellows may do"