The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08

baseball men still believe that had John 8
Rogers. OF Philadelphia. been banishe5
TO an island during the summer OF 1879
the American Association. as planned bz
w. III. Watkins, 10 include the big Eastern
cities and act as an ally to the N~ationaH
League. would have prevented the Amer%
lean League from invading the Eastern
cities and would have driven il TO the walls
Rogers, however, prevented watkins ana
his colleagues from entering philadelphia
with the result that the American Leagus
secured a foundation in that city built upos
rock and not upon sand. Getting into Phi.
adelphia enabled the Johnson crowd to go
into other Eastern cities, with the result
that is well known.
1t would be a hard matter for the Nae
tional League to get rid of Rogers, or
Philadelphia. although there would be no
tears shed If he would be ousted. But the
chances are that he will not sell out. ans
II some one else would be given the Ma
tional League franchise in Philadelphia
when the League meets to reorganize h.
would join the American League rank,
and there would be no suitable place fo:
the National League to place a team IL
the Quaker City. There is a wonderful
absence of news from the East in National
League circles, and baseball men are won
dering just what will be sprung at the
meeting in New York next Tuesday. Their:
will probably be no compromise betweeE
the NdtlOnal ana american ltdSuSS lnl-
year, as it looks as if Johnson's crowd
does not care to compromise. The Ameri:
can League is on an equal footing noWs
and should a compromise be effected at
the close of next season IL is more than
possible that Johnson and his colleagues
will be able to name their own terms:
They are In some of the best cities nowi
and il is safe to say that they will not
give them up to the National League un:
less there is an equal division of the hes:
territory.
1t is said that President Hart. of the
Chicago National League club. will go bef
fore the meeting next Tuesday prepared to
fight for peace between the two organiza:
tions. Just how much weight his pleas
will have will be seen later, but it is not
believed that there will be any compro-
mise made this year. The National League
is whipped now, but ii will likely wait until
the American League has made a better
job of it and will then have to accept the
Americans terms Of compromise.
The American League has already prom'
ised not to tamper with men who have
signed American Association contracts.
This agreement has already been jostleG
by the new ST. Louis American League
team by signing Pitcher Durham with
Dayton last year. Bryce, of the Columbus
American Association team, claims he has
Dunham's signed contract to play in CO.
lumbus. If he can show the contract II
is believed that st. Louis will have to re-
linquish claim to him or demonstrate that
Johnson's rule was not made in true faith.
The American Association is threatened
with opposition in Kansas City, as James
Manning, who lost his money in Washing
ton in the American League last year and
was practically dumped by that ~organiza-
ton, as Johnson cares nothing for men
who have no money. says he will place a
Western League team in Kansas City.
The American Associ9t ton will not give
up Kansas City, and neither will IL re-
linQuish claim on Omaha. Both are good
cities for the new organization, and II
would be foolish to get out of them.
Rourke, of Omaha, who has a whole lot to
learn in baseball, claims hat he will give
up his American Association franchise and
go to the Western League. If President
Hickey still retains Rourke's $500 guarantee
to stay in the American Association it is
likely that Rourke will change his mind
and remain in the new organization.