Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-12-14
THE SPORTING NEWS.
THE DIAMOND.
ANNUAL MEETING OF
 THE NATIONAL LEAGUE


 of red tape were unravsled at the meet. Ing of the National league base ball magnates held in the Victoria hotel yesterday. Beyond this nothing of note was accomplished.
 With much pomp and ceremony the pennant emblematic of the champions ship of the National league for 1yO4 was awarded to John T. Brush's Giants.
 President Harry Puliiam was re elected to his present position at the head of the organization. Then all the financial affairs of the league, submit ted by President Pulliam, were ap proved. and at 6 o'clock the meeting adjourned until to-day.
 The first business was the report of the board of directors, which included the official declaration that the New Torks had won the pennant for 1905. Then q report from, former President N. D. Young ifl> relation the circuit reduction debt of $125, GOO was read and adopted, a vote of thanks and a Christmas present being rendered to Mir Young for his services. This debt was incurred four years ago, wken tue circuit was reduced from twelve to eight clubs. the above amount beinh paid for the removal of Washington Baltimore, Louisville and EIeveland With such heavy burden finally 10 moved the National league men nat urally felt happy when Mir Youngs welcome statement was received.
 In order to show the boom in base hall enjoyed by several of the clubs last season. it was officially announced that the total paid attendance in the | ea3fg 1f% I sseA of trifie more than 3,000 per game. allowing that each club played the full schedule of seventy-seven games on the home grounds.
 To-day the question of a post-season series with the champions of the Amer ican league will probably come up, ana 1t has been strongly rumored that there is a unanimous sentiment in favor of playing the games to deter mine the undisputed worlds champion ship. ssx
 The unsportsmanHke action of John I. Brush In now allowing the GiaAtA 10 play the ganess9ast year was gen, eyally condemneCa.4ott
 It was said tilatNnot wlthstanding tue agitation for the abolition of the foul strike rule 1t will probably be retained another year. Nothing definite STiIl be -L Nt lacAt Of a rules committee, which win confer with the American committee next spring.
 Rumors of the trade of Mike DonIin of the Giants are without foundation. John q. BrushH In denying them, says he will stand pat on last years team.
 George Browne, the Giants outdela. CT. in measure bore tlais out when he turned in his signed contract yester- day,
 While waiting for a few of the mag mates to arrive those who were all ready on the scene got together and talked base ball at a fast gait. That there will be many trades agreed to before the meeting comes to an end is evident by the way the different mag mates talked on this matter.
 President Hermann of the Ciucin- nati club says he is willing to pay as high as $50.OO0 for players to strength, en his team next season. He has his eye on three or four stars and says he will do all In his power to la1sa them before he returns to Gincinnati
 One of the players that Hermann will make a strong effort to secure is Jack Warner, the Giants great back stop. President Hermann and Gap tain Joe Kelley of the Reds are ann ious to secure Warner because Of his value as coacher of young pitchers.
 During the afternoon Johnny Dunn, who took the champion Giants on their Transforming trip after the season was over. practically completed all details for a trip of the Giants to Cuba. Ed Lamar, manager of the Il-Cuban base ball team, had a talk with Dunn re- garding the trip. and as the conditions were acceptable the trip will in all probability be made. If the Giants can be induced to go they will leave here on January 28 and will remain in Cuba for four weeks, during which time they will play exhibition games with the AH-Cubans. They will re turn here on February 28, four days before the Giants start south to begin their spring practice.
 .J Ed Grillo, president of the Ameri- can association, has come on for the meeting and says that two of his um pires. Klem and Bausewine. have been engaged for the National league stah next season. Managers Joe Kelley of Cincinnati, Fred Clarke of Pittsburg, Hugh Duffy of Philadelphia, Charley Nichols of St Louis and Umpire Silk O'Loughlin of the American league were in the corridors during the day, together with many other base ball men. When the meeting adjourned last night there was great popping of corks, a hand-shaking bee and nu- merous toasts, all of which denoted harmony in the ranks.