Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-27
HAsE BALL NOTES.

During the convention of the Ma tional league base ball magnateS1yes terday at the Fifth Avenue hotel it l developed that the recently organized | American association had virtually | gone up the spout. The association. l which was pronounced a bubble from the start, lacked funds In certain cit ies, and as the National league mag mates refused to put up the money they had promised to contribute, there was nothing left to do but go up in smoke. While the official announcement of the association's demise was not made yesterday. it was said last night that there would be definite statement to- day.
 It was common talk that the Balti- more and Washington ends of the as- sociation were so flimsy that they only really existed on paper. It was also rumored that as the association men were unable to get out of Philadelphia without the National leagues consent. it was useless to continue. Power, Irwin, Watkins and Clarke, all asso- ciation men, had pow-wow at the Hotel Marlborough during the evening and their long faces indicated break CTS ahead. As has been maintained all along. the association was organized at the instance of the National league to scare the American league and par. ticularly c. w. Somers. But the American league did not scare
 The breaking up of the association means that the American and National leagues will conflict in Boston. Phila- delphia and Chicago. which simplifies matters considerably.
 From II o'clock yesterday morning until o:1o in the afternoon Brush Hart | and Soden of the league conferred | with President Thinner of the Ball | Players Protective association. The magnates assured Thinner that his re- quests would be granted on condition that they should receive something in return. In that they wanted him to guarantee that any National league player who might jump to the Ameri- can league would be- severely disci- Dlined by the Protective association. | This placed Iimmer in an awkward Drodicament. and he protested at length. Finally he drew up this agree 1nent and sent it into the league meet ing:
 "As president of the Protective asso- | citation of professional base ball play CTS. and as it's authorized representa- | tive, 1 hereby agree that in return To- ! the concessions granted by the Nn- tional league of professional base ball clubs this day. February 2G. 1901. all | National league or Eastern league players who may sign with the Ameri- can league will be suspended pend.z =. { final action by the Protective associa- 1 tion as a body.
 "CHARTTHS ZINNFR.''
 In other words Zimmer put it up to | the Protective association and relieved 1 himself of the responsibility. Some American league sympathzers criti- cised him because. as they said, he had played into the hands of the Ma tional league. But Zimmer was after concessions in the shape of the aboli- tion of the farming and sales systems and a modification of the option clause and as thiS was the only way he could secure them he was forced to do some thing or go home empty handed. It | is believed that the agreement will not deter players from going to the Amer | ican league, if they so desire. for all | of them are after the money. The l magnates were in session at midnight. wrangling over the situation. No ac tion. it was said. had been taken ol. | the Zimmer agreement.