Evening journal., 1908-01-25
UNION LEAGUE
CLUB IS ASSURED
cal" Lawson, President Of
New Association Conferred
With Local BaCkeTS
NO FIGHT WITH TRI-STATE

"Al" w. Lawson, president Of the
Union League of Baseball Clubs, spent
an hour or so in Wilmington yester-
day afternoon in conference with those
interested in placing a Union team in
this city, and In an interview with the
newspaper men stated emphatically
that Wilmington would be represented
in the Union League, making the sew
enth city out of the eight which had
been definitely decided upon.
While here Mr.. Lawson conferred
with three men Of ample means who
are interested in the new club, but
whose names he declined to disclose
at present, and stated that they had
deposited with him a certified check
for $500, which sum covers the money
required for the purchase Of franchise
and the league dues.
In a previous interview Lawson had
assured those interested in the new
club that If they would get the grounds
at Riverview and ht up a ball park in
an up-to-date manner he would see
that Wilmington would get a franchise,
as the power had been conferred upon
him by the directors of the league to
select the remaining two cities, which
would make the circuit complete, which
Thursday Mr.. Lawson was notified that
ne grounds at Riverview had been Sc
lred and he was asked to come to
gilmington to look over the situation.
nspeeted the Grounds
In accordance with this request,
lawson came to Wilmington and In
company with William +. Waller, who
will be the local business manager of
the team, visited the Riverview field
yesterday afternoon and expressed
himself as much pleased with the situ-
alton.
The Union League will hold a meet
ing In Philadelphia early next month
and at that time the franchise for Will
mington will be granted. At this meet
ing the date Of opening Of the season
will be fixed, the schedule OF games
arranged and the eighth city decided
upon. Regarding the last city to be
selected, Mr. Lawson states that al
though he has the power to name It
he prefers that the league, as a body
take action upon the question, as there
are four cities that desire to become
members of the league These are
J.. and New York. In case the latter
city is taken in it will give the new
League a circuit OF cities the combined
population of which is three times that
Of the Eastern League circuit with
one-quarter the mileage, and six times
the population OF the Tri-State League
with one-half the mileage
The seven cities In which it has beer
definitely decided to place clubs are
Brooklyn. Paterson. Newark. Reading
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Whining
ton.
No Salary Limit
In speaking Of the salary limit, Mr.
Lawson stated that the Union League
would not take into consideration th'
salary list OF clubs but that the limi
would depend entirely upon the patron
lage an Individual club received. II
lcity would support a club with $l0
600 salary limit that city would get
$4,000 team Asked whether he di'
mot think such a proposition woul'
lhave a tendency to give to one city
lsuperior team over others, Mr. Lawson
stated that he did not think such woul'
be the cas-. owing to the fact that op
IUnSlllOn WOulu nt AHNN NANAA - H-+%++
levery place. and the larger the city III
greater the opposition.
No Opposition to Tri State
Speaking OF the conditions as the
win exist in Wilmington when tn
Union League locates here, Presiden
Lawson says: Il wish the Tri-Stat
League in Wilmington the best possiol
success. and hope to see both team
successful"
Regarding the outlaw proposition
'Mr LAWSON says that the unio
League is an "outlaw" and will renal
so as long as the national association
constitution forbids a club entering
city where league club has fran
( lchise. He holds that the National AS
sociation is nothing more than a base
bah trust, and as long as II has N
monopoly II will give to the public ba
| according to its (the association's) die
tation. Opposition, he believes, Is th
lonly thing that win bring good result
In speaking OF Mr.. Waller, who wi
manage the business end OF the loc'
club, Lawson states that he consider
him as a coming baseball manager, an
that he has a great future before hin
He stated that some seasons ago NJ
Waller recommended 20 him six PLAY
ers whom he believed would make goo
but that he thought he was over enthI