The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-09
Sporting News Of Local and General Intel

Mr.. Brush, that the only business that
this organization has before IL, unless IL is
by unanimous consent. is the adjustment
Of the affairs which have accumulated on
the table and require our attention.
Xxx
There was another long round Of remarks
why the meeting should proceed with the
election of a president. The chairman re-
fused to act on the point of order, as he
said it meant for him to Interpret the
constitution, and he refused to 90 this, as
it was out Of his province. AS representa-
tive OF the Boston Club, Chairman SodeD
said he objected to the motion 10 proceed
will the election OF president. Rogers
moved TO suspend the order OF business and
proceed TO consider the recommendations
OF the board OF directors. This was voted
down. and Ebbetts again moved for the
election of president. The chair stated the
next business was the election Of officers,
but not particularly the election of presi-
dent. The Dreyfuss faction attempted TO
force the nomination of Spalding. Mr..
Robson said: LIT looks to me as though
the only thing for rs to do would be to 20
out Of the meeting and get together as in
dividuals, so that we can come to some un-
Outstanding. But when you ask US to elect
an officer OF an organization that does not
exist, L say l differ with you, and l refuse,
as far as 1 am concerned. to cast a vote on
such a proposition"
Then came the statement by Mr.. Brush
which has been heralded al his trust
scheme" He said: I'VE have sailed under
this chart for ten years. and it was modelled
after baseball conditions that existed pre-
vious thereto. L have been engaged in
other business than baseball. and any bust
ness that 1 have been engaged in and given
my attention 10 has fortunately been sue
co--fur Il Lo,o 49, ~aoaro1 II tbIc hroi-
ness long enough to learn and know where
in we fail. 1t is a copartnership. We have
eight clubs. and every club in the organiza-
ton is engaged in fighting its partners.
The Cincinnati club during this decade has
spent a hundred thousand dollars to fight
its partners, and / assume that every other
club has done proportionately the same
thing. Well. that is a kind of business l
am unwilling to continue. The entire sys-
tenn under which we have operated has, in
my judgment, been fttingly characterized
when it has been declared "a rotten, and 1t
is so rotten that you cannot use it to re-
construct a new edifice. l hold I am
through this year with all obligations un-
der this ten-year agreement, except such as
l am liable fOr-that is, the Cincinnati club
and | am perfectly free now to decide
what l will do. or what 1 must do in the
future, and L have come to the conclusion
that i will not engage further in baseball
under this present form. where L am en-
gagged in the business of fighting my own
partners and putting up the money 10 do II.
That ! will not do any longer. because 1t is
unbusinesslike i have given some thought
to the welfare of this organization, and L
have not been alone in that matter. l pre-
sumo that every individual in this organiza-
tion has done the same thing. L suppose
they have; | assume they have; l claim
that they ought to have, and that every
individual interested in the welfare of this
organization ought to have some ideas as
to its future. And if we have failed in any
particular they ought TO com here with
some ideas how TO remedy IL. The Cincin-
natl club is not willing TO go on under past
methods. 1t is willing TO go on if our inter-
ests can be united in such a way, upon
some basis by which we can be fairly we'll
assured of success in making the fight
against our opposition. Unless some action
can be taken looking TO that direction-un-
less some action be taken which will look
to the perpetuation of the organization as
the major organization of this country,
then / do not want any part of baseball. L
am anxious and willing TO discuss this mat
ter, TO debate ii and take whatever time
may be necessary for that purpose. | am
free to admit that it cannot be done to-
night. This organization must settle up
it's affairs, and it will take some time to do
that. In the meantime, i hold that We
ought to get together and discuss some
plans for the future and undertake in our
legislation and in the formation of an or
ganization TO remedy all those faults and
defects which have condemned us in the
past, and build up where we have been
weak. Those are the things that confront
US, and they are matters that should be
discussed in all fairness. | have not lost
interest in this organization nor in baseball.
My interest is just as great as it ever has
been. The welfare of the OrganizatiOn-I
stand for that; but i do not stand for pro-
ceeding along past lines, because / know
they are faulty. They have pretty nearly
wrecked us. and so. whatever time it takes,
L am willing to devote it to see if we cannot
reach some conclusion that will be unani-
nous, that will meet the approval of the
entire organization; and not until that time
would l admit that this organization had
reached its end.
Mr.. Spalding was before the meeting the
second day and told about how he helped
TO organize the league and if il were go
ing to die he wanted to be present and
close its eyes and have an autopsy per-
formed. After Spalding's speech another eff
fort was made to elect Spalding by accla-
nation, but was defeated. 1t was also de-
cided that the league was perpetual. The
reports of the secretary and treasurer were
read. The evening Of the second day the
directors report was read and the rental
OF the two grounds in New York was dis
cussed.
The third day brought the proposed
changes in the constitution. Mr.. Freedman
said the New York club would not operate
under the old constitution. He said the
clubs were not on an equitable basis, nor
on a successful financial basis, nor on a
successful playing basis, and something
must be done that will remedy the situa-
ton.
I'VE are here to-day continued Freed
man, with each man trying to clutch
his interested partner by the throat and
throw him down the baseball abyss as hard
and as quick as he can do il. That gets him
out of standing in the way of his success
with his club and his ambition to win. = .
. y new form of government must be ar
ranged, if nothing else Is done. If there is
no other scheme proposed, then let us have
e~ntiOus, fair. honest and open administra-
ton into this league
Mr.. Freedman showed how Hart and
Spalding originated the scheme for con-
solidation and Hart admitted that he tried
to secure options on the clubs tor Spald-
ing. He aired his propositions that have
been thoroughly published in these col
umns. Freedman said:
This proposition that Mr.. Brush had,
which l Will take as much responsibility
for in indorsing as Mr.. Brush had in giving
his efforts to il TO formulate il. has been
absolutely set aside without the gentlemen
here saying: Well, let us hear what il
is anyway; let US see if there may not
be something in il that might bring US
good
Mr.. Freedman said the trust scheme was
first given out by Spalding and two news
papers received copies OF the plan. There
vas a discussion on the matter of keeping
the subjects that come before the league
meeting secret. Mr.. Brush told OF the need
Of reorganization of the league. He told
of his meeting with Mr.. Spalding on the
train from New York TO New London and
other matters that have been subsequently
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