The sun., 1900-08-09
BAs1BALL xAoNArEs C0NFER.
Lsasss Men Exchange Views on the Players
Movement.

Movement.
30 far the noagnates OF the National League
have not publicly expressed an opinion re-
garding the plans OF the Ball Players Protec-
tive Association and It's proposed demand
that the League contract shall be revised.
But IL IL a fact that the magnates have been
holding extended conferences lately ana have
also indulged In voluminous correspondence
with the result that they have decided to hold
an impromptu meeting. " Is said. somewhere
In the Fast about the first OF September
According 10 information that comes from
a League source. John !. Rogers OF Philadelphia.
who drew up the present form OF League con-
tract. will head the opposition to any reforms
or changes suggested by the Protective Asso-
citation. Col. Rogers declares that the League
contract IL perfectly legal and that the option
clause" which is a substitute for the reserve
rule will stand any test.
1t Is said that Rogers In the stand he has
taken, Ia upheld by several other club owners
who 40 far have been decidedly non-committal.
The owners Of the Brooklyn Club through
their spok esman. President Ebbets. have de-
clared that they will indorse any reform within
reason that may benefit the players. They
say that II the farming" system Is shown to
70 be an injustice and majority OF the mag
mates favor its abolition they will vote this way.
But like other League men the Brooklyn mag
mates feel that the players have only fancied
grievances and are on the whole well treated.
As the Brooklyn players receive more salary
than any other team In the League It Is natural
for Abel. Won der Horst and Hanlon to fail to
see what there Is In the demands Of the Pro-
tective Association.
Soden, Billings and Conant. owners OF the
Boston club. have declared to other members
OF the League that they will not recognize the
ball players organization In any way, that there
is no ground for the formation Of such body
and that the PLAYERS have no grievances at all.
The Boston Triumvlrate further declares that II
the Protective Association treated with form
ality by the League men assembled In regular
session which means that the players may have
hard time to get hearing ear 1,,,,,0,i o,r, sovs
he doesn't care to discuss the Protective Associ-
alton until he has learned officially what its
demands will be. James \. Hart, President OF
the Chicago club. appears inclined 10 listen
to the PLAYERS and make some concessions
Hart is quoted as saving that he believes the
farming" system should he abolished, or rather
be 40 modified that the player must be consulted
before he Is shifted to minor league.
President Frank DE Hass Robson OF ST;
Louis, populary known as the ball players
friend" has come out with statement 10 the
other club owners 20 the effect that II baseball
l. TO be saved from a general wreckaee the
League. In fairness 10 the players must give
them hearing and then take action that may
be considered fair and Just by the public. Rob-
ison SAYS that there must be harmony between
the League magnates and the PLAYERS, no mat
ter what the cost may be, In other words the
ST. Louis magnate does not want TO have any
thing spring up that may lead TO another base
ball war
Barney Dreyfriss, President Of the Pittsburg
club. has expressed himself To his fellow mag
mates something like this.
Il do not care what is done. The Plttsburgs
are making money for me and | don't care
what the bows do.
The New York players say that Freedman
has assured them that II The demands Of the
Protective Association are just and within rea-
son he will make an attempt TO have the matter
favorably considered bv the League. The
players are banking considerably on this infor
nation. as thev have not forgotten the manner
in which the President of the New York club
made the masnates play jumping Jack" last
winter.
Taking oursory view of the situation il looks
very much as II the magnates were in guam
dairy. II would SO IN that II the players come TO
the front completely unonzed and make formal
demands the League will be forced to take the
subject up. whether II il acted favorably upon
or not As majority Of the magnates do
not think the players are I'll treated IN any
way. and as the players are equally determined
Inevitable. When the ma9nates come together
they will try TO keep the meeting secret a.
usual. They wi not only discuss the players
ass citation but also the reduction Of salaries
and the linn itation OF the reserve list to seven
pla yers club,