Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-30
ALLY OF PLAYERS
American League Inderses Demands
Made by P. P. A.
RESERVE CLAUSE STRICKEN OUT
Most Radical Move Taken Since
Brotherhood Year.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

Several important moves were made at
the American League meeting In Chicago
before adjournment yesterday, but 1t Is
doubtful If any of them were as far reach
ing as the adoption of the following resolu-
tons:
whereas. the American League, recog-
nizing the evils of the farming and selling
of ball players as being unjust and unfair
to the ball players and against the best In
terests of the game of base ball, and recog-
nizing the justice of the requests of the
Players Protective Association.
Resolved, That the American League
eliminates these unfair practices as far as
| 1t is in it's power to do, and
"Whereas the American League has be-
| fore declared its disapproval of farming
| and selling ball players; therefore. be it
Resolved, That the American League
| hereby gives its unqualified approval to the
| elimination of selling and farming of ball
| players as prejudicial to the best interests
! of the game Of base ball.
copy Of these resolutions will be pre-
| scented to the meeting of the Players Pro-
| tective Association in Cleveland next Satur-
day by Manager Duffy of Milwaukee, who
| is one of the associations leading members
AS result of this action the American
| League Is bound to be on the side popular
with the players should a base ball war, re-
| sulting in the grabbing Of players, be de-
| clared.
Radical Change.
| The form of contract adopted provides
| that man is to sign for one year only
| and is to be totally without reserve
clause This is the most radical base ball
legislation since the memorable Brother
! hood days. There is a mutual agreement
| among the owners of clubs in the American
! League that neither is to take the players
| of the other. but for the first year. at least.
| there will be nothing in the contract to
| prevent the player signing where he wills
| after the first year Of service.
| 1t means that there will probably be a
great base ball war, and that players will
| flock to the American League as though 1t
| was another Brotherhood, but there the
| similarity between the movements ends, as
| the organization of the American League
| is more substantial in every respect than
| was the Brotherhood.
| Having acquired Washington, Baltimore,
| Philadelphia and Boston, the American
League now proposes to secure the support
| of the Players Protective Association, and
| either beat the National League into SUBJ
| mission or force that sort of agreement
| which will make the American in every
| sense ma Or organization. 1t has been
commended that base ball cannot be conduct
| ed without the reserve clause, but unless
| the National League should decide to COM
| PROMISE the experiment will be tried next
season. at least.
Ban JOhnsOn's Guiding Hand.
/
| guiding hand of President Ban johnson
| can be seem He has always spoke against
the farming and selling of players, and
| finally persuaded his followers into a poll
| icy of doing all in their power to elm
| mate these evils. 1t is expected that there
| Will be time limit set to the reserve
| clause in each contract. and that for a
start sliding scale should be adopted
| Thus, at the beginning, the men of any
| given club will be divided into blocks of
| four, and each quartet given a limit Of
| reservation of from three to five years.
| BY this arrangement there would not oc-
| cur the awkward dilemmas of the reserve
| time of all the players of any team ex-
piring at the same time thus probably dis
| that will probably be followed in the event
| of an alliance with the National League.
President Johnson and his companion mag
| mates realize that reserve clause is nee
| essary, and they are now trying to hit
upon a plan that will be fair to the play
ers and yet promote the stability of the
| clubs and the game But in the present
| emergency the players are to have no re-
| serve whatever.
President Johnson remarked to a crowd
of admirers, just before adjournment of
the meeting yesterday: 1.-The other leagues
| will not respect our reserve, SO why should
| we have One?"
McGraw Signs Former Orioles.
| Manager Johnny McGraw of Baltimore
| gave out the information that he had
| signed Pitcher Schmidt, the eccentric left
| handed twirler and also Jerry Nops. Both
men have been with Baltimore before.
Charles Somers, the Cleveland magnate,
was elected vice president Of the American
| League in recognition of the valuable SER
| vices given the organization
After the adoption of the resolutions ia
voring the Players Protective Association
| Hugh Duffy lost time in placing his
name to a contract agreeing to act as man
ager of the Milwaukee club next season.
| When the schedule meeting assemblies in
Philadelphia in March President Johnson
| will give out the seasons schedule of
| games. At that meeting the playing rules
| committee, consisting of John j. McGraw,
| Charles Comiskey and Connie Mack, will
| report such changes as they may believe to
be for the benefit of the national game.
No radical changes are expected. There
| was some talk here about abolishing the
bunt hit but Manager McGraw, who usual
| ly trains his men in the science of bunting,
| has expressed much opposition to this move
and nothing may be done with the sugges-
| ton.
AS to the schedule itself, President john
| son said today:
1.-The American League will go ahead re-
CARELESS of any other organization, though
| as far as that is concerned we do not ex-
| pect any serious conflict In the schedules.
! A special from Cleveland says that Prest-
| dent thinner Is encouraging rather than
| trying to discourage the antagonistic spirit
| ward the National League. He said last
| night that unless the big league grants the
demands that are made of them all of the
| members of the Players Protective Assoc
| citation will go over in body to the Amer
| lean League.
| MARCUS DALY'S HORSES.