The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-17
FREEDMAN HITS BACK
OBTAINS An INJUNCTION AGAINST
LEAGUE PRESIDENT sPALDING.
Court Also Restraints Delivery Of Rec
Ords-spaIdIng Again Declares His
Opponent Out of Baseball.

NEW YORK. Dec 16.-Andrew Freedman
obtained an injunction late this afternoon
in the Supreme Court through counsel 10
restrain A. G.. Spaldlng from assuming
the presidency of the National Baseball
League and from interfering with the bust
ness of the National League in any way.
The order further restraints Nicholas Il.
Young from delivering TO Spalding any Of
the books, records. or papers of the league.
The defendants are ordered to show cause
before Judge Holt Dec 10 why the injunc-
ton should not be made permanent.
In this action Mr.. Freedman represented
the New York, Boston, Cincinnati and st.
Louis baseball clubs, these four being the
organizations. whose respective presidents
left the meeting of the National League
magnates at the Fifth avenue Hotel early
on Saturday morning. Mr. Freedman de-
clares tonight that there shall be no
further controversy between him and Mr..
Spalding, who stands as the representative
of the other four clubs in the National
League-Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago
and Pittsburg. He asserts that whatever
future action may be taken to settle the
fight in the league will be taken in the
courts.
Mr.. Spalding gave out in the evening
copies of kilograms he had received from
p. T. Powers Of the Eastern League, and
Ban Johnson of the American League, in
which these two men promised their CO.
operation TO Mr.. Spalding. Mr.. Spalding
is authority for the statement that the
final steps in the proposed process of put
ting Mr.. Freedman out of the National
League rests with the stockholders of the
New York club. Il am the president of
the National League" declared Mr.. Spald-
ing. Il snail be present TO preside at the
future meetings OF the league. In view
of his actions L defy Andrew Freedman to
come 10 the meetings of the league. L
therefore declare him out OF baseball. The
Freedman incident is closed"
1t was the opinion of many tonight that
the only means by which Mr.. Freedman
could be put out of the league was through
the disruption of that body. 1t was sug-
gested that an amalgamation of the Ameri-
can and National leagues might take place
and twelve-club circuit adopted. Mr..
SpaldlnS made what was taken TO be a
significant remark to-day in connection with
this when he said: 1T may not be so easy
TO get playing grounds in New York. but
neither will it be so easy to cut streets
through grounds after Jan. l."
When Mr.. Spalding and his followers be-
gan their meeting this afternoon, Mr..
Spalding read a letter in which he notified
Freedman of the hour of to-day'S meeting,
asked him to be present and offered to de
bate their differences. The closing para
STdDn was. on may consider tnlS a pup
lie challenge TO meet me in public debate
on this baseball question. Freedman or
Spalding must get out of the game for
good. It's UP TO you, Mr.. Freedman. Play
ball "
Then Spalding read a letter from legal
firm of this city in which the lawyers said
they had read the minutes of the meeting
at which Spalding was elected president
and gave it as their opinion that he had
been regularly and legally elected pres1-
dent.
Mr. Spalding then took up his firms at
titude In furnishing baseballs to the league.
The contract with the league was made ten
years ago. vote was taken and il was
decided that contract should be renewed
The firm furnishes 80 balls to each club
each season free of charge, all others be-
ing purchased at SIS per dozen.
During the day SDalding had received a
letter from Henry Chadwick, of Brooklyn,
in which Chadwick upheld his course
Chadwick has been getting a pension from
the league of $50 a month and after his
letter was read Spalding moved that il be
made S10O and this was done, the matter TO
be finally passed at a future meeting.
w. III. Conant, of Boston, said tonight
he did not see how Mr.. Freedman was to
be got out of baseball There is only
provision in the constitution" he said
under which he can be eXpelled-nOn-
payment of dues. L guess the thing won
go much further" Mr. COnant said emf
nent counsel had declared Spalding's cleo
ton illegal.
took the matter into court so that we could
have an opinion as to the validity of
Spaldng's election. The case is entirely a
friendly one. We simply want to know
where we stand that we may know how to
proceed"