Evening star., 1903-12-19
AMERICAN LEAGUE MEETING.
President Johnson Turns Down 5000
Gift, but is Given Salary Raise.

The annual meeting Of the American
League was brought to close last night
at Chicago without recourse to a net. The
business transacted was generally formal.
although there were several matters of
grave import discussed, the details of
which were not given out. After the re-
port Of the board Of directors had been re-
ceived and the championship officially
awarded to Boston President Ban Johnson
was requested to leave the room. As soon
as he had retired Manager Connie Mack of
the Athletics moved that the sum of S., 900
be rendered Mr.. johnson as a sort of
Christmas present and as a slight token of
the appreciation of the club owners of the
American League of Mr.. JOhnSon's efforts
on behalf of the organization. The motion
was carried unanimously, and then scout
ing committee was sent In search of the
president, who had not the slightest ink
ling of what had come off.
There was little joshing after he ar
rived in the room, and then the action of
the meeting was made known to him. He
colored up, tried to Stammer out some
thing, and then did something that he was
never known to do before the National
League in the darkest days Of the fight
he weakened. His eyes welled up, and 1t
was some time before he could get himself
together. When he did he announced pos
itively that under no circumstances would
he accept a penny Of gratuity from the
league; that it had honored him with it's
absolute confidence, and that that was
above all else to him. Seeing that Mr..
Johnson was obaurate, Henry Killilea of
the Boston club moved. and the motion
went through with rush, that the salary
of the president be increased to $4,000 per
annum during the life of the present
agreement. To this Mr.. Johnson also OBJ
jected, but he was shortstopped by Mr..
Killilea, who called his attention to the
fact that on this particular question he
(Johnson) had no say whatever.
L111 1,,tf 6t,ol lIry
sented to accept the increased salary, but
for one year only.
Charles w. Somers of Cleveland was re-
elected vice president.
ed New York. Philadelphia. Chicago and
Cleveland as members of the board OF di-
rectors. On motion 1t was agreed that on
and after June 1 the number Of players to
be carried by any club in the league should
not exceed sixteen. The president was au-
thorized to draft a schedule and appoint his
own committee to confer with the National
League schedule committee later on. A
committee was appointed to make such
changes in the constitution as have been
made necessary by the changed condition
of affairs. after which the meeting ad-
journed. to convene again in New York on
Thursday, March 3, 1904. That was the ex-
tent of the official proceedings.
Mr.. Johnson will leave Chicago for Wash
ington in a week or SO to complete the de-
tails of the deal by which the club will be
transferred to a syndicate of capitalists
The details are purely clerical and when he
has completed them there is every reason to
believe that Mr.. Johnson's strenuous cam
paign of over three years will be at an end.
There are several deals on, in which De-
troit. New York and st. Louis will figure.
1t is not unlikely that the American league
will establish eastern. headquarters in the
Flat Iron building. New York. Mr.. Johnson
and Secretary McRoy dividing their time
between the metropolis and Chicago. The
proposition Is looked upon with favor by the
magnates
Frank Dwyer. former manager of the De-
troit club. will in all likelihood secure
berth on the American staff of umpires The
application of Umpire Bauswine and Tom
my Phelan, both Of Philadelphia, have been
fled.