Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-19
BASE BALI. NEWS.
American League Seems to Hold the
 Whip Hand.

Whip Hand.
 New York, Dec 19.President Ban Johnson, who has arrived i'll Chicago, has called meeting of the American league to be held in that city next Monday. the object being the appoint ment of a committee to meet the Ma tional leagues peacemakers at Cincin- nati on January 5. After the peace conference the American league will undoubtedly hold another meeting in this city, at which the final arrange ments for the new club will be com pleted.
 The National league men continue to clamor for & consolidation with the American and the establishment of the tWelve-club circuit. A. H. Soden of the Boston Nationals says that the plan, which has not yet been publicly approved by Johnson & Go. may go through. Soden declares that he Is ready to sell out to the Boston Ameri- cans and that he and his partners, Conant and Billings, will accept stock in the rival club as part of the transac- | ton. Tn case the deal is made the old Sout1h End grounds, which are owned by the Boston triumvirs, will be sold to the New York, New Haven and Hartford road, which has desired the property for a long time.
 Reach and Rogers. owners of the Philadelphia National league club, are also anxious 10 get out of base ball and have expressed . willingness to dispose of their plant to the owners of the Athletics in that city, Reach and Rogers own $250,00 ball park, which can be cut up into building lots if necessary, at a large profit. As part of this consolidation scheme, Hanlon and Pulliam have been inspecting the vacated American league grounds in Baltimore. for they believe that the Monumental city will be included in the new circuit.
 Brush of the New York Nationals is pulling al1 sorts of wires to keep the American league out of this city. He has secured options on three possible sites on Manhattan Island, and is now in favor, it is said of making Ban Johnson president of the proposed twelve-club circuit. The turning down of Brush's offer to turn over Manhat- tan field to the American league has convinced the National 1eaguers that something must be done quickly.
 In order to put through the twelve club scheme the American league would be asked to put up more than | $100,O0O, and base ball men who know say that Johnson & Go will not seri- ously consider the proposition, for they believe that they have already won the l fight for supremacy and can go ahead with the old arrangement on money making basis.
 Before leaving here for the west Johnson, Somers and Kilfoyle were emphatic in saying that under no cir. cumstances would they consent to any. thing but two major leagues, and that | if the National league would not agree to that proposition the fight would go l on to finish. The eagerness of the National league men for peace, involy. l ing a settlement by which they might be personally benefited, may serve te give to the American league increased l backbone in dictating terms.
 Jesse Burkett has signed with the St l Louis Americans for next season and
 has returned to Manager McGraw ot the New York Nationals a check fol
 S3,O0O which he recently received as
 an inducement to sign with Brush's | club.