New-York tribune., 1902-01-14
"SHELL GAME METHODS"
sPALDING SAYS FREEDMAN WAS OVER
PAID BY THE LEAGUE.
HE SENDS HIS FINAL LETTER TO THE
BRUsH-FREEDMAN KICKERs-PITTs-
BURG WILL STICK OUT FOR
CLEAN BASEBALL.

AS A G. Spalding. the president of the Ma
tional Baseball League, announced that he
would do, he yesterday made his final reply to
the accusations Of John T. Brush and Frank De
Haas Robson In the communication he makes
some caustic remarks about Freedmanisrn as it
has existed in local baseball for several years.
Mr.. Spalding also received a letter during the
day from ]. Palmer O'Neil, of Pittsburg, an
old time club owner. who congratulates Mr..
Spalding the stand he has taken in behalf OF
clean baseball and offers his assistance in case
1t is needed. Barney Dreyfuss. the president OF
the Pittsburg Club, also telegraphed yesterday
that he was in the fight to stick with the four
clubs which favor Mr.. Spalding. and that he
was confident that they would win.
In letter to the different club owners Mr..
spalding says that he will discontinue letter
writing after yesterday. The letter says, in
part:
me, and from now on. so far as possible I will
& hyf T0fng 3 to say but viii keep my hand TP9n
may seem to require TO carry out the declarations
platform on which 1 stand
More More or less time is necessary now for the
that the non-bolting members Of the National
League remain patient and await developments.
In his letter to Mr.. Brush Mr.. spalding says
in part:
r POstively REFUSE to have the PsTsptags Of this
trust scheme sworn on to me You told me in Mr.
% %a its snf II ms Iog amaze 'a
by stating that this trust scheme was never dis
me it was discussed. to the exclusion Of nearly
es for nearly d yo three DAYS at the M ne re-
Youngs statement you are referred to the official
Mr.. Soden's letters to me. which I was forced
to make public because of these and similar bare
Tz IN giyRg out { also show that this notorious
conference at Red Bank last August, in the pres
ence Of Messrs Freedman, Brush. Soden and Robi
Now. Mr.. Brush, I claim the honor of having
you formed the firm Of Freedman & Brush was
ur that ct P nn5 trust soSema wa m
never discussed In any league meeting is beyond
another eydoR:e Of the ban banefu @ auenoe that
your letter that was PRESIDENT Of the National
League for sixty-six hours. and / ask you. Am |
time? To remove an official from Office impeach-
My predecessor in office also tells me that you
voted your partner freedman Es1 the sum OF Sl9eoe
whlch Freednan claims there was practcaI!y NO
offset In the way OF rentals received tor use OF
item Of over 5000 that a published statement by
New-York club for the use Of the grounds for foot
ball matches? You surely cannot indorse such shell
Ss 6dba Eena to- be as ereded 20 the Po
Grounds account, when Il was understood with the
haitian Field rental account. This is only one OF
6azh 6hs EVf that yo se and Robson oa
lndorse or even apologize for its author.
Now, Mr.. Brush having In my letter OF the 1th
TO Mr. Robson announced that my correspondence
with him and with the Boston triumvirate was
closed, so far as am concerned. and having pre-
viously closed my correspondence with Mr. Freed
man IN nnal letter to him Of December Is, when
I CHALLENGED him to meet me in a public discussion
OF this baseball regeneration at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel must now make similar ann9unceinent
to you. So please consider, so far as am a2n-
cerned that our correspondence Is closed, awaiting
the courts decision,
recognize YOU as the commander OF the Freed
ring CO1la sue will
receive your aide de camp at time for the pur-
pose Of arranging the terms Of your surrender II
one else to seek conference with me FOR the pur-
pose Of making any compromise settlement or TINS
tangled baseball situation until after the STOCK
holders OF the New-York club have elected a new
have nothing further to say about your
malicious and misleading inferenees accusing me OF
than the facts contained In my public talk at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel on Monday afternoon. Decem-
lished and should have reached Indianapolis by
this time.
/ also not In your published letter to Mr.. Robi-
son OF August 10 an implication that / had
cured from Mr.. Johnson options for the purchase
OF American League clubs. While II is true that 1
have had two personal conferences with Mr.. John
Chicago in October last. have never asked for or
received any options OF purchase propositions
for the sale directly indirectly, OF any club In
the American League, nor have mad any intlma-
ton from Mr.. Johnson that his league a whole.
or any club member thereof was desirous OF sell
ing its franchises property. and l have dis
johnson, or any one connected with his organiza-
ton that they desired to amalEamate with the Ma
a basis The discussions between Mr. Johnson and
rnvself have been simply on the broad basis as to
what was best for clean professional baseball. and
any further conferences that may take place be-
will he all