The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-17

Birmingham, Dec 16.-(Staff Core spondence. )-Many are the troubles that, like leaves on gusty autumn afternoon; have fallen thick and fast in baseball war for poor old Montgomery. These pip ing times of peace have turned out to be nothing more than an 1S-karat pipe dream as far as the Capital City of Alabama Is concerned True there Is peace in South ern baseball affairs at large, but in Mont gomery the situation is even more com plicated than it was when Charlie Frank and his outlaw gang granted Montgom- cry franchise n opposition to the Soutn- ern League franchise already there.
 To explain the situation of affairs 1t Is necessary to give some unwritten back history dating from the celebrated peace conference in Memphis. After the terms of the treaty of peace had been almost concluded in Memphis, General Carnes made a stipula ton that the Montgomery franchise should be granted to MT. Raph- ael Semes. President kavanaugh had all ready granted the Southern league fran chise in Montgomery to MT. W. H. Rag land and manfully he held out and stuck to this. Finally, however, in order to prevent a second rupture in the baseball situation Mir. Kavanaugh gave in and the Montgomery franchise was, awarded to Mir Semmes. About 1 o'clock yes- terday morning MT .Kavanaugh, MT. Pal
 mer of Memphis and Caruthers Ewing succeeded in patching up a truce, one of the stipulations being that the Montgom-
 
 Semmes. Judge Kavanaugh immediately hunted up MT. Ragland and told him of the agreement. On being made fully ac- quainted with the facts MT. Ragland made no opposition to the arrangements and shortly afterwards Mfr. Semmes made a proposition to Mir Ragland that the Montgomery franchise be awarded joint ly. This was the condition of affairs when
 the league finally got together at 10
 o'clock yesterday morning.
 President Kavanaugh read before the
 meeting statement that the Montgom-
 cry franchise was awarded to w. H. Rag land and R. Semmes personally, the sig natures of the two gentlemen named be- ing affixed to 1t. A motion was then
 made that Montgomery take the men signed by Con Strouthers for the Chatta- nooga team for the coming season. In cluded in this motion was the stipula- ton that Montgomery should reimburse Chattanooga for any expense gone to in the matter of advance money to players, etc. MT Semmes addressed the meeting, saying that he was unwilling to take the Chattanooga players or assume any of the
 obligations until the facts had been made clearer to him. MT. Ragland stated to
 the meeting that he agreed to the Chat tanooga proposition, consenttng to take the players off their hands and assume
 the responsibilities and liabilities accruing therefrom. This was the situation of af- fairs when the meeting finally adjourned. The Montgomery franchise was @ joint af-
 fair, the two street railway companies dividing 1t.
 Just how the muddle will be simplified remains for the future to determine
 which will in all probability be accom- plished next week when Judge Kavat
 naugh and General Carnes will make a
 personal visit to Montgomery, the local situation being thoroughly gone over. During the meeting yesterday morning motion was made. seconded and unan- imously adopted electinG Colonel Barry Halt -praaidATaf n fftEf hRrn League. Colonel Holt expressed his thanks to the members of the league but stated that owing to the condition of
 baseball affairs in Montgomery he would | be compelled to decline the honor. Never has there been as bitter strug- gle outside of National League meet | Ing as this one, and to Judge Kavanaugh l belongs the credit of having once more He worked indefatiguably early and late and to his vigorous, clear-headed action belongs the credit. He has done more for the Southern League than will ever be known, and 1t would have been a great reflection on the Southern League if his election yesterday had not been as unan- imous and enthusiastic as was the case. That he will straighten out the Montgom- knotty affairs seems certain. and every well-wisher of baseball in Montgomery sincerely trusts that he will unravel the | snarl.
 TO snow now Dltuer ilt all was SenAtor Foster of Shreveport came here with a big bunch. of money and an injunction keeping a deputy sheriff at the door of every one of the three meetings held at | the Florence Hotel. His plans were to have the officer of the law serve copy | of the injunction the moment that Shreve- port was dropped. Happily there was no | necessity of this being done as the story of the proceedings yesterday morning will show.
 | Ed Peter of the Atlanta Club. told me | after the meeting that he intended to sell his interest in that team and sever final.
 ly his connection with baseball He would not say who he intended disposing of his | interest to but said that he was certainly going to quit the game.
 ! Late tonight a story Is being told that Carnes is completely in the Southern League saddle. It Is said that he has | bought a half interest in Ed Peters At | lanta Club and now controls by pledge, purchase and prior ownership a majority | of the votes
 W. w. Screws, Jr.