Evening star., 1901-02-27
ON TOP
National League Makes Concessions
to Protective Association.
AGREEMENT BY PRESIDENT ZIMMER
American Association in a Very
Precarious Condition.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

The National League magnates continued
in session until a late hour last night and
finally reached an agreement with Presi-
dent thinner of the Players Protective AS
sociation.
Up to yesterday the attitude of the Ma
tional has been to ignore the existence of
the American League, but the matter under
discussion late last night makes it apparent
that this little mental fip-fiop need no long
er be indulged in. The existence Of the
American League was brought to the no
tice Of the National League Officially
last evening when President thinner of the
Protective Association of Base Ball Players
sent the following signed statement to the
league:
"As president Of the Protective Associa-
tion of Base Ball Players and as its author
ized representative, 1 hereby agree in re-
turn for the concessions by the National
League, this day, February %, 1901, that
all National and Eastern League players
who may sign American League contracts
will be suspended pending action by the
Protective Association of Base Ball Players
as a body"
This agreement was drawn up by "Chief'
thinner last night after he had practically
an all-day session with Messrs. Brush ana
Soden of the committee appointed by the
league to discuss with the players repre-
sentative the concessions asked for by the
latter.
This conference lasted for six hours with
out a break. The concessions asked for are
that no magnate shall be allowed to SELL
assign, exchange, lend or in any way or
manner dispose of player except by abso-
lutte and unconditional release, unless the
terms of the proposed disposition of a play
er be submitted to him in writing and he
shall give his consent. 1t Is also stipulated
that player shall not be suspended from
his club nor fined by the club owner for
refusing to agree to the proposed sale or
transfer of his services.
Board of Arbitration.
Another point and one that caused the
most argument was that board of arb1tra-
ton should decide all disputes between the
club owners and players.
1t was desired by the players that this
board should consist of one player, one club
owner and a third person to be mutually
agreed upon. 1t is not thought that the
latter will be consented to, although Zim-
mer pointed out the cases of number OF
plr yers whom 1t was claimed had been un-
Justly treated by the different clubs.
After the conference thinner appeared
confident that the players requests would
be granted, much so, in fact, that he
soon afterward drew up the above agree
ment and sent it in to the magnates when
the league met last night.
President thinner would scarcely nave
wcrded his agreement in such a way as he
did without being given good reasons Tor
doing so. and the outcome Is considered
big victory for the players.
Unless present indications go for naught,
and there is very little or no prospect of
such a change. the American Association
will find it hard shedding in the future.
MIR. Powers is Anxious.
Said c. r. Powers, the president of the
new organization, in New York last night
Certain conditions have arisen In the
last few days that make the existence of
the American Association precarious, to say
the least. Certain promises made us have
not been lived up to, and we want to know
exactly where stand To get at the
exact facts and protect ourselves l wrote
the National League today that l should
like a hearing from that body, when mu-
situation clear. l expect to go before the
league tomorrow afternoon.
Il accepted the presidency of the new as
sociation expecting a fight, and L am not
going to throw up my hands at the frst
sign of trouble, but l am not satlsned with
the situation. Certain members of the Ma
tional League have stood by us, stanch and
tr,ue. One of these is Andrew Freedman of
the New York club. If all had done by US
as he has everything with us would be go
ing along smoothly.
lust what the differences are between the
association and the magnateS was not d.
vuIged last night, but it was rumored that
Col. John I. Rodgers of Philadelphia had
proven another hurdle
The possible disruption of the associa-
ton has been the means of putting the
American League on a somewhat nfmer
basis and doubtless will be taken advan-
tage of by Ban Johnson to further boom
his organization and make it stronger
opponent than ever to the National League