The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-26

Thomas j. Hickey drove a spike into this
little scheme by Immediately making a mo-
non that this committee be further in
creased by the addition OF representative
from the Western Association. Southern
League and Pacific Northwest League. By
this action Mr.. Hickey completely ruined
the plans of President Powers and Tim
Murnane. because. after this motion was
passed, the committee was in reality the
entire National Association, for every
minor league was represented on the COM
mittee- Mr. Hickey forced the matter to
an issue, and on Saturday afternoon of the
meeting ne urged that the ball question be
brought up Mr.. Chase announced that he
would give $4,000 to the National Associa-
ton anO 10 eacn individual club three dozen
calls every year If they would make the
Chase BALI the official ball" The dis
cussion became so warm and the persOnali-
Ties began flying around so thick and fast
that. as peace measure, Mr.. Bernard sug-
gested that perhaps 1t would be wise 10 let
each club settle the ball question for itself
during the season. This was placed in the
form OF a motion and carried.
The result Of the whole matter was that.
Instead OF A. G.. Spalding KIDNAPPING the
National Association through his agent,
President p. 7. Powers. and securing the
contract for furnishing the balls to all the
minor leagues in the country. thereby con-
unuing his baseball monopoly, the minor
leagues left the New York meeting free to
select their own ball Now all this hap
pened because Thomas ]. Hickey was man
enough 10 fight a good battle for a friend
10 whom he felt under obligations p T.
Powers has been In the employ of A. G.
SpaIdlnS Tor many years, and he was there
fore very anxious that the Spalding ball
should be adopted by the National Asso-
citation OF Minor Leagues. Powers might
say that the action of Hickey and Tebeau
viii result in A c.. Spalding securing the
adoption OF his ball Powers is busily en-
gagged in working both ends against the
middle, and when the time comes he might
say: Now we are at war and, of course
1t will be necessary to make some sacrifices
In order TO win our fight. L would suggest
that We adopt the Spalding ball as the Of
nclal ball OF the National Association, on
condition that Mr. Spalding will support us
IN our night against the American Asso-
citation" To Mr.. Spalding he will prob
600 which / suggested you might be willing
10 give the National Association and have
your ball adopted, If you will agree not to
recognize the American Association In case
you win your fight against Freedman"
And Pat Powers is serving the National
| Association without salary!
Xxx
The National Association OF Professional
Baseball Leagues was a brilliant concep-
ton Properly and judiciously managed,
the organization would beyond doubt have
been strong factor in the future pros
perity or the great American game. AL
ready, however, the National Association
is being prostituted to private business in
terests and the organization is being mis-
used in order that certain Of it's officials may
vent their personal spite on enemies of their
own creation. The president of the National
Association should have been a man free
from selfish influence of any kind who
would not have been obliged TO cater to the
wants Of any certain league or leagues
which are members of the National AssO-
citation. There is clique in the National
Association which is running that organi-
zation-men who are shaping the policies of
the National Association TO meet personal
ends. The majority of the minor leagues
are being cajoled with the fact that they
are now enjoying taxation with represen-
tation" instead Of taxation without rep
resentation, as was the case under the old
national agreement. This is the idea that
was threshed out by Powers during his re-
cent visit TO Indianapolis, when he was
asked to give the policy OF his association.
When the minor leagues finally awaken to
just what the leaders of the National AS
ISOLATION are after there Will probably be
an explosion.