The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-30
PLAYERS MUCH PLEASED
Cratifed by the Action of the Amer
lean League.
Belief That Il Good Collection of star
Men Has Been secured-No Reserve
Clause in the Contracts, Which
Are Drawn ON the Plan Advocated
by the Protective Association.

CHICAGO, Jan. 3O.-All the union base
ball players who were here today-lhat IS
to say. all who belong to he Ball Play
ers' Protective Association-are more
than pleased with the action Of the
American League, which before perfeoting
its organization held out the right hand
Of fellowship to the hired men of the
diamond The rumors that it would do
SO. which were doubtless backed in the
las few weeks by confidential promises
let out to players in whom confidence
could be placed. was more powerful
weapon in the hands of the American
League than the members of the Ma
tonaI ever dreamed Of and It was given
additional force by the icy shoulder that
the National turned toward the Players
committee on the occasion of the reent
National League meeting in New York
It is, therefore. believed that good col
lection OF star players has already been
secured.
When the American League made
good by agreeing officially not TO put
reserve clause in contracts and by vote
showed that it believed IL could live eren
though ii abolished farming. drafting. and
the selling of men without their consent
the feeling between the league and union
between manager and player between
master and man. was maze cordial. and
its effect upon doubters in the Players.
ranks was beneficial TO the League which
IS now about ready to round up and mark
! the rest of its players for 1901
The American League viii submit con-
tracts to the players on the plan adyocat-
ed by the Players Protective Association.
T-TnEr -,Tzr,
contracts Of three. four. and FIVE years
no player TO be bound for a period Iorger
than five years. At the end of that time
he VIII be free to accept offers from any
other club
The plan does away with the farming
system, a clause in the contracts provid-
/ ing that no player shall be traded, farm
ed, or sold to any other club except With
his consent"
When the schedule meeting assemblies
! in Philadelphia in March President john
son VIII give out the seasons schedule Of
games. At that meeting the playing rules
committee. consisting OF John J. MeGraw
Charles Comiskey. and Connie Mack. viii
report such changes as they may believe
to be for the benefit of tie national game.
| No radical changes are expected. There
/ was some talk here about aboIishing the
/ bunt hit but Manager NcGraw who usu-
| ally trains his men in the science of bunt-
| ing has expressed much opposition to this
move. and nothing may be done with the
/ suggestion
As to the schedule itself, President
Johnson said
! The American League Will go ahead re-
/ gaTdless Of any other organization, though
/ as far as that is concerned we do not ox-
| pect any serious conflict in the sched-
| ules-"
! Connie Mack. who was given the PhiIa-
| phia franchise. left yesterday afternoon
for the East as did also most OF the other
! Eastern men It was stated that some
/ Pittsburg capital is interested in the rev
! Philadelphia team, but no eonfrma ton
/ OF the report could be obtained Hugh
| Duffy The former Boston captain has
4 signed a formal contract TO manage the
/ season.