Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-05
NATIONAL LEAGUE CAST OFF.
Twelve Club Proposition the Cause

l l Johnson, president of the American league, in calling off the proposed peace conference which was to have been held in Cincinnati to-day, does not surprise those who have been ill touch with the situation ever since the Ma tional league magnates sued for peace. It is not defining the case too plainly to say now that the American league has never cared for sO-called ''peace" under the existing conditions, and. that President Johnson has all along sus- pected that the National leaguers had something up their sleeves which they did their best to conceal.
 As a matter of fact the National league men knew a week ago that conference with the American league was impossible, although they hung on to the last The National league men were unit in desiring the restoration of the twelve club circuit. RObison, l Soden, Rogers, Hanlon and others ex- pressed themselves openly in favor of it and only last week Hanlon, taking time by the forelock, secured the lease. of the abandoned American league grounds in Baltimore. But, surprising as it may seem, the American league men, from the moment the twelve club plan was first broached, would not even consider the matter, and as late as last Wednesday it is said that the National league men received an ulti i matum to that effect. That was why Garry Hermann of the Cincinnati club, who is new" in National league poli- tics, could not secure full power to act for his committee, the National league magnates being heart and soul in favor of twelve clubs, and finding that they were up against it good and plenty.
 The American league, it is not breach of faith to say, was never ill favor of patching up existing difficult ties with the National league, especial ly after Johnson was" insulted by the magnates two years ago, when he wanted permission to expand the Amer ican league circuit. When last season ended the American league had so com pletely won in Boston, Philadelphia, St Louis and Chicago, which were former ly National league strongbolds, that Johnson $ Go decided definitely to put a club in this city, with Pittsburg a possibility They have gotten things in such excellent shape, especially in this ' they will sweep the country. They say that the National league would never have sued for peace if it had not been practically against the wall and that the old magnates do not deserve elem ency, in view of their unmerciful treat ment of Would-be rivals in years gone by.
 The American leaguers also recall the settlement of the Brotherhood fight | in 1890, when, though the National 1 league was beaten to a standstill, the magnates, by their scheming politics, took the Players league packers neatly into camp and then quietly obliterated all opposition with profit to themselves One of the American league men said recently:
 Why should we make peace with a dead body? While we were infants in the base ball business the National league had no use for us. We tried several times to secure some sort of recognition, but we were simply told to go to the woods. Instead, we just went ahead and beat the old magnates out of their boots, virtually putting So- den of Boston, Rogers of Philadelphia and Robison of St Louis out of busi- ness. When we said then that we
 
 opposition to Brush, the National leauge men suddenly woke up and said, ] oh, MT American League, we are your friends. Let us have a twelve club league You give Soden, Rogers and RObisOn about $50,0OO each to quit and Keep out of New York, and the circuit Is easy. Pray tell me what would be come Of the American league in such a deal! For eight years we have been building up an organization until we have the public with us. The identity ! of the American league is demanded by the public to be kept intact. We are in need of no fayors from the Ma tional league, will be able to meet all our obligations and will also provide : the best ball teams ill the United States. Let the National league die a natural death. It has outlived it's use fulness."
 President Johnson and other Ameri. can league men are likely to drop into ; town this week. They have much i'm portant work to do here, and are glad that the peace bugaboo' has disap- peared.
 Washington, Jan 5.-The official bat, :, ting averages of National league play
 
 5 games during the season of 1902, as compiled by Nick Young, were made public last night. Beaumont of Pitts burg leads with percentage of .357 with Seymour of Cincinnati second with .349, and Keeler of Brooklyn third with .342; Dan McGann of New York is the only one of the present az gregation of Giants who is among the , 300 hitters, he being twenty-second on the list. with an average of .3O1. Me. Graw is away down. having a percent age of only .226 Cincinnati has five men among the first ten batsmen Pittsburg four and Brooklyn one. The ten leading run getters were Wagner of Pittsburg, who made 1O5 runs Clarke of Pittsburg is second: Beau mont, Pittsburg. third: Leach, Pitts : burg, fourth; Crawford. Cincinnati fifth; .&onney. Boston. sixth: R. Thom. as Philadelphia, seventh; Keeler Brooklyn, eighth; Sheckard. Brooklyn