The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-01
NO WASHINGTON CLOS
The Eastern League Will Probably
Pass the Capital BY,
From Present Indications the Menu
ber.hip VIII Remain the Same rs
Clever DcnI-The American 49,
einfion May Organize n Team.

NEW YORK, March 3l.-Uniess all signs
fail the Eastern League, at its annual
meeting in the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Mon
day, will adopt recommendation from its
circuit committee TO proceed with last
years membership. including Hartford, Of
Hamilton, Ont. This will mean that no at
tempt will be made to enter Baltimore and
Washington as planned by the National
League men when they reduced their own
circuit. p. T Powers. President of the
Eastern League. confirmed this point to-
day, when he said:
1T looks 10 me now as if W. could go
ahead without Washington and Baltimore
In the estimation of our circuit committee
the National Leagues proposition to US
regarding these two cities is unfair and we
cannot accept il rs it stands Springfield
has shown determination to remain in
our circuit, and a number OF responsible
business men in Hartford are anxious to
keep that city in line, too. But in case
they back down. Hamilton. Ont, stands
ready TO step into the vacant place. ! have
just returned from Baltimore. did moi
see either McGraw or Robinson there. al
though / waited twenty-four hours in that
town. They have acted queerly to say the
least We wanted to have their good will
if they chose 10 give it, but it was not
really necessary. at that
You can say that MessIs. Eline and
Klosterman. of Baltimore stood ready 10
buy the Hartford franchise from Ba ME
ard employ the latter manager. They
also agreed to assume the lease of Uniol
Park providing they could have ii for
term Of years, and were even willing TO
buy other holdings But from a purely
business standpoint, they could not go on
with the negotiations in view of the Pc
culiar attitude of the National League
men. who have refused to surrender the
territory for more than a years lease
with an option for another. The big mag
mates have adopted this policy with the
IDEA that il We accept such a proposition
we will help form an American Associa-
tion under the Leagues protection. in case
rival organization should spring up next
fall on the lines of that engineered by
Quin. Arson. and McGraw. In short the
National League is not willing to treat
with us on broad. liberal lines, but is anx-
ious TO fortify its own interests at our ex-
pense.
The Eastern League has been loyal to
the national agreement ever since its in
ception. We were ready to furnish the
backing for clubs in Baltimore and Wash
lngtCn under certain conditions, but now
that seems to be an impossibility. 1t looks
10 me as though certain individuals have |
had axes to grind, and that the situation |
has been unfortunately complicated because |
Of this fact
II the Eastern League abandons Baiti- |
more and Washington, it is said the Allan |
tie League will make a bid for the terri |
tory, and will also try for Newark and |
Jersey City. The Atlantic has already re- |
eeived permission from Reach and Rogers |
to locate club in Philadelphia and TO play |
on the National League grounds. 1t is
said that Rogers is back of this move. with
the idea that it will offset any move on the
part of the Eastern League, and will also
provide some kind of baseball for the two |
former National League cities. Rogers has |
been carrying on negotiations for the Ma |
tional League in regard TO Baltimore and |
Washington. In a nutshell it is the same |
old story Of the National Leaguers trying |
to squeeze the minor leagues, but in this |
President Powers organization appears 10 |
be quite Independent and up to date
Manager Selee and a number of the Bos- |
tons were in town today. They took the |
10 o'clock train over the Baltimore and |
Ohio for Greensboro n. C.. where the team |
will train until week before the opening |
of the championship race