The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-06
MAJOR LEAGUES
AFTER MINORS
TO TURN DOWN NEW CLASS.
BIG MOGULS NETTLED BY INDIE
PENDENT STAND TAKEN.

MaGnates Declare They VIII Not
Drafting Price-American League
Preparing Report of Amount OF
Money Which Has Been Paid to
MinOrs-Big Leagues VIII Hold
Their Meeting Next Month.
There is every probability that the
American Association of Baseball Clubs
will be severely disciplined when the
various matters that pertain to it
under the national agreement come I'D
before the big leagues at their winter
meetings.
While both Of the presidents are
keeping silent in regard to the indie
pendent stand taken by the minors at
their recent New York meeting. some
OF the magnates are doing consid-
cradle talking, and the gist of their
remarks is that if the little clubs do
not know enough to let well enough
alone, they should be cast off.
The decision of the minors to create
a new class of leagues and raise the
drafting price will almost certainly be
turned down, while the "shel" Roach
incident is likely to be made the occa-
sion for a severe reprimand, if it does
not result in the abrogation of the
agreement, so far as the little clubs
are concerned. President Hermann.
of the Cincinnati Club, and president
of the National Commission, has ex-
pressed himself as Disguised with the
INSTRUMENTATION shown by the little fell
lows who. it is claimed. have been the
greatest beneficiaries from the base
ball pact.
a report showing the amount of
money the American League has paid
to the minors is in course of prepara-
ton, and it is probable that the Ma
tional League will make some such re-
port.
Il, for one. will not stand for any
increase in the drafting price" said
one big league magnate, to a Chicago
Chronicle reporter, land / do not be-
ieve there is a single club owner in
either circuit that will approve of it
The minors are skating on thin ice,
and, while I cannot predict what will
be done about the matter, the casting
of them adrift is among the possibili-
ties. We have put up with a lot of
questionable dealing from them. and
l have no idea that we are going to
be dictated to.
"As matter of fact, the national
agreement has been the salvation of
the little clubs and they have made
money. To work along in harmony
is a good thing for baseball. in the
abstract. but 1 do not think the big
leagues will care to pay all the freight.
Any way, the National Commission will
not stand for having it's decisions re-
Versed, especially as they are mani
testify just
The minor league problem will come
up before the American League at its
annual meeting late this month or
early in December. and the National
League will make a decision at its
first meeting. The fact that the mi
nors are not united on the questions
brought up makes it all the more prob
able that the innovations will not be
accented.
William O'Rourke. manager of the
Omaha team of the Western League.
which won the pennant in that organi-
cation this season, was I'm Chicago yes
terday on his return from the New
York meeting of the minor leagues.
which was concluded several days ago.
He announced that the st. joseph
team is 10 be transferred to Lincoln
Neb., which, it is expected, will make
the circuit much stronger. The mem
bers of the league will then be Omaha.
Denver. Des Moines, Colorado
Servings. Sioux City and Lincoln, in all
of which Sunday ball can be played.
1.-THE season has been a very pros.
porous one for the Omaha club" he
said, land for that matter. the whole
league did very well. OF course. the
fact that we had a pennant-winning
team and were I'D in the race all the
time had much to do with our sue
cess. The Colorado clubs did not do
very well on account of the floods. but
better luck is expected next season.
Minor league baseball probably new
er had such a successful season as the
one just closed. many clubs making :,
lot of money, and few losing to any
extent. Most of the leagues PLAYED
fast ball. too. and this resulted in a
lot of players being drafted or bought
| necessitating our bringing in a lot OF
recruits next season. The New York
meeting was very successful one. and
/ do not think any troubles with the
big leagues will come of it."