The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-27
MAJORS CONTROL OF SOUTHERN
 IS ONLY QUESTION OF TIME
By PETE AsEAGHEN

If the men controlling Southern league baseball continue forming alli- ances with owners of different clubs in the American and National leagues, it Is only a question of time before the Southern association will rank as the fastest Class A league in organized baseball says the New Orleans States. Slowly but surely, the Dixie magnates are realizing that unless they have some sort of working agreement with the "big show" club owners, it will be almost impossible to muster a squad that will be able to keep pace with the Southern league pennant winners every season.
 The best evidence that the magnates are seeking alliances is shown by the recent signing of contract between Frank P. Coleman, owner of the Mem- phis club, and Barney Dreyfuss of the Pittsburg Pirates. o. B. Andrews of Chattanooga has also attached his club to a similar contract, but the Lookout magnates will secure the Detroit farm hands" The alliance with the Frank Heinemann syndicate arranged with C. ". Somers of Cleveland has shown the rest of the club owners that move of this character is absolutely necessary, and since all of the advantages which the big league magnates seek are In thls section of the country, it isn't a dl1ll- cult matter to reach an agreement. In some quarters the fans will hold the forming of an alliance with The major league clubs doesn't serve any purpose. But if one thinks the situation
  fore he can be shown the benefits which will come to the fans and the magnates. There must be an outlet for the mate rial purchased and drafted every sea son from the minors. In most h. stances the major league club owner desires a Class A league to ship his farm hand" he will learn the game more rapidly than if placed in some bush league where his cranium is al lowed to expand.
 The American association circuit, which has been used as farms by the big tent" magnates, is gradually los- ing the toe hold which it has held Tor years Hundreds of ball players have been sent to the A. A. in recent years, only to be hooked back in the fall AS a result a very fast article of the pas time was furnished the fans, which brought about the abolition of the sal ary limit a bugaboo in Dixie pastime
  not afford to stand the expense of hiring players that would attract crowds to the games.
 Negotiations, it is sad, are under way between the Brooklyn Nationals and tn; Nashville club for the formation of d similar agreement as the Pelican club has with Cleveland. This is going to hell, everybody, Nashville will always be in position to muster strong az gregation, something had Bill Schwartz had at the opening of the campaig would have probably given the Pelicans a race for the flag.
 If Montgomery and Mobile could also arrange to handle the players not consid' cred fast enough for big league service those two towns would be in a position fo supply better teams. The Mobile clul is almost on a par with New Orleans fin furnishing training facilities, for 1t i' seldom there is any difference in tht temperature during the early part oi March, the most desirable month for th' majors to start south.
 New Orleans, however, is in class by itself, in so far as training facilities arc concerned. The Crescent City has every thing to attract the big league magnate and in addition neat sum Of monej is picked up by playing exhibition games something which could be made to pre- vail elsewhere, an understanding beint reached that the players advertised shai play and not sit on the bench.
 Charley Frank is probably in bettel