The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-16
MEN ARE WAITING.
cJRCUTT RFDTCTION BLOCKED BY
JHE NEW Association.

Rrush Threatening Attitude OF the BAL
,imore Players Ties Things ~lp-Lcgniity
~ the Res-r,. Rule May he Tested.
Further evidence was disclosed yesterday
,n,, the National League baseball magnates
.,s temporarily held up'in their circuit ncgo-
,o,s 7 f. Powers. President Of the Eastern
,o,pno returned to this city from Indianap-
.lts WHARF he held a secret conference with John
~ pru,h chairman Of the Circuit Committee
.,,be League, and Ban Johnson. President o,
tho American League.
"Vha, did you meet Brush and Johnson for?"
.,apor.cr ~ THE SuN asked Powers.
81 went - Indianapolis on my own RESPONSE
hp,y " he replied. Il photographed johnson to
roe, ma there. We wanted to- find out what
,na situation in baseball was. representing
,he Eastern League. | was anxious to learn
xho,hpr the National League circuit would be
,slrcel AMI whether ! could get hold Of BAIT
more and Washington to round out tho Eastern
League circuit"
"What information did you receiver"
"yo. any. Brush could give me no s~atlsrac.
zion. Neither could he give me any encourage.
ucnt. He cyaded all questions and impressed
me with being in something Of a quandary
himself
II wv l'N WI f'' Nh'b nav 'lt' ~ q
cirrui, would be reduced before the coming
season opens md did not advise you to await
Developments with patience?'
"No, at all. My interview with him was very
unsatisfactory. Johnson and | had n talk
st,crvari and we agreed that If this new
American association amounts to anything
the minor leagues will suffer, for our PLAYERS
will he grabbed M. But so far as Brush IA
- \ l,,u, pba,1nta1r pntbfpn, about
the League situation. II looks to me as
though some stumbling block has been en-.
counterei
Tho first thing President Powers did after
reaching his Office yesterday morning was TO
call up c. II. Ebbets, President Of the Brooklyn
club. requesting the lattor to drop in. While
THE sUS reporter was in Powers's Office Eb-
bets arrived,
whats going on, pat;" asked the Brooklyn
nagpate.
Il am all at sea- answered POWERS. and |
wan, TO see il | cannot get a line on the situa-
ton from you. Are you people going TO sell
the Baltimore franchise, or not? The Eastern
League would like TO find this out as soon a.
possible
Fbbets laughed and evaiel the question.
Then both men shut the mselves up and talked
for a hall hour When asked wh-ther he repre-
sentpd Brush and had a proposition TO make to
the Brooklyn club In behalf Of the Circuit Com.
mitten. Powers threw up his hands and lighted
afresh "lsar.
out representing anybody outside OF the
the other d1y that in case the Cr:
to extend its circuit 10 the East, / would
he asked 10 give up all idea of acquiring the
Baltimore and Washington franchises for my
an interest in one OF the new American League
clubs, They will have to show me the long
green h"forc they can do business with me in
this way. That's all ! can say
When asked what information he gave 10
Powers. President Ebhcts said that he did not
hayr any to give.
marked Ebhets. and are waiting to hear from
the Circuit Committee.
Is it true thar ,von, der Horst has refused to
s sSni IN b to i reSs s%Ie w 1r ' The n @ircTii G mmii nas
l. tied up?' the reporter asked.
Il do not know anything about :hat,' was
Ehbe's would not DENY that Edward Han.on
paid a flying visit to this city on last Friday
and that he had a couferen'" with the other
T pS!},r. Gt t., ,E., bT Ss po5 nj cLn t,oH III sS S,so st ,sa
ealing Of Nfto1ai league meeting.
The pr9srfSs Of TIE new american AsSocia::
r Re" f ., nad, ~; III ,,y I nrc. gas1G T + tG :. rGg SiS IE,t
phlalclph IA. Chicago and s.. Louis. 9nd that
an and a''E%b will t., be m a.tabI to h induce nn Nt.6rN.
ZION .lah in Baltimore. has caused the
The thr 1t to enlist the services Of McGraw
and ROhi BIN has also placed the BROOKLYN
Baltimore Tyndicate on the defensive Until il
Is Iehnt kly learned What me Association
franchise will not be sold. for the reason that
the own4 Is might not be able to control tho
, - - I'd a. - -. g. IL
tim orclI YES an eight ltG circuit, composed
ot Dostoh NOW York, Philadelphia. Baltimore.
chicago, Louis, Milwaukee and Detroit, the
Nationa. eague will either start with t"n
clubs. leal bg out Cleveland and Louisville. or
will begiH it'll twelve cities, admitting Brush's
lndtan4l + Club and the American League
cub in VI wauker.
Since tlUk brotherhood war the League mag
mates hay ~ had their players contract drawn
up in IN a manner that they are believed to
belegak. The reserve rule was broken in
1900. n was declared Illegal in the supreme
Court ~ Justices O'Brien and Lawrence. The
contra s are worried differently now. though.
They q h'ain a clause which reads as follows;
1t : r,by expressly uu i"rs,ood and agreed for
tne cou deritiou above mentioned, that the party
oftht Il b part CLUB, orlts assigns, shall have tho
terms. pyoyision~ and conditions for another PERIOD
DISK m eths beginning Aprl -, an fora similar
,.T,oa ' ~ ,Sr . Scor. ' Gsr, af, tG,s and hi tho
by ag$es to perform. similar services. and
he subject to all the obligations. duties
tnl lhnllltlrs PRESCRIBED III IlF contract Tor tho
penod or periods ct such rcrcNalor renewals. pro.
vidcn only that wcittcn notice Of The exercise NJ
such option or renewal be served upon the sad
party Of the second pa't prior 10 the fifteenth day or
October ~ the current ear of tins contract and OF
The current y"arof each renewal thereof.
In other words the magnntes say that II the
payer signs a contract with the above clause
In II he can be- legally held that all League
men who signed contracts last winter are
pound Tor thus, coming season nv ms clause.
II i contended In behalf " the players. how
ever, thai the contract will not stand in equity.
i ls pointed out that the PLAYERS have been
forced TO sign this form Of contract or remain
Idle because OF the eNiSten"e OF the national
agreement. which provides that n player under
rtserve or option to a club cannot pay
ball with any other club under the protection Of
the above agreement. The ASSOCIATION men
say they can legally sign any League player
contract for 1879. has not slgnet again Tor
1900 The National League, threatens legal
complications. inIunctione and danage suits, Z
the new Association makes a move Tor tho
older organizations players, and expresses
confidence In securing a favorable verdict IN
the courts.
Efor's 10 learn the identity Of the men be-
mind the hew club In this CRY failed yesterday.
Inc Association promoters say that the names
olthe Iocal hackers and the location, OF me new
grounds viii Ia made public after the meeting
here next week.
Baseball Notes.
.,PgrLApEtPHi. "A. Jan. 15.-over Atty candidates Tor
presented the iusolves at Franklin Field tins af'er-
noon They IRE a likely lot and Coach Arthur IRWIN
is mighty pleakel with the matters from Which ne
vi mould nine To- represent ne redand pl"e