New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-14
Annual Meeting of Ma
tional League Gets Under
Way To-day at Waldorf.
EBBETS FAVORS LATER
START OF SEASON
Sale of Chicago Cubs May Be
Announced Before Magnatcs
Finish Their LabOrs.
By FRANK O'NEILL.


annual meeting al the Waldorf TO-
day, and fans NAV be assured thAt
the wheels will whirr as they haven I
whirred in years. There are more ru-
mors in circulation than Sherlock
Holmes could run down in two life
times. Not the least persistent OF
these is that ono Of the measures ID
be discussed is signing a peace proto-
col with the Federal League.
There is little chance the Feds Will
be recognized as major league, for 1t
is the consensus Of opinion the con
ditions do not warrant such action. bu'
some sort Of working agreement will
be reached through which contract
rights will be respected.
One man who is in close touch with
affairs said the Federal League own
crs we're already in conference with
Governor Tener and other men high In
the National League in an endeavor TO
bring about some solution of the prob
lem. No one makes any attempt TO
deny that under the existing cond,-
tons baseball as a business cannot
long survive. The sinew N any bust
ness is money. and little money was
made last year.
Trades are being discussed. minor
league players have sold themselves
10 the majors for the meeting at any
rate. and all is merry as meeting OF
. l, a
The big leaguers have traded bout
shamefullv and shamelesslv. Heinie
z zimmerman has been sent to 81. LOUIS
for Dolan and Butler; Buck Wheat has
bcen chased TO the Giants along with
Jeff Pfefer. Charley Herzoc was ~
Brooklvn IN to late hour last night,
when he suddenly decided that he
would stick TO the Reds for another
wear at any rate. The unusual part OF
these trades was that none OF the man
ayers or magnates knew the hrst thlnS
about them.
Charles II. Ebbets, chief owner Of
the Brooklyn Superbas, will INTRODUCE
resolution calling for later start OF
the season. The Squire OF FlatpuSh
believes that the ball should not start
rolling. so to speak, until April ~ or
20 lie maintains that the weather IS
generally more settled then IMAM az
fhe time the season has opened IN inc
rast There is little likelihood of this
reform gaining much popularity;
President Tener is opposed to It, an9.
Jim GaFney. Of the Braves, refuses 10
be convinced Of its merits. There are
others. TOO. who look on the measure
with marked disapproval.
One magnate said in perfectly clear
cla;p English that Mr.. Ebbets was
speaking one word for the good Of the
oame and four words for himself IN
Educating a late start. He pointed out
that the BROOKLYN owner wanted the
league season 70 start late. but went
right ahead booking exhibition games
with tho Boston Red SOs, the Athletics
and the Yankees.
This man said that II Ebbets we're
% anxious 10 have the season started
on April 10 he might keep his team IN
the south and cancel all his exhibition
games now scheduled before April IL:
In that way he might convert some OF
80 owners who cling to the old order.
The sale Of the Chicago Cubs may be
announced at this meeting. II IS an
open secret that the club is on the mar.
ket. and IL is known. too, that some OF
the Federal League owners have asked
Mr. Taft for his terms That the ways
we're shaped for the PRONUNCIATION OF
such a deal was ntimated several days
AGO. when Governor Tener. president
Of the National League, said that the
sale Of franchise was distinctly
matter Of private enterprise ana that
he would not interfere in any deal that
nigh. be made.
There is stock for sale IN the Boston
Red Sox. the st. Louis Browns and the
Boston Braves. and those with sufficient
courage may invest in the Cleveland
Indians.
II stock is sold 10 members Of the
Federal League BY any OF the atore-
mentioned clubs George 5. Ward, r. r.
Gwinner, Philip Ball, Otto Stefel,
Harry +. Sinclair and Charles Weigh
man arc the men who will do the pur-
chasing. it is thought.
On the eve Of what may be one OF
ne most eventful DAYS in the history
OF baseball James A. Gilmore was never
" more quiet. peaceful mood. lie
announced that for the present he had
nothing 90 say. but limited vaguely that
much might he written and said before
another sun set. Then he changed the
conversation abruptly
After insistent interrogation Mr.. Gil
more denied that the Feds were trying
% secure the services Of Charley Her
zog. and he would not discuss Baker.
u is evident that Gilmore has about
abandoned all hope OF getting the
Irappe sluggcr.