The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-31
SURPRISE IN STORE
SOMETHING LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN
BAS.sBALLDOM, But
WHAT:
PROPOSITIONS FROM sPALD1NG
Has Several for Ban Johnson to Con-
sider-Has Johnson Authority
to Accept the Nationals
Friendly Advances:

CHICAGO. Dec. 3O.-Although the
wise men of baseball who are just
now working overtime on the rath
err complicated task of reconstruct
ing the National league have failed TO
talk for a day or two for publication,
there are some developments. 10 begin
with, A G. Spalding has made it known
to all men that he is now located at
Aiken S. c.. and furthermore that he
intends to fight his fight against Freed
man and Brush in the open and under
the glazing light-of newspaper publicity.
Spalding voiced his views in an open
letter addressed to Judge Howard Ferris
and the syndicate of worthy CITIZENS OF
Cincinnati, who are trying to buy out
Brush's controlling interest in the Gin
cinnati club. Spalding begins this letter
by indorsing the movement to make the
Cincinnati club a purely local affair ana
to be owned and operated by Clncln-
matt capitalists. Then, after Volcing his
opposition to the so-called syndicate
BALI and calling for its determination,
Spalding concludes his message to the
outer world of baseball in these Words:
eff Cincinnati citizens are working
along these lines 1 commend their action.
But 1 will not be a party to any scheme
that contempIates the freezing out or
confiscating of Mr.. Brush's and his as
Sociates' property interest in the present
Cincinnati club. Play ball and play fair
"A. G. Spalding.''
Mr. Spalding's official approval of the
Cincinnati syndicates plan and his OPP
position to any scheme involving the
throwing down of John T. Brush gives
the baseball politicians an opportunity to
get true line on Spalding's campaign
against Freedman and Brush. Spalding
aims first of all to eliminate Freedman
and Brush from the National league pc
fore he makes his big play to Ban john
son, the official head of the American
league, at the coming conference between
the leaders of the rival leagues
1t is safe to predict that series OF
startling surprises will be sprung at the
aforesaid conference. Spalding has any
number of solutions to the baseball prob
lem to submit, and it remains to be seen
whether Johnson draws a blank or
prize For example, Spalding may pro-
pose a two-league scheme, each league to
be composed of eight clubs located IN
the cities now occupied by the National
and the American leagues and both oper-
ating under a new national agreement,
which will control all professional
leagues in the country as regards terri
tory. the reservation of players, and con-
tract rights In this scheme Johnson
would figure. of course, as the ruling
power in the American league. Pat
Powers, the big man of the Eastern
leaglle. would be the third man in THIS
three-handed combination to control pro
fessional baseball and crush out all pos
sible attempts to organize rival COM
bines.'
II Johnson sees fit to spurn this prop
osition Spalding will offer still another
one fairly glistening with the bait of
prospective profits. In a word, Spaldlng
will offer Johnson a chance to switch
either the Washington or the Baltimore
team over to New York, the said team to
play its home games on Manhattan held
on a non-conflicting schedule with the
reorganized National league team in
Gotham the latter team to be owned
and operated by syndicate headed by
Eddie Talcott, and both organizations to
work together in harmony. Johnson, in
return for these favors, is to agree to a
redistribution of all his star ball players
now under contract to the American
league, the National agreeing to as
sumo its share of the financial obligation
to the players. with the understanding
that at the termination of the existing
''gilt-edge" contracts the wages of all
the star ball tosSers are to be materially
reduced and a moderate salary limit, OF
r say $1,000, established and lived up to.
Spalding has a number of other offers
to make to Johnson, but the issue be-
tween the two baseball leaders will UNI
doubtedly hinge upon the reception OF
rejection of the aforesaid proposition
AS matter of course, Spalding must
first show Johnson that he has absolute
control of New York and Cincinnati, and
is in a position to deliver the goods. On
the other hand, Johnson must satisfy
Spalding that the American league mag
mates will indorse any action he may see
fit to take.
There exists today faction in the
American league composed of some OF
the strongest clubs in the circuit. The
club-owners in this faction are strongly
opposed to entering into any compact
with the National league, and make nc