Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
ANOTHER BASE BALL wRANaLE.
Major Leagues May Go to War Over
Schedule

There is every indication at present of
clash between the two big base ball leagues
says the New York Sun. The Ridgewood
case has created much i'll feeling, but the
situation as regards the playing schedules,
unless the National League backs down. is
likely to bring things to crisis
When President Johnson of the American
League told yesterday in New York that
the championship season in that city would
be opened by the Americans on April IA
there was CONSERVATION among the Ma
tional League men, who lost no time in
making a counter statement. AT the office
of the National League in the St James
building, New York. Dreyfuss and Ebbets
both members Of the schedule committee
We're on Eand early for conference with
Johnson, the idea being to harmonic mat
tiers. But as Johnson was confined to his
bed at the Criterion Hotel suffering from
severe cold, the confab was postponed
until today.
When Dreyfuss was asked about the pro-
posed opening OF the American League sea
son in New York on April IA, he said 1t was
the plan of the National League to open at
the Polo Grounds on the same date. even
II there a conflict He declared that
the National League was determined to
open the championship season in New York
ahead of the Americans. come what might.
Dreyfuss also stated that the New York
Nationals wanted to play at the Polo
Grounds Memorial day and that they
would insist on it.
When the two leagues got together last
winter they agreed to arrange non-con-
flicting schedules as far as possible The
New York Nationals were allowed to open
first. were also scheduled in New York
for Memorial day and Labor day. and had
by far the better of the arrangement
No protest was heard from Gordon and
Farrell, for the reason that it was repre-
sented to them that there would be "a COM
plete change In their favor this year. This
would give each club a fair break it was
argued by the peacemakers and Gordon
and Farrell remained content.
But the National League men. according
to the opinion freely expressed by non-par-
tisans yesterday, are ready to break faith.
They secretly believe it is thought, that by
conflicting with the New York Americans
as much possible during the delay in
getting the subway running to the new
grounds they can do some harm. as they
figure that the crowds under such circum-
stances will flock to the Polo Grounds in
large numbers to the detriment of their
sportsmanlke rivals
When johnson, however, meets Dreyfuss
and Ebbets today he will have a perfect
understanding. He would not discuss Drey-
fuss statement last night, but 1t is known
that he will stand no chicanery Neither
will Gordon and Farrell, who conferred
with johnson at length Yesterday 1t Is
safe to say that If the National League in
sists on hogging mat tiers in New York city
it will find conflict in Boston, Philadel-
phia and St Louis, where the National
teams are in distress.
Harry Pulliam. president of the National
League, declared yesterday that as far as
the RidgewoOd case is concerned he could
not see the necessity of a meeting of the
national commission. as the decision was
up to Garry Hermann, the chairman.
Johnson said. however, that Hermann
could not decide the case single handed,
but that the affair would have to be passed
upon by the commission as whole.
Yet all of these wrangies and quarrels are
carried on under the guise of peace which
the National League sought last winter on
Bonded knees.