New-York tribune., 1901-01-18
BASEBALL BADLY TANGLED,
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED
NEW CLUB OWNERS TO MEET
LEAGUE MEN TO-DAY.

Those who follow closely the fortunes of pro-
fesstOnal baseball realize that the conditions
rounding the sport to-day are in about the worst
tangIe they have ever been except in the Brother
hood night of eleven years Many promi-
nent in the affairs of the game were in the city
yesterday. a meeting of those interested in the
formation of the proposed American Association
was held at the Marlborough last night After
the meeting the delegates announced that they
had organized and prepared to go ahead.
They will meet with the Arbitration and Circuit
committees of the National League at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel to-day.
The organization comes to life at this time
to aid the National League, the supreme power in
baseball to kill off possible enemy. The Ameri-
can League, of which Ban Johnson is president.
has been thorn in the side of the major league
Tor the last year. This year 1t promises to be un-
usually troublesome. The Players Protective As
sociation is also menace to the league. The
league promoters seem to think that with their
own organization helped along by the Eastern
League and the new American Association opposi-
uon to the league cannot hope to be successful.
At 10 O'Clock last night the following statement
was given out in regard to the organization of the
new association:
called the American Association. temporary
been appointed temporary chairman. A commit
tee composed of Irwin Of Boston; Kayanagh. of
PhadePhia has been apPSlnted to walt upon the
ration this morning for partition of territorial
rights. Applications for franchises were received
were rePresented Milwaukee, H D. Quinn; indian
apolis. " r. Watkins; Chicago, G. F. Hayen9F;
Koch Boston; 4 4. irwin and g. g.. Braman;
and Baltimore, by proxy.
When the meeting was called at o'clock there
present A A Irwin and H. D. Braman, OF
Boston; A. II. Koch and Frank Richter. of Phila-
delphia; c. A Havenor, of Chicago: H. d. Quin.
W. H Watkins, of Indianapolis; Harry Pulliam.
O + Moves d. BrVan.
Washington.
The Baltimore franchise seemed to be the only
in dispute. 1t said that J. ]. Klosterman,
the old National League man, would probably get
it. Baltimore will surely be the circuit The
National League controls Union Park in that city.
IN which the organization wants to play.
and it may have something to say about who shall
have the franchise on that account That the Nc
GrawRobinsOn combination will have part in
the Baltimore end of the project officially
announced before the session.
The members of the National Board of Arbitra-
ton of the League. with whom a conference is to
be held to-day, Soden, of Boston; Rogers. OF
Phlladeiphta Hart, of Chicago, and Brush, of
Cincinnati The same men form the Leagues Cir
cult committee. AS Boston Phlladelphia ana chi
caso are the only cities OF the League which the
American Association desires to enter. any action
chises in those cities may fit 10 take will n
doubtedly be acceptable to the League Hart has
a rival club In his already. and 1t is said
Rogers and Soden are not avcrse to having friend
The new association claims to have unlimited
backing. Pullam is credited with the backing of
several rich Louisville distillers. Koch. who wants
the Philadelphia franchise, is rich retired mer
chant of Milwaukee; Washington has a syndicate
of large men, while Irwin of Boston, is backed by
the Charles River Park
Several Informal conferences were held and the
financial condition was canvassed. w. II. Wat
kins who acted as chairman at these meetings.
said
THE American Association is a go. We In
position to assure the public that we will be In
harness at the opening of the season. VIII we be
friendly with the big League? Certainly. We are
going TO sign the National agreement and be in
f1arT VIII he al 81 10
recognize the American League I'm any sense OF
the word We not looking for fight