Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-27
CONTROL OWN INTERESTS.
Major Leagues COncede Independence tn
Smaller Organizations


One of the most important meet
ings in the history of baseball ended
at . o'clock last night at Buffalo, y.
Y. after two days session. Repre-
sentatives of the National, American
and National Association of Minor
Leagues participated.
With the draft of an agreement
drawn up by the minor league repre-
scntativcs before them the major
league officials drew up carefully
wOrded agreement and submitted it ut
the final meeting last night This
agreement will he acteU upon at Il
meeting Of the National Association
of Minor Leagues to be held within
the next 10 days.
James y. Hart. of Chicago, a rep
resentative of the National league,
said: eve have acceded to practic-
ally every demand of the minor
leagues. They will have absolute con
troll of their internal affairs. 1 think
the members of the National Associa-
tiens Of Alinor Leagues will see the
matter in the same light at their
next meeting to be held within the
next fortnight"
The new agreement is signed by
President Pulliam, of the National
league, and President johnson. of the
American. They, with August Her
mann, of Cincinnati. as chairman, will
form national committee to adjust
such matters as may come up for set
tlement between the major and minor
leagues.
The agreement provides that the
major leagues shall adopt all rules
governing the game Of baseball. The
right and title of major league clubs
to its players is absolute.
Farming is Prohibited.
The practice of farming is prohibi-
ted. All right or claim of a ma ior
league club to Il player shall cease
when such player becomes a member
of a minor league club, and an ar
rangemcnt between the clubs for the
loan or return of a player shall be
binding between parties to it or rec
ognized by other clubs.
The right of minor league club
to its players shall be absolute. eX-
cept that from Aug. Is to Oct. Is
aior league clubs shall have the
privilege of selecting players from Ma
tional association clubs for the fol-
lowing season upon payment of $3.50
for each player so selected from clubs
in class 4 leagues, $500 for each play
er from class B leagues, $500 for each
player so selected from clubs in class
c leagues. and 5000 for each player so
selected from clubs of a lower class.
A major league club may at any
time purchase the release of a player
from minor league clubs, to take eff
feet forthwith or at a specified date,
provided such purchase is recorded
with the secretary of the commission
for PRONUNCIATION within five days of
date of the transaction.
Several of the articles are designed
to protect players. \ player suspend
ed longer than 10 days shall have the
right to appeal to the commission.
PLAYING games for stake is pro-
hibited. A player or club is forbidden
to accept a sum of money as an in
ducement or reward for special eff
fort on his part to win game.
Notes of the Diamond.
There are 1856 league clubs in Ameri-
ca of an average of Is players each.
1t is conservatively estimated that on
the average these players will draw
salary for the season of $1,000, which
makes the grand aggregate of base
ball salaries in Americas organized
professional leagues $2,040.O0O.
Cy Young, of the Boston Americans,