Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-27
LULU IN THE BASE BALL VAR.
Spalding's Four Club League is Not Looked on With Favor.

Barney Dreyfuss Will Desert Spalding If Courts Decide Against Him-Na- tional League Star Players Will Be Missed From Their Old Places This Year-Pittsburg, As At Present Con stituted, Has Altogether the Best Team in the League.
 There is Hull ill the strife between the warning factions of the National league with the white-winged dove of peace as far distant as at the close of the last annual meeting. With A. G. Spalding thousands of miles from the firing line it is safe to presume that the epistolary battle is ended and that the next move will develop action of a positive character Spalding, baked by Ban Johnson in his effort to carry his four clubs into the American league, has declared that Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Chicago will work out a four club schedule next season, while the Freedman four have given no indication of what plan they intend to pursue.
 No one takes MT SpaldiHg's state ment seriously, as the formation of a four club league would be the height of folly. The best piece of news that came to the surface last week was the declaration in Cincinnati of Barney Dreyfuss to the effect that if the court decided against Mir Spalding in the in- junction proceedings, Pittsburg would desert Spalding and cast is ballo for someone else for president of the Ma tiona1 league Action of this nature by Dreyfuss would go far toward clar- flying the situation and would be the beginning of the end of the factional fight.
 It Las been predicted several times that the first break ill the Spalding quartet would come from the Smoky City, as Dreyfuss has too much at stake to desert the National league There is no doubt that Dreyfuss would like to see Spalding win his battle, but once he become convinced that that is an impossibility, the Pirate chief will hustle to get under cover It is safe to say that he would be wei comed into the camp of the Freedman four, and that the moment he led the way Brooklyn and Philadelphia would come scrambling after him.
 AS TOT CulCdSO, IL IS QIulCulI lO SdJ what MT Spalding would do. He owns a large block of stock in the Windy City organization, but he could not af- ford to remain outside the breast works, no matter how bitter he felt toward Freedman and Brush. His plant is valuable one and would be unprofitable outside the National league. With his allies gone over to the enemy there could be nothing left for him but to follow suit. and that he would be compelled to do, as the rest of the stockholders in the Chicago organization would not stand for drop / ping sout of the National league, i'll which the city has been represented ever since the formation of the league.
 It would appear, then, that much depends upon the decision of the court. With Spalding declared out by the su- preme court, the way would be cleared for quick adjudication of the trouble. The magnates could get together in q common effort to adjust their differ ences. turn their backs upon the past and once more work for the welfare of the league. Reconciliation should be an easy task to accomplish. and Dreyfuss has the means of bringing about peace and harmony within his grasp.
 The complexion of the various teams in the National league will be changed greatly next season. Large inroads have been made by the John son organization on every club in the circuit except Pittsburg, and many stars who have shone brilliantly on National league diamonds for years will be missed. The situation is al most as bad as in the year of the Brotherhood war, when there was 3 wholesale desertion to the Players league While this is to be deplored it will have a beneficial effect in one way-it will open up an avenue for the entrance into fast company of many players from minor organizations who otherwise might not have chance t6 break into the major league.
 That many of them will be able tt hold up their end there is no doubt and In the crop of youngsters secured by the clubs many first class player: will be developed. All have come ts Hhe clubs with good records and strong recommendations, and their only han dicap will be in getting used to th' fast pace set by the older heads. Al the teams stand at present Pittsburi would make runaway race of th' struggle for pennant honors. Ther' is no club in the circuit that coult compare with the Smoky City aggre gation. Dreyfuss builded well whel he signed every one of his champions before they got under the influence O Ban Johnson.
 On the other teams there will b. G K<1xa1r Iak1t signed a bunch of promising materia and Brooklyn has string mile long