The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18

NATIONAL COMMISSION WILL SETTLE
IMPORTANT NATTER.
Meeting to BE Held at st. Louis Next
Thursday-Central Has Many
Presidential Candidates.

There promises to be some very interesting
baseball legislation at the meeting of the
commission of the National Association of
Minor Leagues, to be held at st. Louis next
Thursday. The National Association, In all
probability, will have more control over the
minor leagues than it has in the past and
the new legislation will have beneficial ef-
feet on all organizations. The American As
ISOLATION will have representative on the
board of control of the National Associa-
ton.
Instead of each minor league adopting a
salary limit the National Association will
provide limit for each class of minors and
will adopt such rules as will cause each club
to conduct its team inside the limit There
are two Class A leagues in the National
Association, the American Association and
the Eastern League. and the limit to be
placed on that class will affect both or
ganizations the same. All clubs in the
American will have to keep inside the limit,
as well as the clubs of the Eastern League
In this manner the teams will be more
equally balanced and the rivalry should be
more intense. 1t also will make it possible
their investments.
The drafting question will also receive
consideration at the meeting of the COM
mission The commission will determine
what players are under reservation and will
award players to clubs that have been
drafted. 1t Is hardly likely that players
drafted by minors from another minor
league before Oct. Is will be ordered to
clubs that made the draft before the season
opened. 1t is expected that there will be
considerable discussion on this matter, as
several clubs In Class A leagues drafted
players before the legal time.
A certain amount of salt should be used in
trying to digest the report that Bill Phillips
is to become owner of the Indianapolis club
and that w. H. Watkins is to cast his for
tunes at Minneapolis. On the other hand,
more improbable things have happened in
baseball and the rumor should not be cast
aside with the assertion that it is impossi-
HE. Watkins has stated that he has not dis
posed Of any Of his holdings in the local
cub, but he has not declared that he would
not sell. Watkins and Ruschaupt own and
control one OF the best baseball plants in the
American Association. Under the present
conditions, and conditions that will prevail
next year and probably for years to come,
baseball property Is more valuable than it
has been in the past. If Phillips has a large
bunch Of money it is probable that he could
purchase the Indianapolis club, but far be
it, from Watty and Ruschaupt to sell for a
song. Phillips would be popular in Indian
apolis, but the baseball fans hope that Wat
kins and his partner will not dispose of
their property.
With nearly every club owner In the Gen.
trail League having a choice for president of
that organization it looks as if the league
might experience some difficulty i'm electing
chief executive at it's next meeting. Be-
ment has declared that he desires to sue
coed himself as president. Terre Haute has a
candidate, South Bend has a choice Fort
Wayne wants G. 3. Power, and Marion will
fight for Charles White. If the circuit is
changed and the new towns have presiden-
tial timber ii will be hard problem to
please every club. No matter who is finally
selected it is to be hoped the Central will
choose some man outside the organiza ton
and not repeat last years costly mistake
Either White or Power would make a good
president for the Central.
Will 1t be necessary 10 refer to the Ameri-
can League the real major league? Sup
porters of the Johnsonian organization
claim that the championship series between
Boston and Pittsburg, won by Boston,
stamps the American League as the premier
organization. Probably il does, but the
friends of the National League will always
regard it as the major league. The cham
pionship series was beneficial TO the play
ers of the two clubs, as each received 81, lS2 IL
as his share.