The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-26
MAY YET BOYCOTT .iUGGSY'' M 'GRAW Southern League Will Arise
 and Assert Itself GOSSIP FROM NEW ORLEANS Vaughan Talks About Plans and Other Managers Discuss Prospects for
 the Season Which Will
 Soon Open.
GOSSIP FROM NEW ORLEANS
BY ARTHUR F. eADMER.

Manager Harry Vaughan of the Bir- mingham club Manager Charley Babb of Memphis, Manager Charley Frank of New Orleans, and Secretary T. NJ Me- Culiough of Memphis spent several hours last night in a Royal street restaurant, discussing baseball matters in general and John McGraw's New York Giants in particular, and it looks very much l like somebody is going to start rough house soon, because of 'Muggsy's' &C., tion in trying to cancel the Giants train ing dates in Memphis.
 The peculiar tactics adopted by Me- Graw in Birmingham last year and in Memphis this season will in all prob ability precipltate one of the most bit ter baseball fights in history, and the National league is going to feel the ef- l feets of 1t in every way It is Pulliam's 1 league that has tried so continuously and in so many unfair ways to hold the minor organizations down, and It is fact known to all persons acquaint- ed with the game that every movement which tends to add to the strength of the smaller leagues Is vigorously op- posed by the National aggregation.
 August Hermann himself, chairman of the national commission, is as bad an actor almost as any other National league magnate, and the Cincinnati club is likely to be acted against when the proceedings now being discussed are in- stituted.
 Manager Babb has decided to take a firm stand in the New York Giants mat ter, and although he is guessing whether or not the Memphis club directors will support him, he intends to bring the matter to a final issue at an early date.
 T have cancelled the dates with the New York Giants, including the exhib- ltlon scheduled for March 25." he said. | T do not Intend to let the Giants enter Red Elm park as long as l am manager of the Memphis club I am in control of those grounds and believe I have supreme l authority so far as concerns persons who enter upon them. McGraw has acted l in such manner toward Memphis and other Southern league clubs that 1 am sure every club in the league will sup port me in the stand l am taking in the l matter"
 "I am with you to the finish," said Charley Frank. "We have the National league on the hip now, and if Birming ham stays with us, can throw them good and hard, and pin them down so tight they will not be able to move for some time."
 T have before now understood clearly that Birmingham has a good case against Brush and McGraw' said Manager Vaughan, land l am sure heavy dam ages will be awarded Birmingham when the fight comes to a head I have not | discussed the matter recently with Pres ident Baugh, but I am positive he Is with me in feeling that we should push this matter vigorously, for the ultimate good of the game everywhere.
 Case Is Conclusive.
 The facts are few and positive: New York had signed for a number of games in Birmingham last season, but jumped out of the Magic City without warning. The Birmingham club was left with open dates, when there was no way to fill them by making new engagements. Damages will be claimed by Birmingham.
 New York signed for number of exhi- bition games in Memphis, and Memphis has now cancelled them all. when there is little chance for New York to make new arrangements elsewhere New York has entered claim for damages against Mem phis.
 If New York gets damages from Mem phis, by the same ruling Birmingham will collect damages from New York. unless the national commission decides it fish for New York and flesh for Birmingham.
 The important feature of the fight Is that the Giants have forever ruled them selves off all Southern league diamonds. No club in the league will give them dates. and the way the managers make the announcement leaves little doubt as | to their sincerity.
 President Pullam's position in the mat ter is peculiar He was sercetary for Barney Dreyfuss of the Pittsburg club when a precedent was established in this same kind of fight in 1902. Charley Frank organized an inpendent club in Memphis to play exhibition games before the South ern league season opened. Pttsburg aT- ranged to play four games, Saturday, Sun day, Monday and Tuesday. Saturday and Sunday games were played, and Sunday night the Pittsburg club left for Louis vile without giving Memphis any notice. Monday Private Secretary Pulliam called on Manager Frank to make a settlement for the Sunday game, but Frank refused to pay him Pittsburgs share of the money unless the games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday were played. There was a lengthy argument and Pulliam threatened to take the matter into the courts, but nothing ever came of 1t, ths Pittsburg club practically admitting that it was to blame for failing to carry out the terms of It's contract.
 Manager Bahb Is going to play the gamo Scneuuleu With Pnllauelpnld MATCH 70, and the Giants will not be allowed the use of Red Elm park at any time. Thus the affair will be brought up in direct manner for early settlement
 The Phyle Case.
 The reinstatement of Billy Phyle by the league allows the former Memphis third baseman to play in the Southern league again, and the Memphis club has an ad- ditional nfielder who is quite d valuable man. Phyle would have been reinstated a year ago but for the fact that an at torney representing him threatened to take legal steps against the league to com pei his return to good standing
 This time Phyle very plainly admitted the fault charged against him, pleaded | that he was sore" and under the in- 1 fluence of liquor when he made the state ments. and averred that the matter had been greatly exaggerated by evildoers. He pleaded for pardon, and the league fig ured that he had been sufficiently punish ed by being deprived for two years of the right to work at his profession.
 Probable New Shortstop. 1 Manager Vaughan may try out new | shortstop as a result of his trip to New 1 Orleans. It depends altogether upon the result of negotiations now going on with 1 two men already well known to the game. | Vaughan expects definite results one way | or another in the next few days. and If the results are unfavorable, 1t Is very l likely he will give Speedy" Ref chance to show what he can do in the short- field.