The Washington times., 1901-11-28
BASEBALL WAR
ON ASUSUAL.
Winter Season Of Conflict
Between the Leagues.
Few HOPES OF PEACE At PRESENT.
National League Expected to Re
main Intact Possible Results of
the American Players Lively
Campaign of Expansion.

NEW YORK. Nov. 27.-Since the season
.losed, the baseball men of the National
and American Leagues have kept well IN
der cover, but they have been laying pipes
Just the same for the usual winter up
heaval. The situation just at present may
be said to be decidedly muddled.
Breach as Wide as Ever.
The breach between the two major
leagues appears to be as wide as ever,
with no immediate chance of healing it.
Ban johnson, President of the American
League. said the other day that last
summer negotiations we're entered into to
establish peace, hut that when the pros
pect began to look particularly bright,
everything was upset by the declaration of
Freedman that he would not make peace
with the American League under any cir
cumstances.
From Johnson's remarks. and the fact
that the American League, through the
agency Of Charles Comiskey, has just
leased ball park in St. Louis. it appears
that peace is still remote possibility
II the war, therefore, is to be continued,
ii means that the ballplayeI will be tenn
porarily benefited. for he is bound to play
both ends against the middle as much as
he can. So far. the American League has
been able to hold all of the men taken
from the National League a year ago, and
has also added others of renown. The
National League meanwhile has remained
apathetic on the Players Association.
Agreement Soon Expires.
The National Leagues ten-year agree
ment. signed at indianapolis in 1891, will
expire next month. Just what changes in
the circuit. if any, will be made, cannot
be foretold. Within the last two weeks
Brush of Cincinnati; Robson, Of st.
Louis; Soden, of Boston, and Dreyfus, Of
Pittsburg, are said to have visited Freed
man, at Red Bank, where certain plans
have been mapped out, unknown 10 the
Chicago, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia
clubs who appear to be very much outside
the breastworks.
1t has been asserted by some persons
that the present National League will re-
main intact, and this appears to be plausi-
bic, as any attempt to get rid OF the
Brooklyn Club. for instance, would pave
the way for the American Leagues en-
trance into Greater New York
The American League is still an aggres-
sive exponent of expansion. Already
plans have been formulated TO give up
Milwaukee for ST. Louis, and President
Johnson says that if McGTaw will consent
TO withdraw his team from Baltimore, the
American League will proceed to put
club into this city, proposition that has
been discussed for the last year.
The American League clubs in Wash
ington and Detroit have changed hands Of
late. but Johnson says that they are
stronger financially than ever before. Ac-
cording to Johnson, Cleveland viii remain
in the circuit, even though the club lost
money last year.
A Possible Policy.
II the National League continues its
policy of driving the American League to
the wall. the former may decide upon a
twelve-club circuit, inviting the American
League clubs of Washington, Baltimore,
Detroit, and Cleveland. to accept National
League franchises. Then by giving Phil
adeIph;a and Chicago franchises, they
could get rid Of John l. Rogers and the
Spaulding interests, managed by James
A. Hart.
A further move N the shape of an offer
OF the National League presidency to Ban
johnson could pave the way for the sale
of the Boston American League plant tn
Soden and Billings, followed by the with
drawal of the American League from St
Louis.
This is the scheme that has been talked
of aI.ong baseball men lately, and there
may be something in ii.