The Washington times., 1915-12-14
National Leaguers Assemble in
New York, While American
MoguIs Mobilize in Chicago
! For Annual Confab.
Many Rumors Of Trades Are
Current, But No Foundation
For Any of Them Can Be
Secured.
By KIRK c. MILLER.

While the National League moguls
are taking the dust of the Interna-
tional magnates who held a three
hour session in New York yesterday
and agreed to meet again on Janu-
ary II, the American League chief
tains are mobilizing in Chicago, with
view to overcoming many hazards
which threaten to prove serious
stumbling blocks to the future Of
baseball.
Incidentally several of the club
owners will keep their ears to the
ground for likely playing material
and not the least of these is our own
Clark Griffith, who has reputation
for inserting more ginger into these
annual league meetings than all
the others combined. Griff's scrap
ping propensities are we'll known
here, particularly when the good of
his club is at stake, so anything can
be expected from Chicago within the
next forty-eight hours. The actual
meeting is scheduled for tomorrow
morning and it may be continued
over into Thursday and Friday.
Besides the Individual interests OF
each club. which the magnates will
bring before the meeting, there are
many matters which concern the whole
league that are to be threshcd out once
and for all. Ban johnson is to hurl
another broadsidc into the practice
among ball players of writing for tho
newspapers, and, as Ban has rcpu-
tation for getting what he wants in
things base baltic, the chances are that
We will sec no more Coobs Carrsans
and Speakers in the roll OF b. b. edl.
Tors. lf johnson succeeds in getting
the American League to adopt sucn a
measure the National League will un'
doubtedly follow suit.
transforming after the regular cham
pionship season is to be taboo, and u
decisive blow will be directed at this
League. Also the difficulties of the
Cleveland Indians Is to come up, and
il Somers must sell. the name Of the
purchaser will probably be submitted
mite action is taken. Shortening the
training season is to be considered.
Talk of the trading mart Is clicking
In from Chicago. but no verification Is
available of any tangible exchanges or
purchases. All reports have the dame
runor" string tied to them. but on the
theory that there must pe fire where
there L. smoke. 1t can be expected that
gentlemen of leisure will play a promi-
nent part. Although unbiased by Grif-
nth the name of Chick Gandll Is be lna
flashed out Of Chicago in any number
Of deals.
Back of all the fanfare which has
centcred around one Buck HerZoG. he
is still with the Cincinnati Reds and Is
likely 20 remain there even after tue
ini: of the third rail club in the Wal,
dorf-Astoria today and tomorrow. nc
apparent bolIness of this assertion Is
nnsed on the fact that Charles has q
contract which states that he snail he
paid certain amount of money fot
his services as manager OF the team. =.
This contract. besides being one ol
those Houdini-proof affairs, has an
other year to run, all of which makes
those wild rumors look silly. Most I'M
nortant OF all is the fact that Herzol
IS the best little shortstop in the world
and II the Reds let him out he Woulc
Immediately become tree agent, whicf
wouldn't help Cincinnati bit, anc
everyone knows the RedleGs can't af
ford to do anything foolish now. In
cidentally HcTyog has produced letters
from his players denying to man an,
utteranCe of disloyalty or dlssehsioh II
the ranks of the CLUB.
Other things expected at today's ses
sion in Gotham have to do with start
ing the season nearer the end of April
charles H. Ebbetts is sponsor for thi
movement. a new manager VIII o'
named by Barney Dreyfuss for his Pitts
burgh Pirates.
The pilot OF Philadelphia first cham
pionshtp team IN yhe National League
said to harbor a salary difference wit
President Baker. and this will probabl
be straightencd out.
The International Leaguers behave
like lot of peace propagandlsts yestet
day At the McAlpine. Whether or nc
they were stalling to see which way III
wind will blow. remains to be seen, BIT
the fact remains that they have agree
o rcassemble later, and have allowc
themselves sufficient time to thresh OF
with other members of the organize
fumly, some policy, or peace or war.