Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-13
BETWEEN TWO FIRES
National League Combating With
President Johnson and the Players.
EXPANSION SNOW The CRY
Washington, Baltimore, Cleveland
and Louisville to Be Reclaimed.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

There was quite pronounced rumor in
circulation around the National League
meeting in New York yesterday to the eff
feet that that body would revive the old
twelve-club circuit and use it as a club to
beat the American League. ]. Earl Wag-
ner, for this city; Stanley Robson, for
Cleveland: Ned Hanlon,-for Baltimore, and
Harry Pulliam, for Louisville. are reported
to be ready to jump into the four aban-
doned cities at moments notice.
1t is not hard to determine the sort of
reception Mr.. Wagner would receive from
the local base ball enthusiasts should he re-
turn to Washington as the owner of q club.
The same situation presents itself in Balti-
more, where the Marylanders are extremely
sore on Ned Hanlon. The Robisons are not
popular in Cleveland. and Harry Pulliam
would have to hustle to regain his lost pres
tige in Louisville. Against three of these
men would be found magnate managers Of
unusual popularity. Manning will make
friends by the score when he once gets
started in this city, and his club is bound
to be a success under the most trying cir
cumstances. McGraw and Robson practi-
cally own the base ball world of Baltimore,
while Charley Somers made such good
showing in Cleveland last season that the
old magnates are not wanted
From this it can be seen that the National
Leagues latest rumored movement may be
sensational, but lacks all the essentials that
go to make up a winner. The fact cannot
be denied that the National League has
made enemies in all the four abandoned
cities, and for this. II no other, reason the
American League is assured of substan-
tal recognition when once 1T gets started.
Sam Crane. base ball editor of the New
York Journal, has the following interesting
article in this mornings paper:
THE National League will have to make
sol RI al rN1o f1a
American League. If there is a secret I'M
Outstanding between the league and Ban
Johnson. the irrepressible president of the
aspiring American League. then the players
will have to suffer. and their demands or
requests+which, by the way, appear to be
perfectly fair, just and equitable-will be
pigeOn-holed, and their condition will not
be improved, even If 1t Is not made worse.
Ban Johnson. however. denies with in
dignant remonstrance, SO determined that
1T bears truth on its face, that he has had
any secret dealings or understanding of
any kind with the big league magnates
terday by Jimmy Manning, the only
American Lacquer who has been at the
present meeting of the National League.
To the Journal representative yesterday
Manning said:
Il know absolutely that johnson has nc
understanding with the magnates. Why
it would simply kill our league with the
public to know that we We're not on the
ourselves equality with the National
League, and we have located in eastern
cities, where we thought We could better
ourselves and the standing of our organiza
ton.
johnson knows that he has every one
of us at his back and that we will stick
through thick and thin. We have money
too, and plenty Of it. The big league can.
not make US quit. We cannot be bought
off. We don't want q fight-that is the
last thing we are looking for, but we are
we'll fortified even-H war is declared by
the magnates.
II stuck with my colleagues, and wheI
there. and will stay. II l lose money II
will be my own. and I will have no one to
blame but myself We intend to respect
contracts and do not intend to do anything
but what is above board and legitimate.
What looks very significant, and as If the
magma ties were worrying over the situation
more than they are willing to acknowledge,
was the determined effort made yesterday
to freighten Manning off from the idea Of
locating a club at Washington. ]. Earl
Wagner got at Manning with:
why, my boy. you are on sure loser.
You will lose all you ever made on base
ball. I'll show you my books and will prove
ton, / was loser"
The situation of affairs will be definitely
settled today, and the question Of war or
peace will be decided when the league
makes answer to the demands requests
made to the Players Protective Association
committee, which met committee of the
league yesterday morning. That meeting
was most cordial-in fact, 1t was little less
than a love feast. The leagues committee
was Messrs. Brush, Soden and Rogers, tina.
of the players was thinner, Jennings and
Griffith, with Harry Taylor as legal adj
wiser and spokesman.
The players committee Is In close touch
with Ban johnson, and that combination
is forcing the naughty magnates to their
knees. They may endeavor to wriggle out,
but it looks as il they were pinned at last.
And it will be for the good Of the game If
they are obliged to "knuckle'' bit without
loss Of dignity.
A sensation Of yesterdays meeting was
the appearance of President Andrew Freed
man Of the New York Club, who arrived
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. He re-
manned but a short time, but his presence
gave an encouraging look and warranted
the belief that harmony among the mag
hates might at last prevail. It was looked
upon as a good. omen.
F.. H. Cunningham, owner Of the Nor
folk Club of the Virginia League. had a
consultation with President Freedman Of
the New York Club during the day. Cum
ningham has a claim for 81, 900 against the
New York Club, which contracted for the
release Of Pitcher Matthewson, who played
with the local team last season.
Cunningham announced that he had sold
Outflelder Pulsifer and First Baseman Con-
roy to New York.
The Brooklyn Club yesterday traded
Third Baseman Jimmy Casey to the De-
troit Club of the American League, for
Shortstop Eberfe1d and Pitcher Siever
Casey was farmed out to Detroit last sea-
son. Elberfeld is one of the best inf1eld-
ers In the country but heretofore no man
ager has been able to control him. Ned
Hanlon appears to have no hesitation in
undertaking the job.
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