New-York tribune., 1911-11-19
NEW DEAL IN BASEBALL
Eastern League May Become
One of Bio Triumvirate.

Eastern League baseball affairs will at
tract attention about equal with that Of
the big leagues when the annual meeting
Is held in this city next month. The OPEN
ing day is set for Monday. December II,
and the session will very likely run out the
week, and because of the many important
matters which will come up for considera-
ton it will be the most important since its
organization. Topping the list of big
things will be the proposition to put the
Eastern on par with the National and
American in the matter Of presidents by
proposition TO elect Edward Grant Barrow
for five-year term as president and place
his salary at $4,000 a year. 1t will make
change in the league constitution neces-
sary. as heretofore the president has been
chosen for only a one-year term, but this
will be a small matter, as change in
constitution can be proposed at morning
session and then put through at the after
noon session on the same day.
Barrow is anxious to have his term Of
Office extended, for he says that he needs
such a term to put through the reforms
he has i'm mind. A short term handicaps
him, for il allows too much for the playing
Of politics and permits OF a club owner
piqued for some true or fanced grievance
to oppose a presidents reelection, and
thus keeps the head Of the league timid on
certain questions of league policy. Barrow
thinks. and his friends assert, that he is
destined to be one of the three big men in
baseball in this country to take place
alongside Ban Johnson the head Of the
American League, and perhaps Thomas
Lynch the National League executive.
Although elected to the Eastern League
presidency only last winter Barrow has
shown his worth, and in no way more
strongly than in securing from the ma
tional commission consent for new and
higher classification for his league. the
American Association and the Pacific Coast
League the three big minors. Barrow is
close TO Ban Johnson and knows the game
thoroughly. The increase in salary will
provide for a league secretary and will
otherwise enable the executive TO put the
Eastern in the front rank of baseball
leagues. 1t would not be surprising either
to see the Eastern become the third big
league in the country.
Another chapter has been added to ne
gotiations of the Newark Baseball Club
1
| terest in their club to relieve il of pressing
| financial difficulties found much space In
public prints. 1t is told by Michael Muir
ray. a Newark cafe owner, whom Iron
Man" Joe McGinnity tried to interest in
| the deal. According to Murray, Frank
Redpath, McGinnitys brother-in-law and
the man who holds a five-year lease on the
concessions at the ball park, was the
emissary to Murray. His proposition was
| for Murray TO take one-third interest in
the stock McGinnity and II. Clay Smith
owned for $4,000.
Murray was agreeable at first, he says.
until he made inquiry Of Smith and learned
that there was debt OF $1,000 on the club.
He asked If the amount he would put up
would go toward liquidating the debt, and
was informed that IL would not, but in
stead ii was TO be divided equally between
McGinnity and Smith, each taking down
sl1 0O0 Murray couldn't see this at ALL he
says. for after paying $4,000 for one
third interest of the McGinnity-Smith
holdings he would be liable for one-third
Of the $4,000 debt, which would be adding
5000 more, and thereby making his cost
of the one-third share sS1 900 instead Of
81, 900