The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-21
Ncrld Of 3ports.

be final The idea would be 70 draw out
the playing schedule of the American
league. and then conflict with IL by the
adoption Oh an entirely new arrangement
OF dates.
IL must be remembered that the Ameri-
can league has two antagonists. the .Sa-
tionai league and the American associa-
tion. so that President Johnson will have
a hard lime to keep his games from hav-
Ing counter attractions In Boston, Pull
adelphia, Baltimore. Washington, Mil
waukee and Detroit: I'm fact, the entire
American league circuit, barring Chicago
ana Cleveland.
This meeting of the National league
will settle the question OF peace or war.
IL the veteran magnates want peace ~
can be easily obtained The American
league merely asks To be placed on equal
terms with the National league under the
national agreement and will respect all
contracts
As long as the National league sanc-
toned the admission OF association clubs
10 Boston and Philadelphia, there ap-
pears 10 be no good reason why the cx-
istence of American league clubs I'm those
cities should be objected 10.
The key 10 the situation just at present
is held by the Protective Association OF
Baseball Players. II the National league
again ignores the demands of the play
ers, look out for wholesale dcsertion
TO the American league. II. however. the
National league makes concessions TO the
players, the American leagues position
will be somewhat weakened and the pros
pecis for peace may be brighter.
The players Organization has shown n
tendency 10 be more temperate in it's de-
mands than was the case last December.
and for that reason the opinion prevails
that settlement between the magnates
and the players Is almost sure 10 be
reached. The National league men were
notified recently by President thinner Of
the Protective association that there
would be no further demand 10 have the
reserve rule limited 20 three or five years.
That was the entering wedge for con-
ference which the magnates promptly
granted. The players association, how
ever. will insist upon the abolition Of the
farming system and the sales sys-
TEN" without "A players consent.
From what was said yesterday among
baseball men, IL is surmised that the
magnates will abolish the farming sys-
tenn AZ they have practically killed IL
already with the new i5-men rule. IL the
players insist on having the sales sys-
tenn modified go that n man cannot be
sold without his consent. IL may prove a
hard problem for some of the club own
ers. but when the question has been sifted
down. Il is believed that the magnates
will not seriously object 10 IL.
ny making these two concessions. the
masnates can win the support of the Pro-
tective association. just as the American
league did last fall when the players de-
mands were aoceded TO by President John
son without delay.
That the National league men will
create quite stir over whatever play
ers have decided TO join the American
league. there can be no doubt. The mag
mates are banking on the validity OF the
present form of contract. and they say
that they will take the option clause
into court at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
The magnates. have many things of
minor Importance 10 decide besides its
policy toward the American league and
the players. For this reason II Is be-
lieved that they will be compelled TO hold
another meeting In New York later in
March.