The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-26
NATIONAL POLO LEAGUE
SOON WILL Be FORMED
J. Ed Grillo, President of Proposed
Organization, Discusses It's
Plans.
MAY MEET IN THIS CITY
Western and Central League Stars
VIII Be Signed by the
National.
MAY MEET IN THIS CITY

President J. Ed Grillo, OF the American
Association of Baseball Clubs, also holds
the presidency of the National Roller Polo
League Mr. Grillo talked very freely last
night of the National League and is san
gune of its success when once well under
way. He said:
1.-The National Polo League will be go.
Owing TO the fact that the league circuit
has not yet been decided and that the mag
mates OF the new organization have been
working in the dark and keeping quiet,
the report is in circulation that our league
would not be in readiness TO open the sea-
son in November. This is erroneous. The
majority of those interested in the forma-
ton of the big league are interested In
baseball, and now that the seasons have
just opened they are naturally busy with
the affairs of their clubs.
THE National League will hold meet
ing inside of three weeks but where the
meeting will be held 1 have not decided.
1 will call the meeting when the proposed
franchise holders think best, as 1 want
every club which has asked for admittance
to be represented. Indianapolis, Cincinnati
or Columbus will get the meeting, but just
which one L am not prepared to say at
this time"
do you think that it would help the
game in this city for Indianapolis TO be-
come a member of the National?" was
Il certainly do The plan of having
smaller cities contest against teams rep
resenting cities of greater population has
been tried in baseball and kindred sports
and il has, in the majority OF cases, proved
a dismal failure. Every city in the pro-
posed circuit of the National will have an
al nf
which 10 draw.
"Will the proposed national organiza-
ton pay the players enormous salaries"
ut certainly will not. The players when
asking for fancy salaries must take into
consideration the big expense of running
an organization of this kind. The mileage
will play three or four game-series in each
city. This will also of course mean addi-
tional hotel expenses. In your Western
League the players could make any city in
the circuit and return to their homes on the
same night The operating expenses of a
team in the Western League cannot be
compared with that of a national club.
1T is my opinion that roller polo will un-
dergo the greatest boom in its history the
coming year. When the National is organ
lied it is probable that the Central and
Western leagues will consolidate
Mr.. Garry Herman, of the Cincinnati
National League baseball club, will be be-
hind the Cincinnati project in the National
League and Mr.. Bryce, of Columbus, prob
ably will secure the franchise for that
city.
THE Western and Central stars will be
in the National League next year. Not
that we will pay higher salaries. because
il is probable that a salary limit will be
agreed upon before the opening of the
season. You may take il from me that the
big league will not let the two Indiana
leagues overbid them in its fight for play
ers. Neither will the two leagues named
be allowed to dictate. We will enter the
game upon a percentage basis and ever
| club will then have the same chance. The
promoters of the National have been inter-
ested in baseball too long to do any
thing that will hurt the game. The Ma
tional Roller Polo League will be formed
inside of thirty days and work on the
Kinks in the cities granted franchises will
be started shortly after"
Mr. Grillos statement shows that he is
fully conversant with the affairs of the
two Indiana polo leagues. He has watched
the situation closely and will make an ad-
mirable leader for the new organization.