South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-11
BIC CLUBS QUIT
WITHOUT PASSING
NEW WAIVER RULE
Defer Action on Measure Until
Scheduled Meeting in Feb
ruary Meeting OeadeSt
One in History.

NEW YORK. Dec. 11.-There is a
lot of sympathy in the National
league for the under dog-until he
begins TO want something for himself.
This was proven today when the as
sembIed magnates adjourned without
passing the new waiver rule demand
Cd by the weaker clubs. The rule
provides that once waivers have been
asked on a player the request can
not be Withdrawn and the player
viii be open TO purchase at the waiver
price by the first club 10 claim MN.
The club owners decided 10 pass
the buck along TO the schedule meet
ing in February. The New York
Giants. the Chicago Cubs. the Pitts
burgh Pirates and at least one OF the
other strong clubs in the league put
up such a roar over julius Fleisch-
mann's demand for the new rule that
il could have been passed only over
a few dead bodies. The strong clubs
wish to cling to their time-hOnored
dodge Of asking waivers when Jockey
ing for trades, only TO Withdraw them
If any unexpected refusal TO waive
blocks the contemplated deal
Meeting a Dead one.
The 1914 meeting of the National
league has now passed into history,
but il has made history in only one
particular. This has been the dead
est most generally disappointing
meeting the magnates have held In
all the years they have been meeting.
The net result of the four days may
be summed up in one sentence. The
clubs will be limited to p players
apiece between May / and Sept. 1 and
no club may go into training quarters
before Mar J..
That may be a lot for a bunch of
baseball millionaires to accomplish in
four days OF deliberations presided
over by a $25,0OO-a-year president,
but nobody can be found so far who
believes 50. Not one big trade, not a
deal OF any kind, not even militant
declaration of hostile intentions to-
ward the Federal league. Just a few
sessions that might have been more
exciting had they been held by dele
gates called TO discuss means to better
conditions for un6er-paid oyster open
ers during the months OF May June,
July and August.
Perhaps il is hardly fair to the
magnates to say that they ignored
the Federal league. They certainly
did recognize the existence of that
body Just before the close Of the final
session when some one whose name
was not announced sOlemnly moved
that IL was the sense of the meeting
that the National league Of profess
siOnal baseball clubs was opposed TO
the Federal league This motion was
as sOlemnly seconded and passed and
now stands a part Of the minutes of
the meeting Of 1914. Take that. Mr..
Gilmore!
The plan to lengthen the worlds
series TO Il games died a painless
death.
Let well enough alone" warned
Gov. Tener and the magnates decided
they would
The board Of directors of the
league also met for about an hour be-
fore the final session of the club
owners. Financial matters We're dis
cussed and reported 10 the owners
Much Trade Talk.
The question of players contracts
also came up and il was decided TO
adhere TO the present form Of con-
tract which does not contain the ten
day clause. This was agreed because
OF the ruling of the federal court in
the Killifer case that Killifer. because
of the reserve clause in his contract.
should have reported 10 the National
league before opening negotiations
with the Federals.
There was some discussion OF
ed. Roger Bresnahan was proving
about looking for a second baseman
and is reported To have offered
Tommy Leach and two pitchers for
Heine Groh. Herzog declined to dis