Evening star., 1901-12-10
National League Meeting to Be
Without Friction.
OF PLAYERS REGRETTED
President Young Has Good Chance
of Being Reelected.
FIRST SESSION AT NOON

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, December 10.-Notwith-
standing the effort on the part of some of
the critics of the National League to make
1t appear that there is fight in the or
ganization and a possibility of trouble at
the annual session to be held in this city
this week there is reason to believe that
the league Is more united as a whole than
it has been in some time. The greatest
struggle will take place over the election
of president. A. G. Spalding is favored
by many of the club owners. but at the
last moment several who have been friend
ly to Uncle Nick Young In the past and
who recognize his great worth as pre-
siding officer of the organization are COM
ing into line for him, and 1t is possible
that his strength will greatly surprise the
Spalding element. In any event. whoever
Is elected will go in with the unanimous
choice of the league. for it is recognized
that there can be no internal squabbles
with much threatening the organization
in the various cities where 1t has hereto
fore been strong.
Where Spaldfng's Strength Lies.
Spalding will probably command the votes
of the Chicago, Brooklyn, Pittsburg, Phila-
delphia and St. Louis clubs, and If he de-
sired to take the election a majority
vote there is not the slightest reason to
believe that he would lose it. But 1t is his
ambition to come into the league as the
unanimous choice of the organization or not
at all. He realizes that he must have cor
dial support or that his administration will
not amount to anything. Freedman Is OPP
posed to Young. His opposition is greater
than that of any other magnate, because
Freedman unfortunately harbors the idea
that Mr.. Young, upon certain occasions did
not mo la Mt 1Yt IN 70 NnHry
York man with fairness. The situation has
been explained frequently to Freedman, but
he will not listen to explanation. He in
siStS that he has been wronged and that
Young was the man who did 1t and that is
as far as he can be got to say anything
Boston wants Young retaided. and the
Boston owners are rather persistent fight
ers themselves when they see anything they
would like to have and can throw quite
lot of influence their way, 1t will be inter-
esting to see what will grow out of it.
AS for that NATTER said Barney Drey-
fuss of Pittsburg. when candidates
Of Of the pre- presidency Of the league
Il have got man myself who can give
some of them cards and spades, and don't
know but shall propose him for the pres
idency of the league. His name is Harry
and he comes from Pittsburg. If
there is anything about the national game
with which he is not conversant I would
like to have you tell me- 1t is supposed
that this is one of Dreyfuss jokes, for no
one believes that Pulliam will be seriously
proposed by the Pittsburg man, owing to
the fact that he is so invaluable to Drey-
fuss in his work at Pittsburg.
Brush Plan Denied.
A great deal of silly twaddle has been
published about scheme of John T. Brush
to run the National League without a pres
ident. but with a BOARD of control similar
to that which is in effect in racing circles.
This is quite equal to the pipe" dreams
that usually are sprung at a National
League meeting. Perhaps. now that the
subject has been mentioned, Brush will
make an effort to formulate something of
the kind. and thus avoid a possible bitter
fight over the presidency. 1t is asserted by
all the club owners that whatever they Go
at the meeting will be well done and with
unanimity. and that they will not leave
New York until they settle everything to
satisfy themselves for the fight that they
see ahead of them on the part of the other
organization. Threats We're made in the
last year that there would be a
of the circuit this year, and
that Philadelphia would get the long erd
of the prod" because of the unequal dis
trbuton of gate receipts that has taken
place in that city since the Philadelphia
club has been part of the National
League. This is denied by all the club
members who are here.
The National League Is in effect" said
Soden, .'as it always has been. The In
agreement has nothing to do with
the life of this organization. All that was
done at Indianapolis was to amend the
constitution in some places and admit four
other organizations TO membership. Our
membership was not affected in the slight
est
Regret Loss of Players.
Concerning the loss of players the club
owners would say little or nothing
Il hated to see some of my men 60"
said Frank De II. Robson, 'but they re-
fused to give me the opportunity to do
business with them that they gave to a
business rival. and l shall not forget 1t il
the opportunity ever offers to return good
for evil. l think through all my connec-
ton with base ball that l have never done
anything but stand up for the players,
and am reaping my reward just as it was
predicted that l would reap it by men who
were Older in the game than myself 1t is
disgusting to any club owner to find that
players, as a rule. are so ungrateful in all
business transactions, and 1 scarcely see
how any man can be blamed for being a
pessimist who gets into this game"
The abrogation of the national agree
ment does not seem to worry the club own
ers to any extent
II had understood" said Hart of Chi
cago. from what was said in some of the
newspapers that the league was bound
straight for perdition, since the national
that the American League got along pretty
well without national agreement. / guess
that We can do much.'
AT noon the board of directors of the
league went into session, and what in some
respects promises to be one of the most
momentous meetings in the history of pro-
fessional base ball was fairly on.