Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-14
BASE BALL NOTES.
A. G. Spalding Elected President
 of National League.

Courts -Spiiding Has Not Yet Ae-
 ceuted and May Not Do SO-Freed-
 man of New York Gets a Scathing
 Criticism From Spalding-National
 Leag6e May Be Rent Asunder.
 A. G. Spalding was elected president of the National League of Profession al Baseball clubs at the Fifth avenue hotel. New York. at 1:3O o'clock this morning. The vote stood 1 to 0, the New York. St Louis. Cincinnati and Boston clubs having left the meeting without permission and without leav- ing proxies
 Twenty-Five ballots had been cast when Soden, Freedman. Brush and RObisOn went away. \. E. Young then took the chair. but soon retired in favor of Rogers of Philadelphia. A ballot was taken and Spalding was de clared elected by the chair in accord ance with congressional precedent.
 Andrew Freedman must get out of the National 1eaguer' This was the sensational declaration of A. G. Spald- ing to the newspaper men at the Fifth avenue hotel yesterday afternoon. It came as q part of q long statement, the result of q demand made upon Spalding for some definite information as to the wrangle in the league meet ing and the causes that led up to 1t. Spalding in response sent word that lie would see all representatives of the press through whom he would make things perfectly clear to the American public. Spalding lost no time i'll de claring war on Freedman, the New York president. and his friends, Brush of Cincinnati. Soden of Boston and Robison of St Louis. the men who have ben trying to force the trust scheme down the threats of the other mag mates, with the result that there has been a deadlock since the magnates first convened on Tuesday morning.
 ''The league has been in session for four days" said Spalding, '.and not a line of authentic information has been given to the public. The state ment has been made that only minor affairs have. been talked of. It is a falsehood. The trust scheme. with all it's evils. has been the chief topic as advanced by Freedman and Brush ~N-0 AI neio NsluStd tI dCaluIOCh. -hl name was placed in nomination for the presidency without my consent For four days I have been waiting for a decisive vote. I am incensed that such a matter should cause delay and l believe that it is up to me to make a statement regarding some things that are of vital interest to the welfare of the National league and the game which is America's national sport.
 After I had made my talk in the league meeting on Wednesday and the resolution to bring the election of Spalding to an immediate head had been blocked by a I to vote. a mes sage was received by me from Brush and RObisOn asking for a secret con- ference with them. promptly refused. saying that I was in the open and would not confer in secret with any body. Then Brush. Freedman and RobisOn sent out the maliciously un- true story that I had been defeated for the presidency and Robison. I am informed. made a further statement that would not be mentioned in the meeting again.
 s.This kind of business leads me to say that will be mentioned again and that there will be a decisive vote on my candidacy. I refuse to withdraw my name and put it up to the league to act. I am not asking for votes. In fact, have not said yet whether I will accept the presidency or not For that matter the league will be forced to elect or defeat me in total ignorance Of my intention in the matter.
 "And I will be elected, too. I defy the Boston club and its president. MT SOden. to vote against me in the face of public sentiment in his city. do not know whether he intends to vote for me or not, but repeat I defy him to oppose me.
 "I wish to say further that when I am elected and I decide to accept the presidency it will be only upon one condition. Andrew Freedman must get out of the National league and the baseball business as controlled by that body There must be no quibble. Freedman must retire. and his friend Brush. if it becomes necessary. One must be thrown out after the other.
 .'I make no personal remarks against Freedman I only refer to Iliu III st OdSeDdli WaI. HIS recOru III baseball is damnabIe He is traitor and a marplot. He has done more harm to the game of baseball than any body else and the time has arrived for him to get out. Fredman's career in baseball covers five years. Mine goes back for thirty-five years. I will meet him in open debate as to the merits of this case in the league meeting, in the presence of the representatives of the press, and I will agree that the man who loses must get out entirely.
 1'I need not go into details now as to Freedman's career. in baseball. It is unfortunately too well known. I see by the papers that he has offered $25,- 900 to Edward Hanlon to manage the New ,Yorks for two fears. Hanlon is the man to be president of the New York club in Freedman's place for Freedman must go. This is a fight ,in which the principles of honest sport are involved. I was one of the foun- ders of the National league and in it's present dangerous predicament I am going to pilot it, even if we precipitate la baseball war.
 ~At the league meeting on Wednes- day I told the gentlement present that the abrogation of the national agree