Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-31
Base Ball Magnates Watching the
Moves of Their Rivals.
NO IMMEDIATE CLASH SEEMS LIKELY
Columbia Wins at Chess Over
Yale, Princeton and Harvard.
GEN NERAL SPORTING NEWS

No developments have been reported from
Chicago during the past two days as re-
CARDS the formation of the National Asso-
citation or progress made in organization
by the American League. The leading
base ballSmagnates are keeping in the back
ground as far as circumstances will allow
and until one organization makes a dis
tirct move little can be expected in the
way of base ball news. Even since the Ma
tional League meeting in New York three
weeks ago the magnates have done little
in progressive way, although the de7el-
orments at Chicago last week would in~A-
cate that both the American and National
leagues are throwing out lines of defense.
President johnson has practically organ
lied minor league friendly to the Ameri-
can Association and the National League
is said to be on friendly terms with the
New National Association, but the latter
report is not believed in well-informed cir
Giles.
1t is evident that all have determined to
conceal their plans long possible.
The American League men in particular
will be as secretive as possible to proven:
the aStute National League men from max
ing their famous counter moves, and there
by upset the expanding ideas of Mr.. john
son.
F. A. Abel, the money man of the Brook
lyn club usually talks directly to the
point. He has made the positive statement
that if there is a base ball war the Brook
Ign club will, under no circumstances, put
up any money to meet an attack from the
American any other league
Abelfs ultimatum led President Ban
Johnson of the American League to ex-
press himself rather rudely in regard to
the financial standing of the National
League men.
National League Short of Money.
1.-The National League is in no position
to carry on any war" said johnson. Il
can't see where the money would come
from. In ST. Louis the club was practi-
cally bankrupt last year, and failed to pay
its players until few weeks ago. The
Cincinnati club was loser last season
and Brush has no money to spare. Hart
of Chicago has no money to risk, and the
owners of the club won't put up any money
in a losing cause. Pittsburg has in
ternal war on between Kerr and Auten on
one side and Barney Dreyfuss on the other.
In Philadelphia Mr.. Rogers has an ex-
pensive base ball plant, but no great amount
of money to keep his own head above
water in case of fight. Freedman has
capital. but he would not loosen up to help
the league in general. And you can inn
agine Soden, Conant or Billings of Boston
dishing out any of their money unless they
see just how and where and when they are
going to get it back, can't you?
Il don't say there are no wealthy men
but those who have IT are going to keep IT.
THE American League will hold a meet
ing after the holidays. Then We will def
ntely settle our circuit
Players Are Willing to Wait.
The players are also putting up wait
ing game. The latest declaration from the
Protective Association of Professional Base
Ball Players is that there will be no base
ball war at present. Harry Taylor, at
torney of the association, says it is hardly
strong enough as yet to call for a closely
defined issue on the point of its demands
from the magnates.
The players will try the waiting ganIt
themselves says Taylor. There wouo
be no sense in trying to rush matters. We
will lay back and watch developments be.
tween the National and American. The
National has equalized matters by agree.
ing to cut salaries so that there will be lit
tie difference in the pay of the players OF
| the National and the American leagues
| Therefore. to simply await developments
| will probably be the wisest thing"