The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-08
ANTNDEPENDENCE
DEMAND OF AMERICAN AssOCIA-
 TION AND EASTERN LEAGUE.
Request of National Commission that They Be Permitted to Conduct Their Own AMatre--Want
 Higher ClasaiGeation


 Higher Classification.
 New York, Dec. 7-Baseball was played here today with much avidity-- not the kind that thrills the fields. but the chamber sessions that disentagle snarls in the skein of management.
 The chief events were meetings of tn National Baseball Commission and of representatives of the Eastern League and the American Association which bofted the recent Chicago meet ing, and the presentation by the latter to the National Commission of demands which. if granted, they declare will make for the betterment of the game.
 It has been anticipated all along that the dissentients of the Chicago meeting would demand higher classi- fication and a modification of the rules covering the drafting of players, and these things they did demand. But they went farther and requested that they be permitted to conduct their affairs as a separate organization, though under such restrictions, rules and regulations as the National Com mission shall from time to time adopt." Harry Pulliarn, President of the Ma tional League; Ban Johnson, Presi- dent of the American League, and Garry Rerrman, chairman, constitut- ing the National Commission, heard the demands. They were presented by Henry J. Killilea of Milwaukee. Others in attendance at the meeting were President P. T. Powers of the Eastern League. President John D. o'BrIen of the American Association. and T. H. Murnane, J! H. O'Rourke, M. H. Sexton, B. NJ. 6hively and Sec- retaryJ. H Farrill of the National As- sociation. Before reading the paper. MT. Killilea said that the wishes of the Eastern American combination were not in any way intended to make for Reorganization of the present arrange ment of baseball. After the paper had been read, Secretary Farrell of the National Association asked that he be given until Wednesday morning to re- ply. and this was granted.
 Mir. Killilea's paper was as follows:
 When the American Association be- came a party to the National Associa- tion of Professional Baseball Leagues, 1t was agreed that the National Board of Arbitration consist of five members, three of whom should be members of leaders known as Class A. Shortly afterwards under protest, the consti- tuition was amended increasing the Board of Arbitration to seven, the two additional members being immediately taken from leagues below the Ameri- can Association and the Eastern League, wholly and entirely placing the management of the two largest baseball leagues in the United States, excepting the two major leagues, in the hands of body of men from leagues far below the American As- sociation and Eastern League in at- tendance, in investments and import ance.
 The following privileges and con- sessions are asked:
 Authority to conduct their affairs as a separate organization under such restrictions. rules and regulations as the National Commission shall from time to time adopt; that the national agreement be so amended as to au- thorize and permit the American As- sociation and Eastern League to draft players from all leagues except the National and American Leagues, pro- vided. however. that said leagues can draft but one man from Class clubs of the National Association.
 That the draft and purchase rule of the national agreement leagues be ed and drafted from leagues below the American Association and Eastern League be offered the American As sociation and Eastern League at the original draft price before being re- turned to the League from which draft ed or purchased; that the national agreement be so amended as to limit the number of players any club of either major league shall have under contract for reservation at any time to twenty-five. after May l5 to 20.
 That the Eastern League and Amer lean Association be permitted to draft players from either minor league for a period of fifteen days. beginning at the expiration of the time fixed for drafting of players by major leagues, for the following considerations: Class A. $75O: B. $500: c, $500 and D. $20o.
 That the class from which the major leagues may be drafted from the Amer ican Association and Eastern League be limited from September Is to oc- tober 1.
 That the national agreement be so amended as to permit the Eastern and American, Association to draft terri tory from other minor leagues under terms and conditions to be prescribed.
 That National Commission rule 36 be applied to American Association and Eastern League clubs in the same man ner as 1t applies to major league clubs with the further pl OvisiUns that no in- dividual player can be sold more than once under an optional agreement. Secretary Bruce, for the commission. announced that the commission had | concluded to limit the drafting periods for major leagues to September 1 to 15 | of each year If 1t met with the ap- | proval of the club owners ef thasa two