The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11
WATKINS Is A DIPLOMAT
EITHER FARRELL OR SEXTON WOULD
MAKE A GOOD EXECUTIVE.
IL Is Probable Tint One Of Them VIII
BE II. j. Hickey's Successor
General Baseball Gossip.

In baseball politics, well as In the adj
ministration OF any other business. there is
an old rule that man who fights you Is a
good man TO have in your own ranks. a
good, aggressive fighter. one who is a cap
able executive, is greatly needed 10 ill the
place in the American Association that will
be made vacant when 7. j. Hickey's resig-
nation as president takes effect. The election
of a successor to President Hickey will be
held at the annual meeting of the Associa-
ton magnates in Chicago. early next month.
No candidates have been officially an
nounced, but several names have been sug-
gested and mentioned as likely SUCCESSORS
to Hickey.
]. III. Farrell, president OF the New York
State League and secretary OF the National
Association Of Minor Leagues. is said to be
a logical candidate for the place. lie is one
Of the men who fought the Amer
lean Association during time of war.
but since peace was finally de-
clared he has been an ardent admirer OF
the Association. President Watkins. of the
indianapolis club said that Farrell would
make a good man for the place and he
would like TO see him president OF the As
ISOLATION. NJ. III. Sexton. president Of the
Western League, also has been mentioned
in connection with the presidency OF the
American Association. President Watkins,
baseball diplomat that he Is. made the same
statement regarding Sexton as he did about
Farrell. So Ii Is hard TO tell just whom the
indianapolis magnate prefers as successor
to Hickey.
In addition 10 Farrell and Sexton several
other names have been mentioned, among
them being Friese, former sporting editor
of the Milwaukee Sentinel; William Doug
las, sporting editor Of the Louisville Courier
Journal, and w. j. Mcdonald, sporting edi-
tor Of the st. Paul Pioneer Press.
A salary limit OF s. 400 a month may be
adopted by the American Association clubs
for the coming year. 1t is now possible for
the Association to make salary limit, the
first time since IL has been i'm existence. The
Association was organized during war times
and IL was necessary for the various club
owners TO go into the market and bid for
players, regardless OF salaries they were
compelled to pay. Last fall the Association
and National Association of Minor Leagues
buried the Ratchet, but the two major
leagues were still at war and there was no
national agreement IL was still necessary
for the Association clubs to pay exorbitant
salaries. and nc rule could be adopted
whereby each club should maintain its team
within certain limit. But peace now reigns
in the baseball world and the reserve rule
is again effective. There will be no more con-
tract jumping and players are under the
control and jurisdiction OF the national COM
mission. The club owners believe it is time
business principle and they will begin by
inaugurating salary limit high enough TO
secure first-class players. but yet in such
reasonable bounds will permit them 10.
make a profit of of their investments. A
limit of s., 400 seems TO be one that will meet
with favor. IL Is pretty safe TO say that ev-
cry club in the American Association. since
IL was organized, has expended more than
s., 400 a month for players, but under pres
emit conditions teams just as fast. IL not bet
ter. can be maintained under such limit
as IL Is well known that players will not
draw the fancy salaries next year they did
during the past few years.
The time for drafting players from minor
leagues by the major leagues will expire
next Thursday midnight. Then Cla-s A
leagues In the National Association OF Minor
Leagues will have the privilege OF drafting
players from other minor league clubs.
Manager Watkins has made effort TO
draft any players as he hns been notified
by Secretary Farrell that drafts made be-
fore Thursday midnight would not be valid.
Toledo and Louisville have announced the
names OF few players drafted from minor
leagues and one of them is a player Man
ager Watkins desired, but IL Is not believed
that the Toledo or Louisville drafts will be
valid.