The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-29
LEAGUE OF "BLUFFERS'
MARRIOTT JOHNSON AGAIN SAYS HE
MEANS BITTER WAR.
Indianapolis, Buffalo and Minneapolis
Dropped from His League in Favor
of Three Eastern Cities.

CHICAGO, Jan. 2S-The meeting of the
magnates of the American League opened
at noon to-day, and, with the exception of
short recess in the evening. it continued
until nearly midnight. Those present at
the meeting were: S. S. Frank, H. Gold
man, j. j. McGraw, C. w. Sans. S. Miles
Brinkly, from Baltimore; James Burns,
Detroit; James Franklin, Buffalo; G. Mack,
Philadelphia; James Manning, Washing
ton; ]. f. Kilfoyl and C.. w. Somers. of
Cleveland; Matt Kiliilea, Milwaukee,; B. B.
Johnson and Charles Comiskey, of Chi
cago.
new circuit was arranged in accord
Gnce with the report of the circuit commit
tee. Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston
were admitted and Indianapolis, Buffalo
and Minneapolis were dropped, Manning s
Kansas-Ctiy franchise having been trans
ferred to Washington at previous meet
ing.
The new franchises were granted as fol-
lows: Baltimore, to the new corporation,
Of which Sidney Franks is president; Phil
adelphia, Cornelius Mack; Boston, Charles
W. Somers.
The discussion over the constitution took
most of the time during the afternoon
and early evening. 1t was arranged so
TO cover the ten-year agreement and pro-
vides for placing the practical control of
each club in the hands of the league Each
club agreed to deposit with the president
OF the league, in trust, the leases of all
of it's grounds and 81 per cent. of its capi-
tai stock, and uniform figures on the plant
and franchise, which gives the league the
right to buy any franchise should club
~ CIV sell out
chasers be considered undesirable to the
other members of the league.
At the night session the constitution was
read and adopted section by section. A
committee consisting of G. A. Comiskey, 9.
Mack and j. j. McGraw was appointed to
revise the playing rules and report at the
schedule meeting OF the league. the date
board of directors will be made up of repre-
sentatives from Baltimore, Washington,
Chicago and Milwaukee These, with Pres
ident Johnson will constitute the governing
board of the league.
1t was voted that the championship
schedule shall include 40 games. the same
as last year. No date was fixed for the
open one week later and close one week
later than last year.
a resolution was passed limiting the
number of players of each club to fourteen.
The resolution is TO be operative two
weeks after the opening of the schedule
season.
President Franklin. OF BUFFALO,. arrived to-
day TO see what the league will do for
HIM, his city having been dropped from
the circuit. He went away apparently
satisfied with the agreement that the
American League would permit him to
keep his team intact as far they are con-
cerned. They promised to sign none OF
his players if he went into another league.
The meeting lasted until midnight, the
last two hours being taken up by routine
business.
Just before adjournment tonight, by an
informal vote which will probably be rati-
feu tomorrow. the magnates agreed TO an
alliance with the Players League. The
draft OF the new agreement of the Amer
lean League was discussed and this con-
tanned practically all demands made by
the members of the Players League. The
clauses regarding drafting and sale are
stricken out and one inserted which pro-
vides that a player shall not be sold or
traded TO another city without his consent
This is the principal clause demanded by
the players. Inc meeting adjourned until
~ O'Clock tomorrow morning.
Its war with the National League" said
President Ban Johnson this afternoon.
when the American League decided to
expand and wished new national agree