The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-13
BRUSH UNLOOSENS
ASSERTS THAT SPALDING ORIGIN.
ATED THE IDEA OF A BASE
BALL TRUST
REFUSED TO GIVE AN OPTION
Chicago Magnate Accused of En-
deavOring to Line Up All Desfr-
able Organizations on Lines
of Bicycle Trust.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 12.-John
T, Brush today issued an elaborate and
corroborative statement, in which he dis
cuses A. G. Spalding's proposed baseball
trust which he says was blocked by
himself and Frank de Haas Robson.
After accusing Spalding Of being the
original promoter of what is known as
the baseball trust" Mr.. Bush leads up
to meeting with Mr.. Spalding in Chi
cago, where he was made acquainted
with Spalding's scheme to organize on
the lines of the American bicycle trust.
Mr.. Brush says:
The result of that conference can be
made, apparent by the gist of letter
written to Mr.. Robson on July 10, at
the solicitation of Messrs. Spalding and
Hart with the view of securing Mr.. Rob
ison's consent to join Mr.. Spaldlng In
his efforts to formulate a baseball trust,
also the form of the option that we were
asked to sign which was the same form
used by Mr.. Spalding when he formed
the bicycle trust. Spalding expressed
himself as much pleased with that idea
of control ought to go toward controlling
the entire baseball situation
A One-Sided Proposition.
Brush says that after considerable by
talk, Spalding's plan was taken up and
he offered no details of the plan, but
illustrated by using the bicycle trust,
and that Illustration simply took all pow
er out of the hands of the individual or
club that had once placed the option in
his hands to have any voice or control
whatever in the matter of shaping up
conflicting interests; and it did not per-
NIT the league to get together, but in
stead 1t kept every one apart and no one
knew or could know except the man in
the saddle what was going on or being
done.
II said to Mr.. Spalding that I regretted
that the formation of a baseball trust
was a different proposition to that of
forming a bicycle trust; that 1 might
as manufactures of bicycles, owning
my own plant, which was in operation,
give an option and if at the expiration of
the time the parties did not choose to
exercise 1t it would be abandoned, and
| would not be injured in the least in
fact there would be no cessation in the
operation of the plant.
Baseball Option Dangerous.
eff. however, I were to be handed back
my option on baseball club on Dec. ],
and found that everyone else had been
placed in the same league and that I
had not been, and there was no avail
able territory left for me with which
10 ally myself in the formation of
league my baseball property would be
ruined and no responsibility would at
tach to the individual who held the OPP
ton; therefore, before he could get an
option from me it would be necessary
for me to have some guarantee that il
was not to be a part of the National
league. | would get my price for the
Cincinnati club.
Il had to leave on the 1 o'clock train
and the meeting was shortened. He left
Tor California, | believe the next day
He was anxious to have you, Hart and
me get together and talk this over, and
II We were interested he would return
at almost any time and take the matter
in hand. He urged strict condolences at
the earliest possible moment [ told Jim
l would write you and say this Please
gay nothing back to me, and oblige.
Sincerely yours,
John T. Brush
Mr.. Brush then gives a copy Of the
option. which is similar ig form to the
American bicycle trust form of option.