The Washington times., 1901-12-25
OVERTURES
FOR A TRUCE.
.FreedmaniteS' Letter to
Spalding Clubs.
ASK THEM TO ADMIT A DEFEAT.
Anxiety to Heal the Present
Breach Evident - Trying 20
Weaken the Organizations Sup
porting the Enjoined President
Both Sides Waiting.

MEM YORK, Dec. Z4.-N lIn lne uepdlt-
ure of A. C. Spalding for the South the
Freedman faction of the National League
has decided to make a series of moves
calculated TO heal the breach between
them and the four clubs allied with the
enjoined president.
The circular letter sent out by Spald-
ing on Saturday last to the eight league
clubs practically stating that. in view of
the court proceedings, he would Lot act
in an official capacity until the case had
been definitely settled. has been used as
a weapon with which to beat the oppo-
sition into line il possible.
The Letter Sent Out.
The following letter was handed out
by the Freedmanites tonight:
New York, Dec. %.
Boston Baseball Association, Cincinnati
Baseball Club. National Exhibition
Company and American Baseball and
Athletic Exhibition Company. of st.
Louis:
"Gentlemen-You have called my atten-
tion to q letter received this day ty you
from A. G. Spalding, and have asked me
what effect. if any, it has upon the con-
troversy.
to a withdrawal on Mr.. Spalding's part
from the office of president-secretary-
treasurer of the National League. He
informs you that he must refuse TO act
further as president treasurer
of the National League. and goes on TO
say that il is up to each club to do that
which. in its judgment. may seem best for
its own interest
A Frecdmnnite View.
"This is. in effect. advice to the clubs
to shift for themselves. MIR. Spalding was
never elected president-secretary-t
urer of the National League. His pre-
tended election was entirely without au-
thority. The courts have taken this view
OF II by issuing the injunction, and Mr..
spalding seems to have come to the same
conclusion himself.
Every act of a part OF the National
League by which it undertook to elect a
president. director or other officer in the
absence of majority of that body was
illegal, and any persons who hold their
respective Offices by such authority are
open to me charge of usurpation of the
functions of the Office. So far as the court
proceedings are concerned, the record is
as follows:
MIR. Spalding had Just declared TO the
reporters in interview at the Fifth Ave
nue. Hotel that he had obtained an opin
ion to the effect that his election was
In all respects legal. The words were
hardly out of his mouth when he was
served with an order TO show cause why
an injunction should not be issued against
him on the ground that his pretended
ele ;tion was Illegal.
Did Not Oppose.
"A few days later he came in court,
and by not opposing the Injunction.
admitted that II was impossible for him
to defend his title to the Office.
"Under these circumstances. it does not
seem to me necessary that you should
make any reply to MIR. Spalding's COM
munication OF this morning. TIE status
of the National League remains the same
as 1t was before the pretended election
OF Mr.. Spalding as president secretary
treasurer.
Yours very truly,
DELANEY NICHoLL."
The plan said to be under way involves
campaign that viii result in the weak
ening OF the Brooklyn. Philadelphia.
Pittsburg. and Chicago combination. so
that Spaldinr viii lose his grip.
II Is reported hndI inc Ttdl DAltI gA
the Pittsburg club. not Dreyfuss. will re-
ceiye visit shortly from certain indi-
viduals who viii endeayor to impress him
with the advisaSil!ty of renouncing the
Spalding crowd.
Clubs on Record.
The clubs which backed spalding at the
recent league meeting placed themselves
on record in such manner that case Of
backslidlng would not be regarded with
favor by the baseball public. spalding
himself believes that they viii stand by
him to the end. and that in such an event,
should it result in the disruption Of the
old league, they viii be protected in
-twelve-club reorganization plan.
Meanwhile the Spalding faction expects
come signs OF weakening from the oppo-
sition. Soden and Conant. of Boston, have
been talking peace during the last two or
three days, the former making the state
ment that If he was in Frcedmans shoes
he would sell out. Conant has been quot
ed as saying that he mas nothing pers )nal
against Spalding, but he does not approve
OF his methods
Gnmc of Delay.
II looks as il both sides intended TO play
a game of delay and bluff for some time
TO come Spalding will not give up the
fight for the league presidency until the
courts have passed upon the legality Of his