Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-08
MINORS SEEM
LIKELY TO WIN
Rebellious Leagues in Baseball World
Sure Of What They
Want.
COMMISSION IS IN SESSION
While Staggered by Demands, Su-
preme Body May
Yield.
COMMISSION IS IN SESSION

New York, Dec. 8.-War clouds
teeming with trouble between the dis
satisfied Eastern league and American
association and baseball government
were somewhat dissipated when the
demands of the minors were laid be-
fore the national commission and Ma
tional association yesterday afternoon.
Now, despite the friendly feeling,
the American association and the
Eastern league virtually gave notice
OF secession from the National asso-
met a baseball war is likely. The Sc
ceders introduced their demands with
the statement that rather than have
friction IN their organization the. -1ad
concluded TO withdraw.
This looked like news to Secretary
Farrell of the National association and
| likewise to the commission, and the
former body asked As hours in which
to consider the demands. This was
granted.
Demands of Minors.
In brief, peace or war hinges on the
following stipulations:
Authority to conduct their own af-
fairs.
That the present national agreement
be amended; that the draft and pur-
chases clauses be changed.
That one of the national commission
rules be changed.
The demands of the American asso-
ciation and the Eastern league, pre-
sented by Attorney Killilea to the com.
mission and to all members of both
lmajor leagues briefly are as follows:
Authority to conduct affairs as sep
Iarate organizations under organized
baseball.
Privilege of draft from all other
leagues but National and American
limited to but one player from each
class A club.
Alteration of draft and purchase rule
: making it obligatory for both major
leagues to notify them of return OF
players to minors, and that such may
be had by Association or Eastern al
original draft price.
Limit roster major leagues to 2;
: players at all times and to 20 players
after May Is each year.
, Privilege of drafting players from
| minors for Is days following draft sea
son for majors for following considera
tions: Glass A, $3.50; class B, $500
class C, $500, and Glass D, 5000.
" Period of draft on association to b'
y limited to Sept 1 to Sept. Is insteat
of Sept. l to Oct. Is.
Privilege of drafting territory from
> other minor league clubs.
Minor Body Represented.
= In order not to discriminate the Ma
|, tional association was also invited t
|. take part and the parties met in Pres
: ident Pulliam's office this afternoon
I. where the demands were presente,
/, and discussed. Secretary Farrell, Tin
[. Murnane, ]. H. O'Rourke, NJ. H. SEX
l. ton and M. Shively represented tn
d association.
d After some verbal fireworks, Kill
tled, herman ana Johnson DelnS III
chief spokesmen, the moguls got dow
t to cases and the demands of the tw
n seeding leagues were presented b
r Henry J. Killilea All former state
l. ments by members of either league
e were repudiated, and the slate wipe
n clean for the formal declaration c
n rights. What the Milwaukee attorne
1t asked came as a shock to both tn
commission and the rest, at least S
they said, and a request was made b
N the association for chance to get it
lsecond wind.
n This was granted and the As hours
larmistice followed.
- 1t is believed that the independer
d section of the minors will get wha
1, they asked for, as it is not considere
C. too radical. The commission went O
n record at once in regard to the draf
g ling rules by recommending to the tw
major leagues that the drafting p
= riod be changed from Sept. l to Oc
Is, to Sept. 1 to Sept. is.