The sun., 1908-03-20
SPORTING TALK OF INTEREST
UNION LEAGUE THREATENS TROU-
BILE FOR BASEBALL.
Catcher Mclean OF Cincinnati May Jump
tOIrN lns Washington Ciub-Rich Back
ers for the New OUTLAW CirCult-Much
Interest In BcnnlnEs Spring Meetlng.

Interest In BcnnlnES Spring Meeting.
Baseball men who have been poking fun
At the recently organized Union League,
an outlaw circuit which takes In Brooklyn,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington. Read
ing, Elizabeth, Paterson and Wilmington,
are just beginning to realize that the scheme
originating with Al lawson will probably
cause peck Of trouble for some Of the major
league clubs. Although unsuccessful ohers
have been made by the Union League to
Hans Wagner. Tyrus Cobb, Jack Thoney
and other we'll known players who are hold
ing on for big money, It Ia said that catcher
Larry Mclean Of the Cincinnati club may
jump his contract and sign with the Wash
ington Unions for three years at $500
year. An agent OF the Union League has
been at st. Augustine, Fla. where the Gin
cinnatis are training for several days and
the other night he got big Mclean under
his wing. They had a merry time and forgot
TO return to the hotel until almost daybreak.
Manager Camel heard Of the escapade and
suspended Mclean, but the latter promptly
exploded q bomb with the statementthat he
intended TO jump to the Union League.
Max Fleschmann, secretary OF the Gin
cinnau club, hunted up the Union League
man and after much persuasion the latter
consented to keep hands on until CAMEL
had seen Mclean, but the latter. anxious to
get the IS, 500 4 year, declared that he was
through with Cincinnati. The manager Of
the Washington Unions IL Arthur 4. Irwin,
one Of the best known baseball promoters in
America Irwin has been In several baseball
wars and believes in going after star players
with big money The Union League men,
from their willingness TO put up ready cash
to bind their offers to crack players, have
confirmed the belief that they have plenty
Of financial backing. All salaries have been
guaranteed In advance and no expense is
being spared in the construction OF new ball
parks in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash
inRton
Ifthe Union League manages to live through
the coming season It is said that the promoters
will invade New York with a club in The
Bronx and will also put a club in either Provi-
dence or some other New England city. An
attempt will also be made to induce many OF
the major league players to jump the reserve
rule next fall, which means that red hot
baseball war will result. The Brooklyn Unions
will play at Ridgewood Park. but 1t Is not be-
lieyed they will interfere with the business
OF the Brooklyn Nationals to any great eI-
tent Al the meeting Of the Union League in
son, Arthur Irwin and II. Walter Schlichter
were appointed to draw up playing schedule
the season to open on April 25 and close on
September 10.
Baseball is booming at Panama. There
are three well appointed ball parks In the
canal Zone, and R promoter Of the sport
there has arrived In this country to oder in
ducements 10 noted players to visit the 18TH
mus next fall.
Gov Wilson Of Kentucky has signed the
bill passed by both branches OF the Legis-
lature which permits poolselling and book
making on the racetracks licensed by the State
Racing Commission In Kentucky, but which
makes the maintenance Of a poolroom q fell
ony punishable by Imprisonment. The new
law will go into effect on June IA. and II
is the the opinion Of many legal experts that
Il will put every poolroom In the State out Of
business The breeders Of Kentucky, together
with hundreds Of business men. exerted so
much influence in favor Of this measure that
its passage was a foregone conclusion sew
eral weeks ago. II was drawn by Senator
Jack Chinn. who is chairman Of the Kentucky
Racing Commission, and who has always
been an enthusiastic turfman. II is said that
under the new law the Kentucky tracks will
permit bookmakinR and auction pools as
well as the use Of the Mutuel machines
which will be installed at Churchill Downs
for the first time this season.
Among the stakes TO be decided at Latonia
this spring Is the Fleischmann trophy for
two-year-olds. a continuance Of the Cincin-
natl trophy IL is next in value to the La
tona Derby and will be worth nearly 5000
TO the winner. Some Of the youngsters
entered are Of high class parentage. being re-
lated to excellent racers Of recent years,
The colt Won Buelow, by Alloway-Bretsel.
IL a half brother TO Minnie Adams. Ed Corri-
Ran's unnamed colt by Scintillant 1.-THE
Lady, should be a good one II he possesses
any Of the characteristics Of his sire and
dam. ]. B. Respess has Ave entered. all by
the great miller Dick Welles. Barney Schrei-
Der also has Ave entries, four by Sain and
one by Bannockburn.
Many horses were shipped from here 10
Washington yesterday and more will 60 to-
day, tomorrow and Sunday. John @. Cavan-
aEh said last night that he would probably
have TO put on several extra cars when his
special train leaves for Bennlngs on Sunday
afternoon. About thirty members Of the
Nets will be ready TO lay prices on Monday
while walking around the lawn. while the same
number Of independent chalkers will also be
In line. There ia much interest In the open
ing feature. the Bennings Handicap, at six
furlonEs. It Ia expected that about twelve
horses will 90 to the barrier. Those who
have studied the weights and also the condi-
tions OF the several starters are inclined to
the belief that Berkeley. Banyah. The Clown.
Greene, Smoker. Call Boy. Glauous. Kilie-
cranke and GraziGllo have good chances.
Notter has been engaged to ride Berkeley.
while Shaw will have the mount on Greene,
II George Odom starts oraculum thA colt
viii be entitled to some support. as he has
Just arrived from New Orleans In splendid
condition Colloduy, the Western mare,
who is asked 10 pick up top weight may not
reach Washington In time TO start In the
handicap.
Fred Burlew has arrived home from New
Orleans and was busy at Gravesend yesterday
with his crack two-year- He says that
while he was naturally disappointed with the
showing ofhis colt Chapultepec in the Crescent
City Derby last Saturday. Meelick won fairly,
According to Burlew. MeelioZ has developed
into a splendid three-year-old who will win
many important events for Sam Hlldreth on
the Eastern tracks this year. Frank o'Neill
did not accompany Burlew. a. he remained
in New Orleans TO saddle ChApultepeo In the
City Park Derby tomorrow.
The Hughes brothers-iour OF them-who
showed q smart two-year-old flly in Skye
at Empire City last summer, will bring ten
horses east this year. skye will be the star
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