Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-15
NEW BASE BALL DEAL
An Organization to Be Run on Old
American Association Lines.
COMPACT CIRCUIT, EAST AND WEST
National League Will Give Players
and Moral Support.
Dbl
SPO RTS IN Gen ERAL
S Pc r T s N q E n E r A L

D. Of
PORTS IN GEN ERAL
A new base ball baby has been born and
| will shortly be christened the american
| Association" the New National Associa-
| tom having passed away This informa-
ton was made public for the first time last
night by William H. Watkins, part owner
and manager of the Indianapolis club who
has been in the east for a week or more and
arrived in Washington yesterday. The
ideal of close followers of the game, an or
ganization built on the lines of the old
American Association. Is to be constructed
and the sport given an impetus which 1t
has not felt for the past decade. 1t will be
| a happy day for Editor Richter, and
| Messrs. Quinn and Koch of Milwaukee
| when once the details are worked out and
the playing season begins with this organi-
cation in the field.
/ Shis trio has been organizing for the past
three c>2rs. but each spring has seen their
plans go to >mash. having ONLY the sneerinp
| remarks of their enemies to console them
| for their failure. But, like men of nerve
| and pluck, they kept together. and every
indication now points to the successful cul-
| mnation of their three years work
| Mr.. Watkins, who is intelligent and
| fluent taiker in an interesting discussion
| this morning with the sporting editor of The
| Star, detailed the recent work of completing
| the new organization. and what he said will
! prove interesting reading to close followers
| of base ball.
81 have always maintained" said Mr..
| Watkins that successful base ball organ
| ization can be maintained only through a
| parent body, like the National League and
| grading down OF other base ball bodies as
to their relative wealth and playing ability
| 1T would be almost an impossibilty to
| organize base ball corporation equal to
| the National League in wealth and strength
| in that body which does not control at least
| $500 000 and several that will run I'D into
| the millions. 1t has been working along
| well-def1ned lines for the past twenty-five
years and the magnates who comprise the
| organization understand base ball, as we'll
| as finances, from A to u.
With a full knowledge Of this strength,
| why should it be antagonized? There Is
! plenty of room in this country for two or
| CARNATIONS of almost equal playing
| strength. and the second Is assured of sue
| cess through its affiliation with the parent
| body.
Compact to BE Signed.
| when our organization approached the
| National League some months ago to secure
Its ideas In regard to our movement, the
| principal magnates told up emphatically
| that they would not contribute financial aid
| In any way, but that they would give us
their moral support. as they had come to
| the conclusion that 1t would be better for
! the national game to have another major
| organization in the field.
| Once we had this assurance our plans
| were soon cut and dried. and at a meeting
| that will probably be held in New York
| shortly look for the signing Of a compact
| between the National League and Ameri-
can Association that will cement the organ
1zations for many, years to come.
| IN admit that my utilization with the
| A
| pulsory, but it was brought about through
| the belief of several Of my associate mana
| gers of last year that an organization an
| tagonistic' to the older body would be the
| proper thing. 7S's
| Il was approached last fall with a paper
| to which my signature was desired. which
| out fight with the National League. My
experience in base BAH had taught me the
| futilty of q war; and I most emphatically
refused my signature.
Joining Forces With Richter.
"From that time on interviews appeared
| at divers times explaining the expansion
| ideas of my former associates, and in all of
| them the city Of Indianapolis was placed
| outside the breastworks of their organza-
! ton. Seeing how the wind blew, 1 imme-
| diately began to look around, and as a mat
| ter of course opened up communication
! with Editor Richter and the gentlemen in
| Milwaukee After considerable writing I
decided to come east and investigate affairs
! with the result that L concluded that the
| gentlemen back of the New National As
ISOLATION were sincere and were working
along well-defned lines.
| AFTER that trip a meeting was called for
| Chicago, which was held in that city right
| after the new year dawned At that meet
| Ing five well-orsanized corporations were
| represented and signatures Of all were plac-
| ed to ten-year compact. Since that time
| we have completed the organization, held
conferences with the National League mag
t1h tod tn Inta
to go back to the old and inspiring title
| OF the American Association.
The Circuit.
"Our circuit Of cities as now completed
| stands-Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington in the east and Chicago
| Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Louisville in
the west. This circuit is unusually COM
pact, both In the east and west, and my
experience tells me 1t will be a money
maker. AS to the personal organization
in these cities we have decided to allow the
| representatives therein to speak for them
selves when the time comes.
| Everything has been completed and the
| ratification of all the plans will be made
| at the meeting of the National League cir
| cult committee and representatives in
New York next Saturday.
| CAS- to players, the National League will
| turn over to US fully ninety men who will
| not be wanted by that body on account of
| the agreement by that body for each club
| to not carry more than fourteen players,
and these released men will be in the
| younger class and the kind we want They
| have been the pick of the experts for the
| past two years from the best in the minor
| leagues. and a majority come from the
| organization l connected with last
| season, / know whereof 1 speak.
| The local club in the new association will,
| it is understood, be in the hands Of local
| men. A stock company. in which probably
| half a dozen Washington gentlemen have
| agreed to take shares, has been preliminar-
lily formed. 1t 10 expected that Mr.. Charles
| White wi he no Of