New Britain herald., 1915-04-09
EASTERN ASSN. MAY
 PASS INTO HISTORY
Doubtful Whether League Will
 Open Season Of 1915

session of the Eastern baseball asso- citation. A telegram to President James H. O'Rourke from Garry Hermann, chairman of the national baseball commission, stated that the request of the three bolting owners of the league, Messrs. Carey of Springfield, Clarkin of Hartford and Cameron of New Haven, for hear ing, had been granted. No one either closely or remotely connected with the Eastern association or friendly or hostile to it interpreted this telegram as meaning that the commission will interfere in setting the disputed forfeiture of the iran chises for the three teams mentioned or in any of the other questions that compose the present league muddle. In all courtesy, the opinion was held. the national commission could not refuse to receive the petition of. the three bolting owners. Mr. Her mann's answer to the petition of Messrs. Carey, Clarkin and Cameron will be delivered early next week, it was stated by President O'Rourke, as guess to the time which the league Will walt TOT d uSClSlOu IIlc national commission.
 In only one particular, it was stated yesterday by baseball authority prominent in league councils, has the national commission right to inter- fere. This is in case it's Jurisdiction can be asserted to cover the recent act of the three remaining nine own CTS of the league in declaring the
 
 commission can prove that the New London, Pittsfield and Bridgeport di-' rectors violated in any way the na- tional baseball agreement in declar- ing forfeited the franchises held by Messrs. Carey, Clarkin and Cameron, right to interfere may be claimed. ~ League May Never Meet Again.
 Those familiar with baseball pre-. cedent and friendly to the O'Rourke regime, asserted that they believed the national commission would refuse to interfere in the matter, disclaim- ing Jurisdiction. The foes of the O'Rourke administration were pessi- mistic about the future of the league. Some of them said after the meet ing that they believed that another would never be held by the present organization. They asserted that they regarded the session as the pass ing out of history of the present East ern baseball association.
 Such questions as the adoption of a schedule and of deciding upon a date for the seasons opening were not taken up, and President O'Rourke after the meeting said it would ap- parently be impossible to start the season before May, even if all the present troubles should be adjusted The decision reached at the meeting two weeks ago that the league should not begin its season till two weeks later than was at first contemplated was carefully adhered to by the dele gates present.
 There were only two representatives present of the league directorate, which normally amounts to eight per sons. The duo of the faithful con sisted of Hugh Reddy, representing Bridgeport, and Eugene McCann, the New London delegate. They, with President O'Rourke, sat behind closed doors for two hours. President O'Rourke said after the session that only discussion of the situation was gone into. He gave out the following telegram from MT. Hermann: "At- torneys for New Haven, Hartford and Springfield clubs notify the national commission that they appeal the f1nd- ing of the national board refusing rehearing on alr evidence"
 Jack Zeller Scores the Meeting.
 The absence of Jack Teller, the Pittsburg nine owner, was not taken by the other owners as an act of hos tility or even desertion. It was univer- sally felt, however, that Teller would not start nine in Pittsfield under existing conditions, and neither Reddy nor McCann would assert that team would be run in either Bridgeport or New London unless the present sky changed. Zeller's absence was said to be due to a wish to see the horse races in Baltimore but the firm opin- ion that the league cannot begin the season of 1915 without different outlook from that which faces it at present was held.
 Several baseball men sat in the corridor throughout the session. Hank Ramsey, former Troy and Scranton owner, was d new visitor. He said he was simply looking the ground over, but there are indica- tions he was after one of the three orphaned franches and that it did not matter much which he received if he could obtain gift of any one of the trio. One rumor current was that Ramsey desired admission into the league for a club from Pater- son, N. J., which he will manage.
 Tom Fogarty, former Jersey City manager, said he stood by his orig inal offer to run nine in Water bury where he has secured 8 lease of the grounds. Bob O'Connell, who