New-York tribune., 1901-12-14
DEFEAT OF FREEDMAN.
A. q. .SPALDING- NEW LEA CUE
PRESIDENT.
ELECTED EARLY THIS MORNING ON
THE TWENTY-SIXTH BALLOT-THE
FIGHT TO A FINISH.

The deadlock between the TnagnateS or the
National Baseball League was broken early TINS
morning according TO an announcement Dy
Colonel Rogers Of the Philadelphia club. by the
election Of A G. spalding as president. TO sue
cesd N E Young The election resulted on the
tvventy-sixth ballot and after bitter fight be-
tween the Freedman and Spalding factlons-
The result is the utter rout OF Freedman, as
Mr. spaldng said that his election would mean
the retirement of the New-York club owner from
baseball
Mr. spalding's attention called to the
existing deadlock, and he was asked ABOUT oos-
toms stand in the matter
y defy a H Soden TO vote against me-" thun-
dered Mr.. Spalding. Boston sentiment would
not allow Mr. Soden to vote against me"
Mr. spalding declared that On Wednesday he
attended a meeting Of the magnates and told
fhen that the abrogation of the national agree
u1ent was the most damnab BILE outrage ever per-
petrated in baseball Freedman made a har-
Tnony speech. Mr.. Spalding added:
My brother ]. ". Spalding. was kept apollo
gizing for Freedman until he could stand il no
longer and withdrew from the dictatorship of the
New York club
Mr.. Spalding's talk created almost a panic
among the magnates. who seemed thunderstruck
by Mr.. Spalding's defiance. Just how Freedman
was TO be dropped not clear. A new Ma
tional League may be organized, If necessary,
and New-York dropped from the circuit, the
Brooklyn club becoming the New-York repre-
sentative.
Mr.. Spalding later gave out copies Of corre-
spondence dated last February between Frank
Robson. president Of the Cleveland club. in
which Mr.. Robson urged that Mr.. Spalding be
made president Of the National League at once.
This correspondence is most interesting show
ing that the plan TO get Mr.. Spalding to save the
league from ruin is not Of recent origin, and as
showing that long ago as last February the
National League magnates recognized the fact
that they had hard fight with the Ameri-
can League and that desperate measures were
needed. In his letter Mr.. Robson says, among
other things:
I think the National League should immedi
etely do something that viii at least appeal 10
sorae of the baseball public and patrons of the
game in every city Of this country, and, no
matter how few there might be in each city that
would say that the National League Is trying
TO do something for the baseball public, that few
would be a good start for US in our present
condition We must all admit that The affairs
of the National League are not looked upon by
the public we would like TO have them. but
rather appear to be in the background, as
compared with the Ban johnson American
League. In my opinion fully 90 per cent Of the
newspaper writers are to-day favoring the new
Ban johnson American League movement sim
ply because the National League does not come
forward and in public way show TO the
people that they will az least try and make
change a Id DO something different from what
has been taking place for the last few years
I don't believe we can get back INTO our 1olO d
very large percentage of the newspaper gentle-
men who have practically left for the time
being unless show a disposition 10 cater
little more TO the demand of the public The
new American League has got its foothold, and
has received the sympathy Of the public. 1t has
brought this about within the last two years,
and ii has all been done practically by one man,
and that man is Ban Johnson. He has accom-
nIishe5 this simply because the National League
has remained dormant, and has been criticised
from one end Of the country TO the other IN
all manners and ways, and We have really done
]o-7'f holt TTA q
through even this present season remaining be-
fore the public in the same attitude that we
have in the past. because Of the sympathies or
the public being with other people. and not
with Us For that reason would ike 10 see a
man OF the standing OF A 9; Spaloing n sre9 e6
administer its affairs throughout this season. at
least, I know of one better capable Of filling
this position, and none SO good
John T Brush's reply outlined the plan which
he is now trying to force on the League. He
wrote:
If we could carry out the ideas discussed In
Mr Soden's room with Soden. Robinson and
yourself that night. would have no OCCASION
IN nv Judgment for a president. All of the cler-
ical work necessary to the conduct Of baseball
would be contributed by secretaries employed
for that purpose. The entire question OF nan
ding clubs. leagues. national agreement, PLAYERS
and umpires would be handled by board OF
control or as might say. by a board OF
regents. There would be no more contracts
with ball PLAYERS The board of regents would
license all ball players. managers and umplres.
and in issuing their licenses under the rules
and conditions that govern. it would only issue
licenses TO players to play with certain clubs
in certain leagues It would only issue licenses
TO certain individuals 10 umpire in certain
leagues and all violations Of rules would be
handled by the board of regents, and for
violation of rules the licenses would be sus-
pended for q given period Of time
The board Of regents would be composed OF
club presidents Of the National League and
should consist Of say. five members, and no
club president should sit in Judgment in any
case where his club is involved
Mr.. Ebbets and A J. Reach gave cordial sup
port to Mr. Robisons suggestions.
At the conclusion of the afternoon session MI
Brush made a motion that the meeting adjourn
TO January 4. The motion was lost on vote
Freedman then announced II would be impossi-
ble for him TO attend to-day's session. Abel, or
Brooklyn said. Don't bother We can do with
out you Later Mr.. Abel said;
Il am glad that the real situation is out at
last The matter will be settled now once for
all. Freedman will not whip any more magnates
into line" John ! Rogers. A J. Reach and
Harry Won der Horst expressed similar views.
Runors of trouble in the meeting room reached
the corridors Of the hotel soon after the mag
mates began their night session The election
Of officers was taken up. Mr.. Spalding and N T.
Young were the nominees. and the first ballot
was + TO 4 The name Of A G. Mills was added
10 the list of nominees on the third ballot Ihe
vote was: Spalding. 1; Young. f. Mills. o. The
Brooklyn Pittsburg. Philadelphia and Chicago
clubs voted for Spalding. New-York. Cincinnati,
St Louis and Boston voted for Young.
PRTNCETON-HARyARD GAME ARRANGED
BASEBALL RELATIONS RESUMED BETWEEN