Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-07
BASEBALL CHAT.
The Magaates and the People Do
Not Agree.
Two niS tongues FL ely TO ciash-
What rreidcns Eobcson, OF tho ST.
Louis club. says Abont tho stun,
sion4 Bal, for NorroIk Next season

Though off season. baseball is the ALL
absorbing topic for the talks sport
loving people engage in these days.
There is q mixed situation that will
not come right until the National
League declares its circuit for 1900.
President Frank DeHaas Robson, of
the st. Louis club, who has been non
communicative ever since the National
League meeting at New York more
than two weeks ago. talks quite liber-
lally now, it is said. He fully realizes
that the national game has been en-
dnngered by the many chickering's of
the magnatqs. and some action must
be taken Quickly to save the game.
He says that lie was willing 10 take
lone-twelfth OF the blame on his own
shoulders.
There are two parties that can set
tie all the differences that exist in the
National League" sdys Mr. Robson.
whether these differences are real
or partly, imaginary, the one party is
the league magnates; the other party
is the public. II the league inagnatcs
settle all their troubles themselves,
they will have nothing but prosperity;
IL the public settles them the National
League of to-day will see nothing but
University.
IF one quarter of the statements
mat have been printed are true, then
surely the iNational League needs
guardian. Some OF the leading news
papers of the country have In the past
zen days or TWO weC1ls printed in their
editorial columns articles that c one
quarter is true should make us pause
and think, and then act quickly and
wisely. and, as far MS possible. try to
do what the public are asking of lis to-
day-that is, restore the national game
of baseball to where it once was-the
greatest and faircst Of American sports.
/ II do not believe that we have gone
so far that we cannot accomplish this,
and in very short time. If the pub
lie will he patient with the league mag
mates and give them a few days or at
the farthest Il few weeks. they will ac-
complish all this. I know that it is the
earnest desire and the wish OF every
member of the National League to have
this state of affairs brought about"
a SECRET CONFERENCE.
The leaders of.the American League
held secret conference. lasting seven
hours, In the Great Northern Hotel
and mapped out a campaign for next
season that Is Il virtual declaration OF
war against the National League.
Ihosc present at the conference were
San johnson, president OF tile league.
Charley Comiskey. who owns the fran
chise and players of the ST. Paul club;
james Manning. OF Kansas City. and
Matthew Killilea, president and princi-
I,al stockholder of the NIilwaul<ee club.
Ban johnson also held the proxies of
van der Beck. oil Detroit, and Granklin
Of Buffalo. The circuit is to consist oS
Chicago, milwaukee,, Detroit and ST.
LOUIS IN the West, ana Philadelphia,
boston, buffalo and either Baltimore
OF New York in the East. Althourh
johnson and his associates nre rnt
looking Cor n formal break in their re-
lalions with the old league, they fully
decided at the meeting to place cl,,h,
III the cities named, despite the nationni
"sreenlcnt. under which they have been
operating for several years. Tho infor-
maj agreement adopted will be ratified
~ Z Iormal meeting OF the Organization
~ nc heiu IN New York before the end
9t January. BY the terms OF the new
deal Jimmy Manning Will he tho IN
cial head OF tho club I'm Boston ana 10
VIII be backed by a New England mil
lonaire. Comiskey will tron.fa,.
mo ST. Paul team to Oil.
cago and after strenrthenipr III,
aggregation by adding number or
payers, Will make his bid for nuh,ic
patronnge at a park on the Soutb SiJe
al eady selected. The morey for tho e.
Louis end is ready. and if the hopes
OF Johnson and his friends arc realized
u strong team will represent the Mis-.
souri, metropolis in the fight for the
championship. Van der Beck intends to
strehgthen the D troit club. and Frank
| I'm. OF Buffalo, asserts that he will in
vest several thousand dollars for tba
Bisons. In Phlad slphia the outlook for
a new CLUB is particularly bright. and
men VINO are In position to know sav
that the organization will not he hand
| icapped by any serious opposition from
Messrs. Reach and Rogers the owners
| of the National League club in that
| city. 1t is said that a lease for gro,lnd
in the Quaker City has been offered.
The fourth Eastern city Is still i'm doubt
although The indications are at present
that Baltimore will be selected, de-
spite the fact that certain men in New
York VIII make bid for the fran
! chise.
THE VIRGINIA LEAGUE.
VIII Norfolk have baseball next sen.
son? That is an absorbing question
captain Cunningham president OF the
| NlIsi III state League. has bsen asked
INC gu stioii more times than lie cares
TO count. 10 Nirginian- Pilot repre-
sentative he said day or two. apo
that the people of Norfolk and Pofts-
mouth could possess their souls with
! patience. as there would snro1,, ~