Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-15
NEW BASE BALL DEAL
An Organization u b Bun on Old
American Association Lines.
COMPACT CIRCUIT, EAST AND WEST
National League Will Give Players
and Moral Support.
ia Az
RTs IN GENERAL

RTS IN GEN RAL
l A new base ball baby has been born and
will shortly be christened the american
Association" the. New National Associa-
tom having passed away. This informa-
| ton was made public for the first time last
night by William II. Watkins, part owner
and manager of the Indianapolis club, who
has been in the east for a week or more and
arrived in Washington yesterday The
ideal of close followers of the game an or
| ganization built on the lines of the old
| American Association, is to be constructed
| and the sport given impetus which 1t
| has not felt for the past decade. 1t will be
happy day for Editor Richter, and
| Messrs Quinn and Koch of Milwaukee
when once the details are worked out and
| the playing season begins with this organi-
cation in the field.
/ S>his trio has been organizing for the past
three -~2rs. but each spring has seen their
plans go to >mash, having only the sneerine
remarks of their enemies to console them
for their failure. But like men of nerve
and pluck they kept together, and every
indication now points TO the successful cui-
| minaton of their three years work
Mr.. Watkins, who is intelligent and
fluent talker, in an interesting discussion
this morning with the sporting editor of The
Star detailed the recent work of completing
the new organization, and what he said will
prove interesting reading to close followers
of base ball.
Il have always maintained" said Mr.
Watkins, that successful base ball organ
iZation be maintained only through a
parent body, like the National League, and
a grading down of other base ball bodies as
to their relative wealth and playing ability
1T would be almost an impossibility to
organize base ball corporation equal to
the National League in wealth and strength
in players. There Is not a club represented
in that body which does not control at least
$500, 900, and several that will run up into
the millions. il has been working along
well-defined lines for the past twenty-five
years and the magnates who comprise the
organization understand base ball as well
as finances from A to H.
with a full knowledge of this strength
why should it be antagonized? There is
plenty of room in this country for two or
CARNATIONS of almost equal playing
strength. and the second is assured OF sue
cess through it's utilization with the parent
body.
Compact to he Signed.
when our Organization approached the
National League some months ago to secure
It's ideas in regard to our movement the
principal magnates told up emphatically
that they would not contribute financial aid
In any way, but that they would give us
the conclusion that il would be better for
the national game to have another major
organization in the field
once we had this assurance our plans
were soon cut and dried, and at a meeting
that will probably be held in New York
shortly [ look for the signing Of a compact
between the National League and Ameri-
can Association that will cement the organ
| tZatlonS for many years to come.
IN admit that my utilization with the
American AssOciat ton was almost COM
pulsory. but 1t was brought about through
the belief of several Of my associate mana
gers of last year that an OrganZa ton an
tagonstic to the Older body would be the
proper thing.
81 was approached last fail with paper
| TO which my signature was desired, which
would have bound me to a straight out-and-
out fight with the National League NY
experience in base ban had taught me the
futility of a war and | most emphatiCal
refused my signature.
Joining Forces With Richter.
From that time on interviews appeared
| at divers times explaining the expansion
ideas Of my former associates, and IN all of
them the city of indianapolis was placed
outside the breastworks Of their organtzs-
| ton. Seeing how the wind blew. / imme-
| d1ateiy began to look around. and mat
| ter of course opened up communication
| with Editor Richter and the gentlemen in
| Milwaukee. After considerable writing I
| decided 10 come east ana investigate afl1lrS
! with the result that / concluded that the
| ger tltmen back of the New National AS
| ISOLATION were sincere ana were working
! along well-defned lines.
| After that trip meeting was called for
| Chicago, which was held in that city right
| after the new year dawned. At that meet
! ing five weIl-Orsanized corporations were
| represented and signatures of all were plac-
| ed to ten-year compact. Since that time
we have completed the organization, held
! conferences with the National League mag
mates, which resulted IN our determination
| to go back to the old and inspiring title
! OF the American Association.
The Circuit.
sour circuit of cities as now completed
stands-Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington in the east and Chicago
Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Louisville in
the west. This circuit is unusually COM
pact, both in the east and west, and my
experience tells me 1t will be money
maker. AS to the personal organization
in these cities we have decided to allow the
representatives therein to speak for them
| selves when the time comes.
Everything has been completed and the
ratification Of all the plans will be made
at the meeting of the National League cir
| cult committee and our representatives in
| New York next Saturday.
LAS to players the National League will
| turn over to us fully ninety men who viii
not be wanted by that body on account of
| the agreement by that body for each club
| to not carry more than fourteen players,
and these released men will be in the
| younger class and the kind we want. They
| have been the pick of the experts for the
| past two years from the best in the minor
| leagues, and as a majority come from the
| organization | was connected with last
season, / know whereof / speak.
The local club in the new association will,
/ 1t is understood, he in the hands of local
| mer. A stock company. in which probably
| half dozen Washington gentlemen have
/ agreed to take shares, has been prelimnar-
! fly formed. 1t Is expected that Mr. Charles
| White Will be fhe ureSdent of The local