Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-31
THE SPORTING NEWS.
THE DIAMOND
GREAT TIMES
 AT THE SESSION
Still a Little Undercurrent For a New League More News
 About Players.

The discontent over existing condi-
 tons on the part of a couple of
 leagues in the National Association of
 Professional Baseball clubs came to
 an airing yesterday at the meeting of
 the National association. The dele, gates got down to the real issue and
 the proceedings developed sharply
 drawn lines between those who would
 change the present agreement which
 binds the minor leagues, and those
 who would not. The American as-
 sociation and the Eastern league want to be in class all by them
 selves. and said so yesterday. They
 were alone in that desire. All the other leagues-twenty-one of them,
 were present yesterday were opposed.
 In connection with the question, hay
 ing great deal to do with it. is the
 attitude of the major leagues in
 drafting and holding on to players
 and making them just that scarce in
 the minor league market.
 Everybody had his hand to his ear yesterday when J. D. O'Brien presi- dent of the American association, in
 accordance with a resolution adopted last Sunday, made the following de-
 mands on behalf of his association
 That the Pacific Coast league, South ern league and Western league be %n- duced to calss B; that the national
 board of arbitration be reduced to live members, one of them to be rep resentative of the American associa- ton, one of the Eastern league, two representatives of the leagues lower
 than class A, and the fifth to be se- lected by the representatives of the American association and Eastern league; that all meetings of the Ma tional association hereafter be held in Chicago.
 When these bold demands had been made known vigorous discussion fol- lowed. Class A at present is com posed of five leagues. the American association, Eastern league and the three that these two want reduced. Frank Leonard of the Lynn, Mass, club said he failed to see how any benefit would result from the proposed changes. Judge Kavanagh. presi- dent of the Southern league, opposed the O'Brien resolutions. He declared the Southern league had the reoui- site population of over a million and was entitled to Class A membership. McCreadie of Portland, speaking for the Pacific Coast league said the na- tional agreement had three years to run and that he was willing to abide by the 1910 census as to remaining in class 4.
 Secretary Farrell of the national association called the attention of the delegates to the fact that when the Pacific Coast league was taken into the association ranks there was an agreement that it never should he placed lower than class A. Judge King of the Virginia league said it was a matter of contract and honor that the Pacific Coast league should not he reduced. Others who orated against the resolutions were O'Rourke of the Connecticut league. Sexton of the Three I league and Ewing of the Pacific Coast league.
 President Powers vacated tho chair and in behalf of the Eastern league spoke of the evils of farming and drafting. O'Brien. in support of his demands, said his league suffered from the wholesale drafting from other leagues and that 1t could not find suf- ficient players to purchase. Several remedies were proposed by different delegates On was that the Ameri- can and Eastern league drafting sea- son open at the same time as the majors. another was than an anti farming law be adopted.
 When the O'Brien resolutions came up for action they were laid on the table: that is. the first two were. The association decided to hold it's next meeting in Chicago. The other two resolutions were finally disposed Of for the time being by the suggestion that the American association and Eastern league send representatives to confer with the committee on revis- ion of the constitution to see if a plan could not be hit upon.
 The Atlantic league. which is not in the national association. asked for a friendly agreement that the latter was not to take any of the Atlantics players during the playing season. The request was tabled. Mike Regan was elected an honorable member of the national association.
 Isn't 1t up to the major leagues to essen these farming and drafting wills you complain off" one manager I was asked
 "A fine chance we'd have asking hem was the reply. You know now much they do for tho minor eagues. Some of their cluhs have as many as fifteen or twenty pitchers ilOne signel for next season while ! lere I an with only four players l. lrafted. not satisfied with what they'll ]. mount to. and ret I'll have tO wait 1 lntil the major leagues decide who ! hey don't want next season and then l luy what players can from them. ! There's only One way to treat with . hese majcr leagues and that is to < ight them Either that or grin and < ear 1t vhirh I suPpcse is what ve1l | lave to do