The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-09
AN EIGnT-CLUB CIRCUIT.
THE BfG DEIL aWAI7S THE SFG-
NtTI RE or FREEDMaN.

~ WIZ
After dellberating all yesterday the National
League baseball magnates reached a definite
conclusion at midnight. Eleven clubs signed
an agreement by which the circuit Is reduced
N eight clubs. Freedman was absent.
but his representative. red Knowles. was
there. He received no authority, however. to
nut the club on record, but from what was said
BY his friends Freedman will sign the agree
ment this morning.
Acompromise was effected by which all four
retiring clubs will receive pretty nearly what
they have asked for. II was learned
that Louisville will get $4,000: CIeve.
hand. $4,000, Baltimore about 500
coo, and will sell all Of its players
Iater. The Washington club retires Tor $50.
900. but all OF the PLAYERS will 90 tn the League.
The climax was the result Of a willingness TO
break ground on tho part OF Freedman. Brush
and Soien who have been holding ont
AGAINST these prices for some time past,
It can be seen. therefore. that thu Brooklyn
Baltimore syndicate has won quite a victory
and that Freedman did not succeed in carrying
everything before nm.
A. 4oon as Freedman signs the agreement It
will be up to him Immediately to strengthen
tho New York team. The Brooklyn club will
hNl ~ NV h'N''' ""@
Rheckard to its list. McGraw and Robinson OF
Baltimore are wanted by several clubs in
case Freedman refuses to buy them. The
magnates were in q very happy frame OF mind
after adjourning and said that everything
would be settled to-day.
The President OF the New York Club wa'
the real stumbling block when the weary
delegates crawlei into bed Wednesday
night. lie had notified the Circuit Com
mittee that either an eiRht-club circuit
must be- established or the present
twelye.club arrangement would have to be
maintained. He insisted that a ten club cir
cult was out " the question and also declared
that the prices asked for the withdrawal Of
Baltimore, Washington, Cleveland and Louis
vile we're entirely too high. In fact Freed.
man was quoted az saying that he was in favor
Of having the League give M the sum Of
$4,000 to be divided among the owners OF the
four clubs. This was a staggering blow to
every magnate except Soden and Brush. both
stockholders in the New York Club. and. as
TuE SUN stated yesterday morning. the nego-
tiations were efYectually blocked when the
magnates woke up and went to breakfast
But things were being done In the lobby
that we're expected to offset such a crisis
an Il soon became noised about that the
Free man ,,,comh,ne., G0nposel o. Eoston;
and Louisville. had been met nv another hastily
formed alliance. consisting 81 BROOKLYN. .Balti-
more, Chicago; -. Louis. Cleveland an Wash;
lurcrd the Boss TO indulge In careful re'ec-
ton. Six against six and everything tied
W., The cracking Of the whip up II
terror for The club owners and several Of
III, actually pufrrl ont their Ghosts. A crisiI
had been reached, and something had to he
d a. TAnnhF ~ ~ "a .aLAR nAf n \ q m h
with Freedman and while they were driven
DOWNTOWN the situation was taxed over, This
d'in't looE much rs Freedman had had a
row with Conant, who Is one of the best
nHturel m"n in the League and a ~peacenaker.
Ahll" this was going on the National Board o.
Arbitration. Which Includes all he mem 6"rs OF
AMI INSTRUMENTATION VIII Robson and Young.
went into session and did not adjourn for three
hours. was annonnred that several pinor
League iSputes Of no especial Interest had oeen
deciaet. Then the League as a body convened,
with The following delegates present:
,.Ses York, Fred KnoSle, Boston \. H. sowden,
AMI John !. Rogers Ba ltimorr RdaarI Hanlon and
anil Earl wa amer: Chicl.6, James 4 Hart Gin.
cinn!ti, John 7, Brn.n; P%ittShurg BERNARD Dreyfuss
us fraaE De has, Robson Cleveland, stanley
Robson.
A. soon as the meeting hal been called to
order Chairman brush ofthe Circuit commit
NFF III " NAM q ' ~ .N'NlAlV Va VIZ
committees report. After telling how the
present negotiations began, he aaid In sub
stance that the committee hal met 80 many
trying to reach terms with the four
!etrtns clubs, involving me sale Of p'nyHri;
said II was advised by the committee
TO iicker with tho clubs Tor the purchase OF
Their if, .r2 as9ays e, aio r: ah. .st ay, each el W6i to
the IcHgut would assume the leases OF grounds
and other obligations Brush said; TOO. that In
the committees belief no franchise. which
really means membership and the right TO
vote in the League. was worth more than
another in the same circuit AMI recomn ended
that the League pay a uniform price for Tho
four franchises.
After showing what Was coming Brush be-
gan to take IN each Of The four clubs In turn;
He said that the committee had experienced
no trouble Win I]ouisviiIs and recommended
that $1,000 b. paid for that franchise. Before
Brush could proceed further there was a block
mates went Town into the co.ridors. Hanlon.
representing the Brooklyn- Baltimore syndi-
cate, Whispered something, in Brush = ear and
In n few minutes the Circuit Committee went
into another rlhher.shoe session. That was
proof positive that Brush had been throwing
out a fea,er and had caught a GRAB.
Club, with their attorney, Judge Frank Elliott
Of Philadelphia, were soon called before the
Circuit Committee and asked for their final
their original ofYsr, S4t.5OO, for everything
they owned in baseball. but they we're Wiling
20 deduct from tfis amount $1,000. which they
had received from he Boston Club for players
Dinasn, Freeman AMI Barry.
III j. a sinpls bqr1 + Proposition, gentle lie.
us out sc will sell everything for $500. AMI
not q dollar less. II you do not want 10 buy at
this figure. the Washington Club Is willing to
assume all risks by remaining In a twelve-club
circuit unit the ten years agreement expires
In lfNl. sentiment does not enter into TINS
matter AT al"
The committee pulled and hauled TO no
avail. II was sugeestedt that the Wagners take
something Tor their franchise after turning
over their ease or grounds to the Leagus. with
the additional privilege OF selling their players
10 League snuf, couldn't see this at all ami
The slxty-day racket won't work al ALL
they said Suppose some Of you fellows COM
hlGed not 10 buy any OF our players within such
stlm- limit WHAT would prevent you rom
tax ny them for no,hing after sixty days had
passed Oh, no! Not today, Z entlemen' :,
As the Wagners came out. the Big Four" OF
the Brooklyn Baltimore syndicate went into
the star chamber. After a long session Abs.l.
Won der Horst. Hanlon and Ebbets made this
hral PROPOSITION;
we WIN sell our franchise in Baltimore for
so much cash, reservins the right to sell our
whOmsorver we NAY see IT."
While tho amount named by the syndicate
was not given out officially. II was said 70 be
less than $4,000. In order to protect them
selves the BIZ Four" can very easily sell
every Baltimore player 70 the Brooklyn CIub
a. soon as u" eight.club circuit is assured. and
alter that they can disrose u their stars a.
they see At. II was said that the committee
WAS pleased will the fairness OF tho Big
Four but that was not ina b. any means hc: