The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-28
MEETS IN CHICAGO today
AMERICAN BASEBALL LEAGUE
WHICH IS AT WAR WITH
THE NATIONAL
DUFFY TO MANAGE BREWERS
His Services Are Claimed by BostOn,
but He Says He Has Consulted
an Attorney and Will
Stny in Milwaukee.

CHICAGO, Jan. 27-On the eve of
the American league meeting to perfect
its organization for the coming baseball
season, to formally complete the signing
of the ten-year agreement and to turn
over in trust to President Johnson the
ground leases and 81 per cent of the stock
of the eight clubs in the league, the
american league magnates made a public
statement today. 1t deals with the
causes and conditions which led to the
present strained relations between the
American league and the National league
President Ban Johnson stated tonight
that he had written n. E. Young, of the
National league. telling him why the
American league must ask notifications
in the national agreement, and gave
out a letter sent to the latter, enumerat-
ing these reasons. He stated that Presi-
dent Hart. of the Chicago club, had
agreed to present the arguments of the
American league a the National league
meeting in December. At first it was
thought Mr.. Hart had not done SO. Mr..
Johnson asserted that later he found that
Mr.. Hart has kept his promise, but that
the National league had absolutely re-
fused to consider any proposition for a
friendly conference.
PROPOSED A CONFERENCE.
The following is copy of the letter
sent by Ban Johnson to Nick Young Oct
81, when President Young telegraphed
for the annual payment for protection
under the national agreement:
Your telegram was received. 1 wired
in reply that I should write you con-
corning the matter. The plan of the
American league to occupy Eastern ter
ritory has been well defined, and L think
the men of the National league thorough
ly understand our position in the mat
ter.
For two years we have been menaeed
by the possible formation of league
hostile to our interests, and detiiment
in many ways to organized baseball. This
annual agitation IS hurtful and we pro-
pose to SO shape our organization as to
checkmate it in the future.
I'm extending our circuit to the far
East it is unreasonable to assume we
could continue along the old lines pre-
scrbed by the national agreement. New
conditions must alter in part our rela-
tons with the National league. This is
matter 1 have discussed informally with
some of your members
cit was suggested by Mr.. Hart that
committee from the American league
confer with committee from the Ma
tional league relative to the purchase of
the baseball plants at Washington and
Baltimore Other matters can be con-
sidered and adjusted at that meeting.
The club members of the American
league are unalterably opposed to a con-
tinuation of the drafting system We
cannot renew our obligations under the
present agreement Should complications
arise, they will be of National league
making. If fairness and common sense
prevail, there can never be any friction
between the National and American
league"
mo ~ A Z u ,
Hugh Duffy, captain of the Boston Ma
tional league club last season, arrived
here Saturday night. He will leave the
National league to assume the manage
nnent of the Milwaukee American league
team, replacing Connie Mack. who is
slated for the managership at Philadel-
phia this season. The Cleveland, Mil
waukee, Philadelphia Washington and
Baltimore representatives arrived tonight,
making a full complement, except for
Boston, represented by proxy, the names
of it's hackers being withheld for the
present In speaking of his switch to
the American league, Manager Duffy
said:
81 had my first interview with Matt
Killilea tonight and [ go to Milwaukee
to manage a winning team if possible.
Mr. Soden asserts that the Boston club
has an option on my services for this
season. l just finished a two years con-
tract at Boston. The option is the Gus
tonary National league reservation
clause, and l rece;vtd no bonus except
5000 for captaining the Boston team last
season. 1 consulted a lawyer and was
told to so ahead and better myself if
possible. That l think, I am doing.
Boston is ripe for a second team, and I
predict success for the club there"
The full list of magnates who will be
at tomorrows meeting are: Chicago,
Charles a. Comiskey; Milwaukee, Matt
Kiililea, Hugh Duffy; Detroit, Jim Burns;
Cleveland, c. w. Somers, S. E. Kiylfoil;
Philadelphia, Frank Hough, Connie
Mack; Washington, James H. Manning;
Baltimore, John j. McGraw, at the head
of a delegation OF six; Boston, represent
ed hN nrnYV