The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-18
National League Baseball War to Be
Waged in Court--Providsnce Dogs at
New York Bench Show.

Colonel Rogers will be In New York
Thursday and act as one of the counsel
for A. @. spalding in the injunction pro-
seedlings brought against the latter By
a adrew Freedman. Said Colonel Rogers
today:
our contention II -ttTat the New York
supreme court has no jurisdiction In this
matter. 1T Is an Interstate affair. and
the case properly belongs to the United
States circuit court for decision. If the
New York court DEGREES otherwise or de-
cides against US, we will take the case
80 tho United States circuit court our
selves
mo matter what the decision OF the
New York court is. Mr.. Spalding will
stay where he Is now as president Of the
National league. II the courts make us
any trouble, we will simply call another
meeting Of the. National league I'm legal
form, and legally re-elect Spaldlng.
Freedman. not having paid his assess
ment for two years. is not legally en-
titled TO vote, 50 If Boston. Cincinnati
and st. Louis hold out against Spalding
we viii re-elsct him by vote OF TO 4
1f the other side refuses 20 attend the
meeting they will simply stay away and
forfeit their rights. that's all. Under the
constitution OF the league, Freedman
stands expelled. lie has for two years
steadfastly refused to pay the ~ per
cent assessment OF gate receipts into
tho fund FOR the retirement OF the Wash
ington. Baltimore. Louisville and Glove
land clubs, In order TO reduce the circuit
from ~ TO eight clubs, and which all
the clubs in the league voted for except
New York"
DREYFUss SATISFIED.
Barney Dreyfuss. president OF the
pittsburg club, returned home today from
attendance on the National league meet
ing IN New York. He IS not disposed to
talk ar length on the matter, but made
the following statement:
II have no comment to make on yes
terday's events I'm New York. BY elect
ing Mr. A. @. spaldlng to the presidency
we placed the direction OF our affairs as
a body in his hands, and from what I
know OF his executive ability he is amply
able 10 guide our ship.
I'VE are satisfied with the results OF
the league meeting, which we arc sure
will rebound 10 much good 20 the league
itself and baseball in general"
Mr.. Dreyfuss would not venture any
opinion as TO the new league to be form
ed by the SpaIding faction.
sELEE REJoICEs.
"Yes, I've got Link Lowe" said Man
ager Frank Selee yesterday, ''and you
can just bet am glad I've got him. He's
a good man, and will do good work for
@ ope 20 got wo on oRo irG nd eo ent b
The long distance phone ana brought him
into line. / will play him either at sec
ond or short IL all depends how tho
There has been a deal OF talk" con-
tinued the manager. about the transac-
about IL. 1 met Bonner at the Grand
Union hotel, Toronto, and We had "A talk
together. He had promised me in mid
season that / would have first call on
his services. That was before ] knew /
was going 20 Chicago. He wrote To me
at the end Of the season and said that that
Clark Griffith was after him. Griffith
wanted him for Tom Lotus, and offered
him s24OO. Cleveland wanted him for the
same money and st. Louis wanted TO take
II told him that Mr.. Hart was trying to
secure his release from Toronto. To-
ronto did not want TO sell him, and that
agreed upon figures and he signed then
and there. I left him and went to the
theatre. The next morning j learned
that he had signed with Cleveland.
Il afterward wrote MIN asking what IL
oil meant. and he said he had got a con-
Then no said / would have 10 give him
another contract. then wrote. stating 1
would like TO know what he would like.
was he signed another contract. aiter
signing with me. and he wrote back that
he meant TO do what was right
FREEDMAN'S POSITION.
"In reference TO certain statements that
h>st-been made that / do not hold
controlling interest In the New York
Baseball club, i want TO say right now,
said Andrew Freedman today. that %
per cent OF the stock is held by me per-
sonally. 1t is so recorded on the books
of the club. and not Il dollar OF the stock
Is owned by Mr. Spalding or has been
acquired by him, as j hear the statement
has been made.
the National league, and OF that fact /
nm certain, His election was not legal,
and the four clubs that absented them
selves from the meeting on saturday
tion viii be born out when the proper
lime comes
Tie suggested when other plans OF OPP
posing clubs were referred 90 that the
New York club would be amply able 10
protect itself when tho emergency arose
that demanded action.
''I see that / am declared out OF the
National league" he continued. some
sem to think such Is the case. but
don't. There is quite a difference or
opinion concerning that point"
A. O.. Spaldng I'm an interview admitted
that a bundle oi papers which ne pre-
sumed 10 be legal documents had been
served upon him after the meeting Mon
torncy," he said that they contain am
order restraining me from signing my
name as president, secretary and treas
itrer Of the National league or In conduct
ing any business for Il. Therefore. | am
not exercising any function whatever OF
Burdock Blood bitters gives a man a
clear head. an active brain, a strong