Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-28
IMPORTANT LETTER
President johnson Gives Out the Mis-
sive Sent to President Young.
NATIONAL LEAGUE ON DEFENSIVE
Today's American League Meet
ing in Chicago.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

Manager James H. Manning of the Wash
ington American@League Club Joined the
Baltimore delegation, headed by McGraw
and Robinson. at the Baltimore and Ohio
depot Saturday. and together they jour
neyed to Chicago to attend the meeting OF
their organization, which opened in that
city at noon today. This meeting of the
American League promises to be one OF the
most important in the history of the ma
tional game as it is expected that leglsla-
ton will be enacted severing the organiza-
ton from its heretofore friendly relations
with the National League, and as a result
a base ball war will follow. Delegates were
on hand last night from seven of the eiSht
clubs Boston being represented by proxy
and il Is expected that what business lhsre
is to be transacted will be put through with
dispatch and an adjournment taken ov To-
morrow night.
Will C. Bryan of the local American Asso-
citation team left Washington today on Sc
cret mission and Will not return until t'riday.
When seen by an Evening Star reporter MI.
Bryan refused to give the destlnatloh OK
object of his trip but instead showeo a ie.
ter from President Watkins OF the Amer
lean Association that contained news OF con-
siderable Importance. The letter was qatei
Indianapolis and said that Magnate hoch
of Detroit had secured grounds from tne
Detroit Athletic Club and in this way quite
n following would be added to the assocla-
ton in that city. Mr.. Watkins says tnat
everything is moving along 1avoIaoiy ios
his association and that definite plans
would be decided upon very shortly aud
Immediately made public.
Responsibility for Base Ball War.
Ban johnson located the responsibility for
the failure If the American and National
Leagues to come together by CIV
ing out at Chicago last night Tor
publication letter which he had
written President n. E. Young I'M
der date of October 81 last. The
latter was IL response to telegram from
Mr. Young asking Johnson to forward Ine
protection money for his organization. Inc
letter follows:
Your telegram was received. ] wired III
reply that | should write you concerning
the matter. The plan of the American
League to occupy eastern territory mas peen
we'll defined and | think the men OF the
National League thoroughly understand our
position in the matter
For two wears we have been menaced by
the possible formation of league hostile
to orr interests and a detriment in many
WAYS to orga niZed base ball. This annual
agitation is hurtful and We purpose to so
shape our organization as to chechmate Il
in the future.
in extending our circuit to the far east
il is unreason able to assume we could con-
tinue along the old lines prescribed by the
national agreement. New conditions must
alter in part our relations with the National
League. This is matter l have discussed
informally with some of your members.
ut was suggested by Mr.. Hart that
committee from the American League con-
fer with committee from the National
League relative to the purchase OF the
base ball plants at Washington and Balti-
more. Other matters can be considered and
adjusted at that meeting. The club mem
bers of the American League are unalter-
ably opposed to a continuation of the draft
ing system We cannot renew our obiga-
tions under the present agreement. Should
complications arise they will be of Ma
tional League making. If fairness and COM
mon sense prevail there can never be any
friction between the National and Ameri-
can Leagues
This letter puts the League upon the de-
fensive Hart did make the proposition.
johnson said that he was agreeable to
have conference and that If that was the
desire of the league he could be com
municated with at Philadelphia. Hart said
that he would present the matter to the
league but there the continuity of the story
is broken. Some say that Hart did present
the proposition to the magnates who. 80 1t
is said. declared that Johnson could wait
until the skating was good in Sheol before
they would deal with him, which was rude.
to say the least. Others say that Hart got
mixed up with something other and
failed to present the matter, but no mat
ter what Hart did. this letter. 1t is claimed,
lets Johnson out of the charge of belliger-