Evening star., 1901-12-06
National League Magnates Will
Gather in New York Monday.
IMPORTANT MOVES TO Be MADE
President johnson Discusses Re-
cent American League Action.
S P O rs IN GEN ER A L

| Base ball enthusiastics are awaiting with
| interest the National League meeting in
| New York next Monday. The~feague will
probably remain in session all week, map
ping out line of battle to meet the con-
stant fire of attack directed against it by
the American League
The line of action mapped out by the Ma
tional League includes the adoption of the
plan suggested by Mr.. Billings of the Bos-
ton club, of offering big inducements to
star players to jump their American
League contracts. 1t is doubtful, however,
If this plan wifi be very successful. as it is
believed few players now in the Johnson
camp can be induced to desert their allies,
no matter how much money is offered.
Unless the National can break into the
American camp, and by large offers of
money create a stampede among the lat
ters players, the former will be in poor
condition, so far as the strength of its
teams is concerned, to open the season next
spring.
In addition to the twenty-eight stars cap
tured from the National League by Presi-
dent Johnson and his followers the old or
ganization will lose Charley C'Kid'O Mich
OILS, the Boston pitcher, who Is to become
magnate, as partner OF James H. Manning
in the Kansas City club of the western AS
sociation. The retirement of Nichols will
leave the Bostons weak in the pitching de-
partment, as Dinneen is one of the twenty
eight players swept into the fold of the
American League.
American League Sinking Fund.
When it comes down to flashing money"
in the present base ball controversy be-
tween the two big leagues there is one thing
about the Johnson organization that has
never been commented upon, and which will
be of the utmost Importance in the struggle
fnr That ia tha American
League sinking fund. Right after the ad-
journment of the American League meeting
in Chicago President Johnson said:
DO you know that we have about $4,000
stored away for an emergency, and that
amount is increasing all the time. We will
have in the neighborhood of 100000 when
the next season is over. This fund is never
touched for any purpose. When we need
money for some venture we get it from
another source, but the sinking fund re-
mains intact. Why, with this reserve in
creasing year after year. we will soon be
prepared for any emergency.
AT the meeting just closed there were
no problems left unsoIved. No action was
taken on the blacklsted players; in fact,
that question was not discussed. There
was suggestion that the tariff be in
creased Two clubs favored the idea, but
the others opposed it, and no change will
be made
cago were the clubs that looked with favor
upon higher tariff. The case of the mod
ern jumping jack" Charles w. Harper,
was brought to President Johnson's atten-
ton. and taking number of contracts
from his desk, the American League leader
picked out one and opened it, with the re-
mark:
There is the signature of Harper. Frank
Robson says he signed Harper, August 10,
and Manager Donovan says the Goth. There
is slight discrepancy between these state
ments, but if Harper signed National
League contract in August that antedates
our contract with him."
Local Officials Expected.