Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-10
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Glass A Magnates Routed by Smaller
Leagues.

CHICAGO. ILL.,, January 10-The class A
minor leagues met defeat at every turn in
the annual meeting of the National Asso-
citation of Professional Base Ball Leagues
at the Annex yesterday The smaller
leagues. by their numerical strength
triumphed so completely that the larger
leagues took virtually no part in the meet
Ing.
Only the fact that two OF the class 4 cir
cults are rent with factions al present pre-
vented an immediate bolt on their part
That break will occur as soon as the fac
lions can patch up their differences is pre-
dicted by those closely in touch with minor
league affairs.
The actual session was as short az the
reading of voluminous reports would per-
NIT. the real business being transacted with
speed aud without argument. The mag
mates d1d not get into session until late In
the afternoon, but the preceding hours had
been cranmed full of conferences.
The- class A leagues held forth in the
Grand Pacific during the morning, while the
other leagues lobbied In the Annex 1t did
not take long TO discover how matters were
going and the leading leagues decided to
let matters take their course to take their
medicine and hide their time
1t was significant that Messrs Havenor,
Lennon and Tebeau of the American Asso-
citation did not enter the meeting room The
faction was represented by President
OBrten. while ]. Ed. Grilo of Toledo alone
represented the Watkins faction. 1t was
more significant that Attorney Griffiths and
others OF the Eastern League held aloof
while the Pacific Coast League, the third
party to the class clique, was not repre-
scented at all, except by proxy, and that
was not admitted.
Some of the things which the smaller
leagues accomplished were the smothering
or all the demands Of the larger leagues for
an equal voting power, for the creation of
a special class with special privileges, and
with the right to name their own repre-
sentatives on the board; the removal Of the
balance Of power from the class A leagues
by increasing the board Of arbitration from
fve members to seven, four OF which rep
resent the smaller circuits. and the change
whereby amendments to the constitut on
can be made by three-fourths vote In
stead of by a four-fifths vote as previously
Howard Grimths was deposed entirely
from National Association affairs, and
George Tebeau was not returned to the
board of arbitration. The new board elected
is composed of E, F. Bert of the Pacific
Coast League. ]. Ed Grillo of the American
Association, w. NJ; Kavanaugh of the
New England League. j. H ORourke of
the Connecticut League, NJ FL. Sexton of
the Three / League and d. NJ. Shiveley of
the Western Association.
This makes a minority of three for the
class A leagues In the court Of last resort
for the minors. In order to secure the ma
jority OF four the smaller leagues were
obliged to increase the membership of the
board, as ii is a part of their agreement
that the class leagues shall at all times
have three members on the board.
President o Brien of the American Asso-
citation was placed In nomination for the
board, but withdrew his name In favor OF
Grillo. which was considered a graceful act
by all parties concerned.
p. Il. Powers was reelected president of
the National Association by unanimous
vote, and j. II. Farrell was reelected secre-
tary and treasurer, with the additional COM
pliment of making his term extend Ave
years from date. A committee was APP
pointed to confer with the national COM
mission in Cincinnati regarding the new
drafting rules which have been passed upon
by both major leagues and the minors, but
still have to be put into concrete form. The
committee named was Messrs. Powers, Far
rell. kavanaugh and Sexton.