Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-01
Late Reports Say Base Ball
Leagues May Consolidate.
STORY FROM CHICAGO
WONDERFUL DAN PATCH HANGS
UP TWO NEW RECORDS.
All the Bowling Leagues Played Games
-All-American Foot Ball TEAM
Americas Threw Hart.

The perennial rumor of a combination Oh
the National and American Leagues mas
risen again. This time it comes from chi
cago. A man who has a large interest IN
one of the big feague clubs, but whose
name is, Of course, withheld. says that con-
solidation will be an accomplished ract III
1865.
The situation is thus defined by this
partisan of tine merger:
IT know it to be a fact that during the
recent visit of President Robert Hedges OF
the st. Louis Americans to the mound city
the Robisons had several conferences with
him regarding a~consolidation of their IN
terests there. s
ITO do this means consolidation in other
cities With the ice broken In st. Louis,
and with two of the big men In the Ma
tional and American, respectively. agltatns
the matter, 1t will not be hard matter
to arrange for the merging of clubs IN
other cities.
at would remain to be seen how Mr..
Brush would welcome the advent of Ban
Johnson as head Of the consolidated
leagues, that being part OF the amalgama,
ton scheme; and also how Johnson would
bury his long-standing hatred for Brush.
made in the past, and there Is no reason
why these two should not make up The
plan is being quietly but persistently agt-
tated, and the year 1900 at the latest Will
see 1t carried out"
This story. in company with several
others Of a similar nature, disregards sew
eral important facts.
The big leagues now conflict in five cities.
New York, Boston. Chicago. Philadelphia
and st. Louis. To effect consolidation it
would be necessary to remunerate those
club owners who would be forced out of
business. This would involve consider
able outlay: for many Of the clubs have
expensive plants. some Of which. as in the
case of the Philadelphia National club are
tied up by long-term leases.
1t Is doubtful IL the consent of John T.
Brush could be obtained. for the New York
president knows that such combination
would eventually place him at the mercy
OF his many enemies, who would gladly see
him forced out Of base ball.
In Boston the National League triumvirs
would be glad enough to agree to a deal.
business by Collins and his team. But 1t
is highly improbable that the directors Of
the American League club would consent
to exchange absolute mastery of the situa-
ton for an uncertainty
The situation in Philadelphia is somewhat
similar The Athletics have been a profit
able investment during the last two years,
an. with team that can finish anywhere
in the first division should continue to turn
out good yearly profit. If the teams were
to be consolidated one costly ground, with
all its improvements, would have to be
abandoned. That Messrs. Shibe and Mack
would consent to this sacrifice is hardly
credible.
St. Louis may offer a good field for the
get-together idea, for both teams have lust
finished an Improbable season. But 1t Is
probable that when terms Of settlement
were under discussion Messrs. Hedges and
the Robisons would find matters far from
plain sailing.
Consolidation stln looks to be far away.
and 1t is to be hoped. for the good of the
game, that it is. There is room for two
leagues. The coming of the American
League gave the greatest of outdoor games
It's most notable boom in years, and interest
was revived where before 1t had been dead
Base ball politics had Its inning Last
year the players held public attention un-
divided 1t. is to be hoped that they will
De permitted TO do so next year. Nothing
worse could happen for base bail than to
XII the two-league rivalry and bring into
public attention the sordld personality and
motives of the magnates