Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-18
OLD LEAGUE CENsURED.
Cincinnati Clubs Agent Tells Of His
Experience Hunting Players.

When the new managers of the Cincin-
natl club decided to strengthen their team
for next season J. Ed. Grillo Of the CONNER
cial Tribune was sent out to secure several
American League stars. Mr.. Grillo is one
of the cleverest sporting writer's in the
west. but Notwithstanding his close &C
quaintance with the players Of the coun-
try, he was able to secure but one man,
Harper Of st. Louis.
When Mr.. Grille arrived home he took
his pen in hand and in a two-column ar
ticle gave the National League about as
severe a scoring as it has received in the
past decade. The article Is unusually inter-
esting. After detailing his meeting with
the St Louis players, Mr. Grillo says:
1T was generally supposed that when
Messrs. Hermann. Cox and the Fleisch-
MAINS secured the Cincinnati club such
players as were wanted would be secured
because these men would not hesitate to
spend the money. However, my expert
ence shows that money can not get the
players away from the American League
THE American League club owners have
some good arguments to advance to their
players to induce them to remain with
them The fact that some of the National
League clubs cut salaries in midseason,
when the league had the field to ITSELF is
a strong point which is impressed on the
players. Then it is shown that were 1t not
for the American League salaries would
National would mean to weaken the Ameri-
can and threaten it with determination,
which would mean return to lower sal
aries. Then the individual magnates Of the
National League are taken over the Goals
for the benefit of the players. Brush and
Freedman are shown up in their true light.
Brush's record shows him to be the ad-
vocate of low salaries. The players know
this. Freedman has been a tyrant to his
players. He has cursed and Inundated
them in public. The Boston triumvirate
and it's cheap policy is not overlooked, while
Frank DeHaas Robson is scalded for hav-
ing publicly denounced his players as being
drunkards and ruff1ans. All this Is kept
fresh in the players minds and they are
naturally, and. in many cases justly, too,
prejudiced against the National League.
any player want to go back to the National
League? When the National League had
the field to itself In only a few instances
were the players treated with consideration.
The American League has treated us fair
ly. Perhaps because it could not do other
wise. but 1t has just the same. and we are
going to stick to it. l don't know the men
who own the Cincinnati club now, but am
in every way. If they are, it is too bad
that they are hooked up with those old
foges in the National League This senti-
ment prevails all along the American line.
Mark the prediction. So long as John
T. Brush remains in the National League
so long will that organization remain I'M
popular with the public and the ball play
ers. The American League owes it's sue
cess as much to the presence of Brush and
Freedman in the National League as to
anything else. Ban Johnson had the chance
to wipe the National League out of ex-
istence last year. had he been willing to
accept Brush and Freedman into his field,
but he refused and wisely so. Let the Ma
tional League rid itself of Brush, and. IT,
possible Freedman, and then there will be
peace between the two leagues and base
ball will be placed on healthy basis"