Evening star., 1900-12-19
TO BE fIRST-CLASS
President johnson on the Local Base
Ball Club.
NO TROUBLE TO GET BEST PLAYERS
Will Spend $4,000 in Fitting
Up the New Grounds.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

Up to late hour this afternoon President
Ban johnson of the American League had
not arrived in Washington. He left Phla-
delphia yesterday and stopped over In Bal
timore. AS he was in the latter city last
night it is to be presumed that he is still
In consultation with Magnate "Mugsy" Nc
Graw. The Baltimore papers this morning
said that these two gentlemen would be in
Washington today, and with Manager Man
ming of this city would inspect the dlf-
ferent sites for ball ground. There has
probably been a hitch in the arrangements,
and the much looked for pair may arrive
tonight or tomorrow morning. President
johnson will spend only a short time in
Washington on this trip, but will return
after the first of the year and PROBABLY as
sist Mr.. Manning in getting the Washing
ton situation moving smoothly.
While in Baltimore yesterday, Mr.. John
son said that the purpose OF his visit to
that city was merely to see how the Mary
land end of the American League afa rs
was shaping up, and to confer with Nc
Graw and Robinson concerning the gen
eral outlook. Speaking to baltimore sun
reporter MIR johnson said
We propose 20 spend between $4,000
and $20,0oO in fitting up the new parks
here and III Washington. and will make
them the equal of the best in the country.
Mr.. McGraw VIII have the arrangement Of
the details in this city and win PROBABLY
be able TO announce the SITE in few days.
Nothing definite has yet been settled, but l
can state that we will not take the league
grounds, but are trying to fix upon an en-
tircly new place. The park is gong to be
first-class in every way, including both
stands and grounds.
We intend 10 put first-class team In
Baltimore AMI Washington and are looking
for genuine support from the public of both
cities. The pairing off of the two leagues,
l believe, will result in great good. 1t viii!
help the sport stimulate the payers auG
find a ready response from lovers of The
national game. We are in the field to build
up base bail, not tear 1t down.
Excellent Prospects.
"Our prospects are excellenl and we will
make go of it. There will be no trouble
ito get good teams, made up Of first-class
men. in every city in the league and in
two years, 1 venture to say. we will have
combination of teams that cannot be
beaten.
The attitude of the National League TO-
ward the Players Association may nave
the effect of driving some Of their good
men into our league. although we have no
desire to monkey with heir payers
Mr.. Johnson. in speaking of the proposed
meeting Of the American League, said that
it was mainly for the purpose of organlZa-
ton. "A constitution and bylaws he sad,
will be adopted, and 1t is proposed to Sc
riOuSly consider the adVlSaDlllty OF making
some radical changes in the present paying
rules
To Improve the Game.
Il cannot now say just what these
changes will be, because l do not know.
Nevertheless. a great many of the best-!n-
formed ba sc bail men in the country believe
that change in some of the rules is nee
essary and will greatly benefit the game.
We may make some innovations along this
line at meeting. winch will probably
take place in Philadelphia soon alter the
first of the year.
Representatives from all the cities inter
ested in the league will Of course be pres
ent at the meeting, and we VII interchange
ideas as to what changes needed. The
indications are that our teams this year
will compare favoraby with those of the
National League Our season Will probably
open on May l."