Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-04-08

eyitable that the members Of the Amer
| ican League shcalld assert the y inde-
pcndcncc and insist upon being treated
| like men.
The conditions of the present season
afforded a long 81 Ight opporttnity for
making this move. The REDUCTION OF
the National I.cs guc circuit in 1900
from II to eight clubs left Baltimore
ard Washington without a professional
baseball representation. These cities
were therefore appropriated by the
American League. 1t was also decided
| by this, organization to, submit to no
further imposition of the draft sys-
tenn. and that whatever dealings there
might be in the future between the
American and National Leagues should
be upon a basis of equality. AT the
same time there was not the slightest
disposition to make war upon the Ma
tional League All that was desired
was n fair show. with n mutull OBJ
servance of one anothcrs rights. On
the 3lst of last October. President
johnson of the American League. in
response to the demand of Secretary
Young for the forwarding of the
'protcction." fees established by the
National League. wired a courteous re-
quest for Il conference between the
two leagues. and intima ting that con-
ditions were such that the relations be-
tween the two leagues could not con-
tinue along the old lines prescribed Ly
the so-callcd National agreement"
This communication was treated
with arrogant contempt and never
answered MIR. Johnson's modest inti-
nation of a determination on the part
Of his league to have fair play was re-
garded as in the highest degree pre-
sumptuous and when the naughty
magnates Of the National League as
sembIed in November. they unani-
mously decided not to agree to any
changes in the relations of the two
leagues. and to ignore the American
League as outside the pale OF the Ma
tional agreement. 1t was an assinine
procedure: and precipitatcsl "A warfare
that the American League would glad
" have avoided. Having once decided
to punish the American League for
having the nerve to ask for its rights.
the National League endeavorcd to
push into the field for use as club
an organization called the American
Association. The movement. however.
proved Il fiZZle. and as re
suit the American League was able to
complete strong circuit with cluns in
Boston. Philadelphia, Chicago, Wash
inCton, Baltimore. Milwaukee, Detroit
and Cleveland. In the first three of
these cities the National League also
has clubs. With this splendid cir
cult. there can be no doubt of the sue
cess of the well managed American
League Not only has it retained the
pick of its own strong players. but a
large number of the crack men of the
National League have joined its
forces. 1t will give the public live
up to-date exhibitions of the national
game at the popular price of 25 cents.
and there is no doubt but what a
splendid patronage will be accorder it.
The old league has done many
good things for the national game; but
its policy has been characterized by in
ordinate selfshneSs and a supreme dis
regard of the rights of others where it's
own interests were concerned. 1t is
wholly responsible for the present
breach with the American league and
the public will have no regrets if i. is
made to suffer for it's folly.