The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-06
EASTERN MAN FOR OFFICE
WILL ELECT SPORTING
WRITER AS PRESIDENT.
No Chance for Hickey to he Chosen
New Baseball Circuit Considered
u Winner-Gossfp.

A man will be elected president OF the
American Association at the annual meet
Ing on Dec. Is whose name has not been
mentioned heretofore in connection with
the office. The directors Of the association
have been using their persuasive powers on
the person in question and IL is said he has
about consented to take the office. Many
names have been spoken of in connection
with the position, but those who have tried
TO guess who would succeed Hickey have
never mentioned the principal candidates
name. and it is probable il will not be
known until everything is arranged beyond
doubt. The man being considered by the
directors in connection with the Office In
an Eastern newspaper writer who is well
versed on baseball matters. but who never
neio place as president or a baseball
league. The directors claim he would be
just the man for the place IL he would con-
sent to accept the Office
When I. J. Hickey resigned as president
candidates for the Office sprung up like
mushrooms, and reports came from many
cities to the effect that the American As
sociation had rendered the Office TO certain
persons or that certain men had a chance
or being elected as Hickey's successor. The
association directors rendered the Office to
only two persons-Secretary Farrell. of the
National Association of Minor Leagues,
land American League club, but both de-
clined the Office.
A report gained circulation in Milwau-
kee that an effort would be made TO In
duce Hickey to recall his resignation and
continue as president of the association
Havenor, OF the Milwaukee club, and Lem
on, OF 81. Paul. are said to be in favor OF
retaining Hickey. but Hickeys resignation
was fatal mistake IL he really serious
ly desired TO remain at the head or the
association While two club owners may
i'm fhar ara cf xx~l.f
not consent to his reelection. Watkins, OF
Minneapolis, formerly OF Indianapolis, and
Rnschaupt, of indianapolis. do not care
10 go on record before the public as be-
ing against Hickey, but as George Te-
beau, OF the Louisville club, has fatty re-
fused TO consider the former president,
the Minneapolis and indianapolis club
with Tebeau.
AT the recent meeting in Chicago the d.
rectors considered the available presidential
timber, and IL was agreed to secure the
Eastern man IL possible. Ii was also agreed
that Hickey would not be reelected to the
ONCE Club owners claim that Hickey
made too many mistakes when he was in
office to give him a chance TO duplicate HIS
errors.
The proposed new baseball circuit that is
being fathered by George Tebeau with the
assistance of influential men In the Ameri-
can Association and the Eastern League
is being discussed by the leading papers of
the country and nearly all of the sportinr
writer's believe IL would be winner The
men behind the movement have the eight
cities in view to form the circuit, but there
may be one or two changes if the two major
| leagues consolidate. Indianapolis, Louisville
Columbus and Milwaukee are chosen for the
Western cities, while several cities have
been mentioned as the Eastern end of the
| new organization Buffalo, Toronto and Bal
timore have been practically selected, while
Washington, Jersey City and Newark are
mentioned as the eighth city. This circuit
would be much superior to either the Ameri-
can Association the Eastern League
line-upS of 1903 and would be a winner
Under the conditions of the deal Kansas
City, st. Paul and Minneapolis would be
abandoned to the Western League. A new
and powerful New England league would
spring up with Providence as its chief city
and the New York State League would be
made twice as strong as now by the incor-
poration of Rochester and Syracuse. The
mileage in the new organization would be
less than in the American Association, while
the new organization would have over twice
the population TO play to.
The Three I league will meet In Chicago
next Tuesday and it is very probable that
there will be change in the circuit There
seems TO be antipathy TO Rockford and
Cedar Rapids in some cities, and IL Is
claimed that those who harbor this antagon-
| ism are responsible for the efforts TO secure
1 the admission Of Peoria 10 take possible
| vacancy.
John T. Brush, president Of the New York
| Nationals. left indianapolis last week TO at
tend the meeting of the National League,
which will be held in New York this week.
Brush would not discuss the many stories
| concerning consolidation. ETC.. before he
| left, as he said all those matters would
| come before the league meeting. Just what
action the league will take. If any, on the
/ R0n soil a fu A.
will surely be discussed by the magnates
The American League viii hold its meeting
next week. but IL both leagues take up the
| merging proposition il is probable that COM
mittees from the two organizations viii
| hold joint conference 10 consider the de-
| tails of a merger. Practical baseball men
declare that consolidation of the two
4 major leagues is bound to come In the near
| future.
| Despite the fact that on the surface
| everything apparently is serene in the
| National League camp there promises to
be a big surprise sprung at the coming
meeting and it all appertains to the g.
| Louis club. 1t Is an open secret that since
| Frank DE Haas Robson went 10 ST. Louis
is estimated to be close TO slooooo and he is
| said TO be ready TO quit the game. IL u
| said that Barney Dreyfuss. owner of the
| Pfttsburg club, has been quietly engaged
| for some time engineering a deal by which
~.
The report says that Dreyfuss is endeavor-
| ing TO organize syndicate 10 buy the club
| and. should he fail In this, the National
| League is to assume control and run the
team.
Sunday baseball in New York city is more
| than a possibility for the near future in
view of the metropolitan tendency toward
| a wide open Sunday and the impetus given
that sentiment BY the recent Tammany tri-
umph.
One of the matters that will receive at
| tention at the meetings OF the major leagues
will be the problem of reducing expenses
for the future. Though good fortune has
attended about four clubs in the two big
leagues the remaining twelve clubs are do
ing business on too narrow a margin be-
| tween profit and loss. Hence. for their
! good and the stability OF their leagues, Il
| Is absolutely necessary that safer basis
| of operation be reached without delay.
II Is among the possibilities that the
schedules Of the major leagues will be cut
to l26 or 1s2 games next year in each OF the