The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-04
BROADSlDE FROM EBBETS.
SCORES THE NEW ASSOCIATION AND
Also MORAN.
says tn. ouin scheme Has ed-Decia
That nanlon Has Legally Leased the
RnI,in,are Grounds Accuses McGraw OF
withholding Contracts From the Club.

s.vs the Ouin scheme Has Faiied-Deciafes
That nanion Has Legally Leased the
BnI,tn,are Grounds Accuses McGraw of
Witbhoiding Contracts From the club.
a. a. Ebbets, president OF the Brooklyn Base
hall Club, who has been comforting with Hanlon
and Won der Horst at Baltimore and John l.
Rogers at Philadelphia during the past three
days, returned home yesterday and made a de-
tailed statement regarding the situation TO a re-
porter of II sun. Ebbets was in the act Of
signing Pitcher Kennedy TO a Brooklyn contract
when the reporter met him. lie said that he had
Aligned in all nine members OF the champion team.
but refused 20 give any names. saying that
secrecy would DO maintained until all had been
secured.
I'VE are sig ming our players without much
trouble" said the Brooklyn president, and 80 are
all OF the other League clubs To my knowledge
Pittsburg Chicago, 81. Louis and Cincinnati have
induced all OF their old players to sign. Brooklyn
has not made an attempt 10 gather In the
champions until this week. Philadelphia be-
lieves that the option clausc In the Leag ue con-
tract holds good and tn I it is unnecessary TO ask
the players to sign formally. | think when the
time comes to open the season the public will ind
that the Leag lie has got all the stars The play
ers know that their salaries are sure In the League,
whereas in a rival organization, such as the As
ISOLATION, they migh t not receive what should 30
raid to them,
"A number OF players well remember the expe-
risnce they had during the Brotherhood war OF
1890, when the hackers Of the rival leag uos
lost upward Of $4,000 900. They also know
that tho Association, which has been trying
10 organize at Philadelphia this week, has
no hackers like the men who put the Broth
srhood on strong financial legs. L. b Tai
sott, T. A.. McAlpin. G. Van Cot, Gen. Jourinn,
the Chaunceys. CA Prince, the Wagners. W. W..
Kerr, Phil Auten, Armour, Albert l. Johnson.
John Addison and i. II, Robinson were a solid
lot compared TO tho so-called hackers OF the Phila'
delphia movement. and yet they could not beat
the National League. Players know this and
also the fact that since the Brotherhood revolt
salaries have taken a big drop 1t was only last
year that they bega n ~ 20 up, the Brooklyn club
paying out $50. 900 for the services oi the
Superbas.
The League considers the Association move.
msnt a dead letter Il Inability 10 get backing
at Philadelphia and .iew York has killed 1t The
vithdra wal Of Pr violence Is another blow, and II
will not be at ali surprising II the Official announce
ment OF q di~sbaHdment is not promulgated in a
few days. The League has looked over the ground
carefully and is ready N fight for its rights
II has the money, experience, brains aud tho
players. II Is ready 10 org anize an association
circuit OF Its own, II necessary. and conflict with
GUMS circuit II he decides 70 take a chance. IL
the hackers Of the latter want 10 lose their coin,
we are prepared TO them. But We
feel quite sure that they will not go on with the
venture, now that they appreciate the exact con-
80 iar as the situation at Baltimore is con.
csrned. we are not worrying for the reason that
In court. II necessary. and Can show documentary
evidence that Union Park be.ungs 10 us until
January Of next year. Under the laws OF Mary.
land q contract by letter Is legal ana We can
Union Park through the medium ~ a letter sens
by Hanlon on Jan 20 TO the o~wnersof the property.
But .ha. i, a side issue; hSnI"n ara '%%n
persons who called themselves their friends
McGrsw, not c~ontented with trying, to deprive the
Baltimore club Of ils grounds, he holds tho
year and refuses 10 hand them over ~ the Bait.
more club. The contracts do not belong to
MCGraw. but he wishes TO withhold them from US
~ that we cannot prosecute the players ~ Jump.
ing tho option clause Hanl"n, as president 81
the Baltimo re club, has requested McGraw time
and again ~ surrender the contracts which are
the property Of the club. but he has steadily re-
"Mciraw has been wei treated by the Baltimore
club. He has received every dollar that the cluo
mas agreed 10 pay him. The men who have aided
McG raw in this new movement have been played
for good things and do not know II Won
der Horst and Hanlon have been opposed TO
the plan " reduce the League circuit by the drop
ping Of Baltimore and other cities, but they have
received no credit for it The Brookly n Baltimore
syndicate has lived up tn every, legal and moral
requirement II has paid salaries overlooked
offences by tho players that deserved discipline
and has been opposed TO oppression. hardly be-
lieye that when the people Of Baltimore have
cooled down they will sanction the treatment dc-
corded 10 Hdnlon and Won der Horst, the men
who. by their pluck and gameness, brought three
League pennants 70 ,ha, city and developed
players who are noted all over the country.
When the Association bubble has been com
pletely exploded, the League Circuit Committee
vii! resume business. II IL decided 10 drop
then for US " have an inning. and so far as we
are concerned McGraw can do as he pleases.
understan nd that Quin Is thinking Of abandoning
the East and forming a circuit in the West 70 com
prise Chicago, Milwaukee,, Detroit St. Louis,
Kansas City. Minneapolis, Louisville and Cleye-
land. II he nlates a move of that sort, where
the National League for men who can play
in the big circuit will not voluntarily
drop into q minor league I feel quite sure that
such a move would be a failure, in as much rs
the players and public support would be lacking.
I have not received any intlmaton when tho
League will hold a meeting, but should Judge
that IL will not be- very long, Robson Is Sllll at
Baltimore with Hanlon and Won der Horst
Brush, chairman ~ the Circuit Committee, has
sent out a statement that Is amusing In it he Ad-
mits that the committee met recently AT Cle,eland,
which contradicts his statement made AT the time
thai no meeting had been held. Brush throws a
few bouquets at the League, and winds up by say
ing that the mag mates have the interests Of base
ball and not Their pockets al heart Several Of tho
msgnates, by the way, say that he way they have
been held w To ridictlc by the newspapers has
been the direct cause Of this Association
movement They say they have been mls.
represented, especially in the matter Of
~fosleri1g rowdyism on the field. But they have
evidently forgotten the Written agreement which
all of them signed at ST. Louis two wears ago 10
puniy the sport, and which was promptly viO-
lated by the majority q them as soon rs the UNI
pires made a few close decisions against their
teams
BY turning over a new leaf, bydrnpping trickcry
and secrecy. by coming out into the open In 70
Spouse 10 the public demand and by adopting
methods from which sandbagging is eliminated,
the League may receive a chance ~ win back the
confidence OF the public. But under the present
circumstance they must BE- blamed for the down
fall Of the national game.
The Baseball Outlook at Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA Feb. $50 far as The local