The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-21
BASEBALL IS UNSETTLED
AMERICANS DO NOT FAVOR THE
CONSOLIDATION PLAN.
Pittsburg VIII Bid for American
Franchise-St. Paul Club May BE
Transferred to Detroit.

The past week furnished much baseball
dope" as an afterpiece to the National
League meeting held in New York. The
terms of the proposed peace have been dis
cusseo pro and con, and the baseball world
is anxiously awaiting the joint meeting of
the National and American League COM
mittees to be held at Cincinnati, when terms
of peace will be thoroughly discussed.
When all this talk of peace between the
two major leagues is holding the boards
1t must not be forgotten that the American
Association and National Association of
Minor Leagues were the first to come TO
their senses this fall and realize the un-
wisdom of further conflict. They got to-
gether and arranged peace beneficial to all
concerned. Then came the great. surprise
from the New York meeting that the Ma
tional desired TO confer with the American
on terms of peace. Just what the final set
Element of the fierce and expensive war will
be is not known by the public and prob
ably not by the men who are engineering
and steering the compromise. The terms of
the settlement will not be known until
after the committees get together at Gin
cinnat
Many magnates of the two leagues favor
uniform playing rules. alliance with the
minor leagues. a playing schedule without
conflicting dates and reserve rule and
respect for all contracts On the subject
of banishing contract jumpers there is a
wide difference of opinion. AS to the black
listing of players it has been suggested
that such a rule should only include men
who have actually broken faith with the
club with which they first signed There
is little probability, however of action be-
ing taken against the contract jumpers.
1t is now being suggested and even urged
that the National and American leagues be
consolidated into one twelve-club organiza-
ton. with Ban Johnson as president. The
twelve-club circuit has always been one of
John T. Brush's pet ideas. and there are
others who favor the plan. Brush said in
New York last week that he has always
favored twelve-club league. as he regards
it as the only basis on which baseball can
be conducted without loss to it's promoters
or discord among the leagues. Brush says
he Is now heartily in favor of the consolida-
ton of interests in those cities where two
clubs are now located and the formation
OF one national league with twelve clubs.
He says that, all assertions to the contrary,
the experience of the past has shown that
two clubs cannot succeed in one city. One
may make money, but the other loses. 1t is
better, therefore. for club owners to have
a small sure-paying interest than a large
losing interest The most surprising part
of Mr.. Brush's interview was the statement
made by him that in case there is a COM
bination of the present conflicting interests
and those interests desire Ban Johnson for
president he will not oppose his election.
Ban Johnson has been Brushs worst
enemy, but peace in sight will heal many
sores. The American president has de-
clared that the members of the American
League are against any consolidation
scheme and still maintain that there is
room enough in the larger cities for two
clubs. The statements that have been
issued during the past week show how
clearly the National and American will