The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-18
Some of the Benefits Derived
 from the Advance
RESULT OF LONG FIGHT
Players in Southern League Cannot Be Drafted Except By American and National Leagues.
 Price Changed.

The Southern league is now in Class A. The fight for the position in the baseball world has been going on for three years with President Kavanaugh leading the battle.
 The Southern league is now next to the portance, as these organizations are the only ones that occupy a higher dstinc- ton than Class A clubs. The following leagues make up the Class A organiza- ton:
 Southern Eastern. Pacific Coast and Western, and American association.
 Heretofore the other leagues mentioned could draft players from the Southern. In fact during the present year a South ern player was drafted by a western league team, Jimmy Smith of Shreveport by Denver. In the future no clubs will be allowed to draft players from this or ganization, except those of the American and National leagues. Previously no limit had been placed on the number of men that could be taken from the minors by the majors, but hereafter 1t will be diff ferent. Major league teams will be allow ed to draft only one man from each Class A club. The price that must be paid for such privilege is $1OOO Heretofore it was $75O
 The placing of the Southern league in the class next to the big leagues means that the strength of the organization and the ability of the players turned out Is recognized by the baseball powers. For players drafted from the Southern league since the creation of the organization, only $500 has been paid Every league which occupied higher standing than the Southern was allowed the privilege of drafting players. Getting in Class A means to the Southern league that when players are developed that there is only chance for one of them to be gobbled up against the wishes of the owners. If the team owners desire to sell players it is a different proposition. The draft rule recently adopted by the minor league rep resentatives puts a stop to the whole sale taking of players.
 Must Be Approved.
 The rule adopted by the National Asso- citation of Minor League clubs, as far as the draft clause is concerned. must be approved by the American and National leagues. A great fight was made against such a change last year by Ban Johnson, president of the American league, but
 
 ed Thursday. A year ago George Tebeau, George Stalings, Howard Griffiths and others tried to ride roughshod over Presi- dent Johnson. They desired the draft price to be made s15O0 and two men to be draft ed from each team. Opposition to advanc- ing the Southern league to Class A was manifest among them.
 President Johnson came back at the leaders of the movement with exactly the proposition which has been adopted That is to raise the Class A draft price to 5000 and the draft price in other leagues approximately. Nothing was said con corning the number of men to be drafted.
 In view of the attitude assumed by President Johnson d year ago 1t is almost certain that he will not oppose the rule adopted by the minor league representa- tives.
 The agreement reached with the Amer lean and National leagues, allowing the majors to draft as many players as de- sired for years.
 Since raising the Southern league to Class A the New York Central and New England leagues compose the class from which the Southern has just graduated.
 Arthur Ragan, who Is in Cherryvale, Kan. has written President Baugh of the local associa tion that he is in good con- dition. The twirler says that he has en- tirely recovered from his illness in this city at the end of the past season.
 Slagpile Notes.
 Harry Mathews has letter fom Vaughan, in which the manager stated that he would be In Birmingham immedi- ately after the holidays.
 Ned Hanlon, whom Herman has fin ally prevailed upon to accept the manage ment of the Cincinnati team, may i.ake several changes in the lineup. It is al most a certainty that Tommy Cocoran, who has been the captain for the club for several years. will be relieved of that re- SponSibtlfty Jan1op preaf adp,frar