The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-10
LEAGUE owners ADJOURN
Freedman Refuses toSign the Eight
Club Agreement.
The Other MnGnates Insist That He
Must Keep His Promise to Give
New York Hish-Grade baseball
Andy Snys lie VIII Not BE .Sand-
bBgsed," and Remain. stubborn.

NEW YORK, March 9.-The meeting of
the National League came to an end at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel tonight at 6
O'Clock
Although President Freedman of the
New York club attended League meeting
for the iirst time since 1898, he did not
sign the agreement to pay the sum of
100000 to the four clubs which retired
from the League. This agreement has
been subscribed to by all the other club
owners and il only remains for Freedman
TO do the same in order TO complete the
list.
Soden. of Boston. said Freedman would
sign. There is no doubt that he will
sign. as there is nothing else left for him
to do. He has practically yielded to the
situation by allowing the League to let
him have pitcher to strengthen his team.
He also succeeded in getting the League
to stand any losses he may incur in the
future management OF Manhattan Field.
So, obtaining these favors. he is bound to
sign the agreement.
The agreement had not been signed by
Fred Knowles. the secretary OF the New
York club. because he had not consulted
with Freedman. The magnates admitted
that the prices named above and the sign
ing OF an agreement had been reached
without a final consent from the New
York magnate. One of the club owners
said:
IF Freedman signs this agreement it
means that we forced him to be fair. Il
he does not sign it, we do not care at all.
The circuit has been reduced. and the
seven clubs outside of New York will make
up the amount to be paid to the four re-
firing clubs without any assistance from
Freedman. The League men were ordered
by Freedman TO reduce the circuit TO eight
clubs As every man in the League, ex-
cept Freedman, felt that the prices asked
by the Baltimore, Washin gton, Cleveland.
and Louisville clubs were just and fair,
We determined to take the bull by the
horns and reduce the circuit according
to our views and in the interest of har-
mony. We made good all of our promises
TO Freedman, and there can be no kick.
There is no need of haggling over few
thousand dollars, so We have acted, and
that is all there is to it
Knowles telephoned the action of the
League to Freedman Immediately after
the League adjourned. When the mag
mates got to the hotel today, they at
once began to enquire whether Freedman
had signed the agreement or not. Knowles
refused to talk. At l2:30 o'clock a sen
saiton was caused when John T. Brush
left the hotel In a cab. and was driven
to the Grand Central Depot. He took
the Southwestern Limited for his home
in Indianapolis, although the League had
not adjourned Brush would not say any
thing except that the circuit had been re-
duced in fair and honorable way. He
did not wait to say goodbye to Freed
man.
Shortly after O'Clock Freedman ap-
peared. There was no general rush to
shake hands. Several of the magnates
went up TO Freedman and said they were
glad TO see him, but the majority sat in
silence to hear what he had to say. Con
f-rences with the New York magnate con-
tinued for some time, but he did not sign
the agreement
The magnates are sick Of wrangIing
with the idea of doing Freedmans bid
ding" was the general comment and
they are going away tonight whether he
likes il or not. The whole situation has
been so shifted that it is now up to Freed
man to make good his promises to the
New York patrons OF baseball The mag
mates have reduced the circuit TO a pay
ing basis
The Washington players landed in the
Leagues pool were priced by a committee.
which ordered McGann. the first baseman,
to be sold for $500, and Mercer. the
pitcher and third baseman TO be disposed
of for not less than 50 600. The prices
put upon the other men were not made |
known.
In regard to buying players for the New |
York club. Freedman was quoted as say
ing that he would not be "sandbagged " |
He declared that he would not open his |
barrel for the benefit of the other mag
mates. which was taken as an excuse for |
not making a bid for the services of ,
McGraw and Robson. of Baltimore. whose |
releases are quoted at So, 900 or more |
AS matter of fact Manager Hanlon says /
that he is liable to bring McGraw 10 |
Brooklyn to play third base
There are so many details to be ar !
ranged that the magnates concluded not |
TO adopt a schedule until later. move
ment is on foot to have the new circuit |
bound together for twenty-five years. The |
season will open on the first Thursday |
after April 10, and the schedule will CON
sist OF 40 games, each club playing a |
series of twenty games with every other |
club.
The double umpire system has been
abolished and John B. Day has been APP !
pointed superintendent of umpires and |
players President Powers has filed with
the national board an application for the
Baltimore and Washington franchises 70.
the Eastern League the proposed circuit of |
which is Baltimore. Washington, Roches-
ter, Syracuse, Toronto, Providence. Worces-
ter. Montreal, or Buffalo. But this may
not be the final arrangement, as there was
q rumor afioat tonight that the National
League men had a scheme on foot 10 form
a new American Association, to be con-
trolled by themselves. Such a circuit
would be made up of Boston. Philadelphia.
Baltimore. and Washington in the East,
with Chicago, ST. Louis, Cleveland and