The Cairo bulletin., 1904-11-02
MINOR LEAGUES
HAVE BAD CAUSE
Which Will Lead Them TO Dis.
astr0us End.
HANkER AFTER B0NNO
MANY CLUBS SEEKING TO SIGN
PADucAH'S STAR ITALIAN
TWiRLER GINSENG IN


Apropos the raise in the scale of
draft prices in the minor leagues,
some players, very, very few, have
been drafted by the major organlza-
tions who have doubled or trebled in
value 10 the club drafting them as
they were diamonds in the rough and
seasons experience in faster com,
pany polished them to such an ex-
.ent as TO make them priceless jewels.
But in the case of majority of those
drafted no amount of schooling would
make them any faster than the com
panv from which they were drafted
and really the price paid for them
would have been too big If II had
been less than 80 cents. II Is be-
cause the major clubs are obliged 10
take all the risks in purchasing and
drafting players, while the minors
gel the money and frequently the play
ers, too, that there II small chance
for any Increase in the scale OF the
presen. National agreement.
II is possible. of course, that the
minor leagues the kindergarten of
5as eball. may be so convinced OF Their
own ability TO govern themselves
that they will break away from the
National agreement altogether ana
Try to paddle their own canoe. Many
Of them think they are eminently fit
ted for thai and that the major
leagues would be the ones 20 suffer in
such case For the good Of Dascoa.:
t is hoped there are wlseheads
enough In the council OF The minors 10
prevent breach, if their demands
are denied, as they are almost Ger
tain to be. BUT ii a break should
come the major leagues would not be
the real sufferers The National
agreement would remain intact, OF
course. insofar as il governs the rela
tions OF the two big leagues and those
organizations are practically unanl-
NOUS on one subjeet--that they are
tired of the One-sided way in which
the present agreement works in favor
OF he minors. Ban Johnson. presi-
dent OF the American league, declar-
ing Yesterday at Chicago that as lar
as his organization was concerned, it
was done with the National Assoeia-
tion Of Professional Baseball leagues.
The big leagues would suffer in
way with the minors only in having
the discipline of their teams impair
ed, because di grun.led player
could threaten always to jump to
minor league club But the number
0f payers who would do that would
be small compared 10 the whole.
1t helps the big leagues to have the
minors prosper because of the great.
er interes. il awakens in the game
and the greater number of players
developed But what the majors
would snffer in battle with The min
ora would be ridicnlously small N
comparison with what would happen
TO the minors If they should start any.
ching. They would lcse the thousands
of dollars now paid by the two big
league clubs for players purchased or
drafted every year. These sales are
depended upon by many clubs to re-
coup the losses of the playing season.
Without an agreement the majors
would take what players they wanted
of course without paying for them.
They would 'ake them in midacasO
or any other time they wanted them
No minor magnate could count on
retaining his team intact. even if he
were in the middle Of a not battle for
a pennaat. There would be no pro.
tec'ion from the majors whatever
During the recent war between tho
big leagues, while there was no agree.
mcnt the majors were not warning
against the minors They observed
minor league contracts. ard in many
instances actually paid for players I'M
necessarily. only To regret il because
the minors showed no appreciation of
such consideration. The minors i'm
agine they can govern and protect
themselves. but will find their mis-.
take a serious one II they undertake
it The proposed new classification
already has caused split IN 'ne
ranks of the minor. and even the al
tacSs of common enemy might NOT
keep them from fighting among them
selves
The temper of the major leaguea
toward he minors Is noae too pleas
ant al hes Under the existing agree
meat Whenever a claim mas been al
lowed a minor league club against a
major leagnc club by the National
commission. that claim has been set
tied promptly Whenever a claim has
been allowed a major iessue clur
against minor leagr< club payment
has bC-n lDv' At best. and there are
many srca claims unpaid today az
ter n,an-as of effort to collect them
This .e 1Hiy a lesser complaint. now
eve RI many cases the minors nave
played sharp practices 20 the.r OWL
profit and ,he loss Of the majors.
Th situation as 80 stands now puts
the American ana National leagues g.
nu -fsn cf complete Indifference g.
Whai tie minor leagues do regarding
the National aEstcment. II the min
or- care 80 cOnilaEe the present peac
compsc5 well and good; II not there
will be o. coercion On the part 0f ths
m1ilr lessgos nor any particular re-
gfet af the term.alfion Of 30 one