The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-19
NEW MAJOR LEAGUE
May Spring From American Associa-
ton and Western LEAGUE.

New York Nov. 19.-SeVeral prom
inent baseball men here in discussing
yesterday the action of the Eastern
league and the American association
in boiling the meeting of the National
Association of Minor Leagues in Chi
cago on Wednesday, after the dele
gates had voted down a proposition
to place these two circuits in a class
by themselves, were positive in the
belief that before long a new major
league circuit will be organized which
may precipitate a baseball war of
wide dimensions. For more than
two years the American association,
which is the most powerful minor
of expansion, and has repeatedly
threatened to put club in Chi
cago. The national baseball COM
mission has steadily opposed this
what is known as organized base
ball." embracing allt of the major and
minor leagues in this country.
Until recently the American asso-
citation stood alone in trying to effect
this plan, but the action of the East
ern league, the biggest and best minor
league in America, in standing by the
American association has made many
baseball men believe that there is
great deal more under the surface
than has yet been disclosed. 1t has
been known for a long time that Ed
ward Hanlon. the owner of the
Baltimore club, has been in favor of
organizing a new major league circuit
to take in his city, while it has also
been reported on various occasions
that if a break should come, Buffalo
and Providence, two other leading
Eastern league cities, would get
aboard the band wagon. A month
ago it was common gossip that Clark
Griffith was in with some such scheme,
that might enable him to locate a new
ball club in this city, and the fact
that he has shown up in Chicago and
is apparently in no hurry to accept
the management of the Cincinnati
club lends color to the belief that he
is still trying to bring about something
radical in the baseball line.
The American association men have
within the last ten days been accused
of not only planning an invasion of
Chicago, but also of a well laid scheme
to put new clubs in St. Louis, Pitts
burg and Cincinnati. If there is really
anything in this report local baseball
men said yesterday that in case the
Minor League association refused to re-
cede from its present position and the
national commission also declines to
recognize the claims of the American
association and the Eastern league it
will not be at all surprising If before
the winter is half over a new major
league circuit embracing Chicago, Gin
cinnati, St. Louis and Pittsburg in the
west and New York Buffalo Baltimore
by the leading schemers in the two big
minor leagues.
In order to start such an organiza-
tion, however it must be remembered
that big money would have to be spent.
To secure star players who would at
tract the public patronage it would be
necessary to raid the major leagues for
talent. In that event a big baseball
war would result, and in fight to d
finish the American and National
leagues, with plenty of coin to spend,
would probably win out. If Griffith
really has an idea of placing a new
club in this city he may have over
looked the fact that accessible grounds
are practically out of the question,
while it would take all of 100000 cash
to set the ball rolling. To conservative
judges it looks as if the American as
ISOLATION schemers were shooting at
the moon, and that when the time ar
rives for real action in the way of ex-
banding the circuit they will find that
they are up against a hard proposition.
As matter of right, however, base
ball men say that the Eastern league
and the American association should