Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-14
BASE BALL
Something Will Happen Soon in the
 National League.

| National League.
 The announcement that the Nation 1 al league mag agnates had decided to get l together ill joint conference on March 24 or sooner was big surprise in base ball circles and the matter was widely ] discussed. As to the details of the con- 1 ferences which led up to the agree ment to establish an armed truce, so- called, it may be said that they have | been held with the utmost secrecy, the idea being to keep from the public any evidence of weakening by either fac ton. Both sides have had signals of distress flying for some time past and the fact that Freedman and his friends have consented to meet the opposition in conference without stipulating that Spalding must be flung aside by his al- lies can be taken as conclusive evil dence that the New York club officials will welcome peace as much as any body. Baseball men are anxious to know who started the first ball rolling, looking to a compromise As matter of fact, Brush of Cincinnati made a plea for peace just about the same time the Ebbets of Brooklyn began his oft-repeated state1nent
 We are with Spalding to finish, but
 It is a matter of truth that the Phila- delphia and Boston magnates have been writing to one another for several weeks, with the idea of getting togeth- er At the recent conference in Pitts burg by the Spalding clubs it is stated on the best of authority tbat the de- cision was arrived at to hold league meeting, regardless of the result pro- ceedings. and, though still upholding Spalding and his principles, to go ahead with q playing schedule. It is sur missed that James A. Hart of Chicago carried this plan to Spalding in Cail- fornia, with the positive information that all of the league clubs were anxious to play ball. A man who is i'll close touch with league affairs said yes terday that there would be no legistion of any kind at the coming meeting, ex- cept the appointment of the schedule and managing committee. No matter what proposition may come before the magnates." said he. .'there will be a four to four vote. This deadlock will remain until either Freedman gets out of the league CT Spalding has been recognized as the legal president. The Spalding clubs feel that they cannot go back upon their leader and that they must continue the fight next winter. Spalding has accomplished several things.
 "He has effectua11y killed the trust scheme, has had the existence of the league perpetuated by q five to three vote and incidentally has preserved the franchises of Brooklyn and Philadel- phia. clubs. He has also protected Dreyfuss's Pittsbnrg team from pillage and has so completely shown up the methods of certain league men that they will be closely watched in the future by the public. Spalding would have been able to put his original re- organization scheme into effect, had it not been for the court proceedings. The injunction tied his hands so that it was impossible for him to make move. The clubs allied with him were unwilling to play out four club schedule according to Spalding's plan, so there was nothing left to do but get together. Spalding will not cease his campaign against Freedmanism and Brushism, but in all probability he will adopt different methods i'll future. He has learned many things about the league men that he did not know before and will profit by his experienced
 Hart is still in California and for that reason the league cannot meet until he comes east. The magnates ex- pected a decision from Justice Truax either to-day or tomorrow. There will be several preliminary conferences next week between representatives of the rival factions. with the idea of perfecting details of the coming armis- tice. The Brooklyn and Philadelphia clubs are delighted with the idea that the New York club will in all probabil- ity make substantial concessions to them in return for their efforts for peace. There is just the slightest chance for an explosion at the coming conference, however. That there will be considerable friction. nobody. seems to doubt. It will be quite delicate matter, therefore, to rub the fur the right way, in every instance.