The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-24
Want to See Another Baseball
War.
Big League Players Would Vel
come the Move.
MEAN HIGH SALARIES.
Efforts Being Made to Reorgan-
fze Protective Association.
Other News of Interest in the
World of Sport.

New Orleans, March zA.-The presence
| in the south of Howard Grifiths. of
Jersey City, chairman of the national
board of the minor leagues, together
with Tip O'Neill. who accompanied
GriHiths to California and finally per-
suaded the Pacific Coast leagues to
| agree to join nthe revolt of Glass A
clubs against Ban johnson and the
American league, in case it was decid-
ed to go to that extreme. has aroused
great interest among the big league ball
players who are now training in this
part Of the country. Already efforts are
being made to reorganize the defunct
Players Protective association, with
the avowed intention of taking advan-
tage Of any favorable opportunities that
may arise in case war is declared by the
Class A organizations. The players are
working quietly and secretly on their
new scheme and refuse to acknowledge
organize.
But IT is known that there are many
players IN very fractions and dis
gruntled state of mind over the general
cut in salaries by both the American
and National league clubs and would
welcome the chance to get even. With
peace existing there was little use in
making any kick, but with a possible
war in sight, concerted action by the
players, which could be taken with the
players organized into a unit, their de-
mandS might be listened to. The play
ers keep posted on all baseball politics
that is going on, and there are many
intelligent ones among them who look
far enough ahead to realize that an
other war would be placing things right
into their hands.
The Pacific Coast leagues, as far dis
tant and obscure as they are, as outlaw
organizations caused the big leagues a
world of trouble. and of so D11Tch dam
gerous Importance did the major bodies
consider the buccaneers that they sent
President Johnson, James A. Hart and
Edward Hanlon out to the coast to pull
them back into line.
This committee was successful in get
ting the coast leagues to Join the ma
tional agreement, and it is a peculiar
fact that Hanlon, a member of that
committee, is now one of the reVolu-
tionists. The players, therefore, appre-
ciate that if two small far western
leagues are able to cause so much trou-
Bile organizations of as much strength
and Importance as the Eastern, West
ern and Pacific Coast leagues, together
with the American Association, would,
If they -revolted, cause a conflict that
would shake organized ball to its foun-
datiOn. There were many consultations
between the players of the New York
and Chicago clubs here and also be-
tween members of the Giants and Yam
KEGS in Birmingham. The Boston
Americans and Cincinnati Reds will be
able to consult over the reorganization
in Jacksonville, and the Yankees will
meet the CIeVelands in Atlanta next
week.
Certain players are not backward at
all in letting it be known that they IA
vor another war. War times salaries
are much larger than when peace refgns
and to play one rival organization
against another is a successful way to
boost their stipends.