The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-15

New York, Dec. 1.-THE American
League Of Professional Baseball Clubs.
in convention at the Hotel Woleott to-
day. provided a sensation in the shape
OF an offer by Robert Lee Hedges to sell
the ST. Louis Browns. Mr.. Hedges
owns 65 per cent OF the stock, and said
tonight that the price was "a million
cold" but other magnates who were in
touch with the situation declared that
the stock. plant. and grounds could be
purchased for a trifie less than $4,000.
Mr.. Hedges was inclined 10 split hairs
when asked about the matter. He de
MED emphatieally that he had offered TO
sell the St Louis club at the meeting.
which. in point Of fact. was true. But
Re refused 10 talk when asked if he had
informed the delegates that a syndicate
Of three St. Louis business men stood
ready TO take the club of mis- hands. He
had pledged himself to secrecy before
leaving the star chamber and was eyi-
IDENTIFY disturbed when he learned that
the story had leaked out.
According TO a cldb owner who at
tended the meeting, President Ban John
son appointed a committee consisting of
Frank J. Farrell. OF the New York club:
c. a. Comiskey. OF the Chicago club. and
himself. to confer with Mr. Hedges and
report back TO the league tomorrow. In
cidentally 1t was learned that when the
st. Louis magnate disclosed the identity
of the syndicate in the Mound City.
President COmiskey declared that James
McAleer, at present manager of the
Washington club. had sufficient backing
TO relieve Mr.. Hedges OF his holdings,
and that II a sale was really imminent
McAleer had the moral support OF ma
jority OF the leagues club owners. As
COmiskey is the big man IN the circuit
and generally has his way. il is believed
that McAleer will secure the club, il any
body does
McAIeer Refuses to Talk.
"See Comiskey." said MeAleer. when
queried tonight. Il cannot say word
Couiskey and Johnson are my friends
and am ready TO stand by them. If
go to st. Louis there viii be no trouble
over my contracts with the Washington
club
McAleer, it win be remembered. was
the manager Of the Browns in 1903, wheu
the club made a strong bid for the pen
nant In 1909 the team was crippled near
~ all season. and after that campaign
President Hedges let McAleer go. The
latter promptly signed with the Wash
ington club. and managed the team with
success last year. Meanwhile the Browns
under Jack OConnor's management
failed absolutely, and the club lost pot
of money, mach to the chagrin OF John
son, Comiskey, and the other league men
When the scandal over the alleged base
hits made by Lajoie in ST. Louis broke
loose. O'Connor, IN spite of a two-year
contract, was summarily released by Mr.
Hedges, presumably at the command OF
Johnson. The ST. Louis magnate since
then has been trying 20 secure a new
manager. Bobby Wallace, Willie Keller
Fred Lake, and Bill Joyce are being
named as candidates, but all this time, il
is said, the American League. as whole
began to realize that heroic measures
must be adopted.
II is known that the ST. Louis problem
was discussed late last night so that
when the owner OF the Browns made his
announcement in the meeting to-day the
delegates were not surprised.
The minority stockholders in the ST
Louis club are satisfied to so on" said
an American League man tonight, "but
Mr.. Hedges is disguised with the way
things have broken for him and is going
to sell if he can get his price. / under
stand that McAleer has plenty of money
behind him but whether he can raise
more than $4,000 to swing the deal re-
mains TO be seen St Louis is a gold
mine for a first-class club and the
American League does not believe thai
the club under Hedges can ever sue
coed"
Mr.. Hedges held a long conference
with Messrs. Johnson, Farrell, and
Comiskey at a late hour tonight. aftei
the delegates had been entertained at q
banquet given in their honor by the
president of the New York club.
Among Those Present.
When the American League men went
into the session the clubs were repre-
scented as follows: Washington, T. c
Noyes; New York. Frank J. Farrell
Philadelphia, Benjamin F. Shibe and
Frank Il Hough; Boston. John L Taylor
and Hugh McBreen; Chicago. c. A
Comiskey: Cleveland. Charles w
Somers; Detroit, Frank J. Navin; st
Louis. Robert L. Hedges. Presiden
Johnson called the meeting to order and
the report of the board of directors was
adopted New directors. representing
the St Louis. Detroit, Philadelphia anC
Washington clubs, were then elected.