New-York tribune., 1902-01-12
BASEBALL.
STAMPEDE AMONG FREEDMANITEs TO
SELL STOCK.
spALDING's CHARACTERISTIC REPLY TC
ANsON-RoBINsON IS HAULED
OVER THE GOALS

Those who interested in having better
baseball here laughed heartily yesterday at the
iudicrous aspect II which the owners of the
Boston National League club had placed them
selves. Those in a position TO know are of the
ppinion that the Freedman faction in the league
IS on The run, and that there will be some more
humorous situations before the final surrender
IS made 10 A. G. Spalding, the new president of
the organization. From information obtained
last night, it can be said that there are more
stockholders than those in Boston who are
looking for a chance to dispose of their baseball
holdings. Singular enough, all of the stock Of
fered for sale comes from the ush-Freedman
camp None Of the four clubs which have sup
ported Mr.. Spalding in his effort to have cleaner
and better baseball have made any offers to
sell 10 date.
A friend Of Mr.. spalding in speaking about
The situation last night. said.
will admit that 1t looked at one time as
~ the squabbe between the National League
club owners might last into the spring, but
would not be surprised to hear that the Brush
freedman faction had surrendered at any time
Enthusiasts in this city have for years wearied
OF the sort Of baseball dished up at the Polo
Grounds. Hundreds of oldtime enthusiasts have
rot been 10 witness a game in Harlem in a year,
and I have heard them say that they never
would see another game at the Polo Grounds so
long Tammany Hall tactics were in vogue
laughing stock of the country for years. in spite
Of the gift players shipped TO this city in order
10 help out the management and enable the
other teams to get fair percentage OF gate re-
oepts when they play in this city. With Z. b.
Talcott ct the head of the club here, as he was
prior to 1895, baseball would again take Its
place one of the leading sporting attrac-
rions about the city.
Remembering Ansons recent interview in Chi
cago, the appended communications Will be ap-
avr-t,n hax-a ed
present baseball war:
ANsoNs TELEGRAM AND sPALDING's
ANSWER
Chicago, January :, 1902 S;.u
A. G. spalding. No. 126 Nassau-st. NewcYork City.
VIII sell my Ne"-H0Fk STOCK lot = S'Se' g AAso@ 5eSy'
+1sss s SS rs MsdisoH2s $sifSfSG 8 SfSDD1se
sPALDING TO robson.
Mr. spalding yesterday sent the appended let
Ter to Frank De Haas Robson. the president Of
the ST. Louis club:
Having read in this mornings issue OF a New
sqIa 3Fn a9o fo alI 5afed gngary TO- viii as
TO same. II IS unfortunate that you attempt to
deal with issues that occurred back in the last
century which do not appear pertinent TO the base
ball issues OF the present Gay While there may De
while in the main they are untrue and the deduc-
suggest fat if any one is especially interested in
the points you have raised they go back 10 the
newspaper files and official league records OF ten
Sc twenty years ago. =
Ny recent letter 70 Mr. Brush. which evidently
you have read, explains what I consider a good
reason for my, not retiring from the presidency
OF the National League. Aside from your sugges-
ton that retire. the only other point In your
letter that seems to have any possible bearing on
the present ISSUES is the following quotation from
your alleged letter;
Take away The screen and let the public see
that the only object you have in view IN this base
PAL controversy s 10 renew the baseball contract
between the National League and A G. Spalding
Bros"
It is quite true Mr. Robson that A C. spalding
Bros have furnished the official ball to the Ma
tonal League for the last twenty-four years. Your
insihuatlon that the motives that prompt me in my
enorts IN behalf OF clean baseball and the neces-
sary rehabilitation of the national game infu-
eneed by any commercial reason is too ridiculous
TO consider seriously. and 1t would that a
simple sta1enlent from me, verified by the books
of the National League. that the total cash pur-
chases OF baseballs by the National League during
ne year 1SOl amount 10 the exact sum OF $1,000.
which IS so Insignificant IL ought TO make further
comment unnecessary.
The public is becoming weary Of this windy base
ball war, and it seems advisable that this voluni-
nous baseball correspondence be brought 10 close
therefore, / must ask that you excuse me from
members OF your faction which IS generally spoken
Of as the Freedman Four" except one more un-
answered letter stin have in my files from John
j. Brush OF January s, which did not reach
until this morning, and which will answer in
few days
] viii sum up the published comments that Mr.
ast month in the following line:
=
lTiumvirate as entirely closed, and you may con-
Aoer this letter as my last you the sub
.sct a1d from now on in discussing matters with
lhe freedman Four / will recognize General
eept his sword in token Of surrender whenever he
s prepared TO deliver IT,