New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-20
MINOR LEAGUES
WILL MAKE ONE
FINAL EFFORT
Leaders Plan Special Meet
ing with National Com
mission in Cincinnati
Nv w. J. MACBETH

ruai conference.
The several prayers for redress ra'-
fled by tho minor body al the recen'
New Orleans rarley 20 be pressed sep
sra,cly 20 each Of the major leagues
were by those august bodies pu'
so.s-cly up 90 the triumv'rate. Aa
vet the minor leagues have not con
eedcd defeat They believe that "
their petition for redress OF alleged
evils were put souarely up to the big
Three some sort Of adjustment m's''
10 arrived III that would be OF grca'
benefit 70 both sides
Ia order 20 arrange q special meet
inc Of tho National Association WV
fbirds vote OF members is reQu'' 20
Tho three Glass IA league hea1S' VIZ
a number OF the Glass \ ana 'I0SN
circuits. arc now attempting "S
20 Get the necessary Slgn,aituIV>S, ~
oAico OF Secretary John farreI.
Those who advocate a meeting AT
~ .tc oninion that a second conlc'
o,cc might result in twofoid gooo'
~ only could the requests TOY a h'H
ioo,sia+ive board and relief from drAit
o. class "A clubs be pressed WAN
Greater show OF strength pu'
80 also be nossib.e TO effect cer1aa'"
+.rri.or,. redistribution In the Smal4'-
,,iro,. leagues the circuits arc not
cor,pact as they should be- rave, IN
EXPENSES contribute 10 an V'oi.V%
tbst can be Offset by the deveiopine',
90 talent commanding fancy prices %"
the open market
no,t Want Optional Agreements
rect many Of tho minor leagues
have pledged themselves hot 10 @S,o,.
from major league teams any pla!ti
$50 down under optional agree men,s'
srtrv hone In this way 10 be able :"
49, tbe National and America
I..,.,,o ooorators 70 cut adrift iro"
- voure talent. SO soon as these
-i.,.crs have been declared free agents,
}bo minors figure. they may be secuteu
,vithout expense a. more reaSo""'''
terms. -. .ho ,.o,,.c
IN co through with their proposed o'v"
81 farming" they may serve Goih n,
Teucr O mighty fine turn. Nallo""l
League clubs. OF course, VIII nav ~
mare down 10 twenty-five men il my
managers cannot cover up some -
these 10 will force an unusual huii'o0'
Of unconditional releases.
Therein lies the saving grace lor the
National League. The situation snOuIe
cive Tho four weak Western CLUBS OF
sbo Torer circuit an opportunity 10
strengthen at the expense OF the hrsI
division Fasteners The same oppot-
.,il+- would be presented 20 the Amen
can i.carue. OF course, but there IS only
one ,vof1Ilv weak member-the Athlet-
ics-in the Johnson ring. The Ameri-
can League is perhaps better balanced
than any major circuit ever has been
before. L is the National which lacks
balance.
Strong Scouting Systems
The National League clubs almost
without exception are attempting 20
build up strong scouting systems. ! hese
scouts will find new field Tor their
endeavors. i is proposed 70 have the
sleuths keep tabs on the training OF
all the major league clubs IN the SOUTH
30 that when waiver requests Tor de-
sired players are sent out by rivals
claims may be promptly made. TINS
was a plan that Bill Donovan, OF the
Yankees. put into practice last season.
Because of tho slipshod policies OF the
uaqnates IN trading waiver request for
waiver request in the interests Of farm
ing" the catch was limited. This next
Spring. IL scouts swarm the big league
training camps as now planned, new
premium on hustling should be estab
ished. A young player fighting for
sob against a fourishing veteran of
well organized team need not give way
70 despair. The best he has in him,
shown 10 q rival scout. could easily win
OF opening with some rival team.
Word comes from Chicago that Clar-
ence Rowland has been reappointed
manager Of the Chicago White SoX for
1917. Whether OF not Kid Gleason, who
joined the team late last season, is to
remain az coach has not been deter
mined as yet.
For the last two seasons Rowland
has been somewhat of a keen disap-
pOintment 70 Charles A. Comiskey.
When the Old Roman spent 100000 for
Eddie Collins and Joe Jackson. and half
Rs much more for Felsh. Murphy and
less illuStrious stars. he believed he
had purchased d pcnnant.
or tho past two seasons rival man
ayers have conceded the White Sox TO
be by far the strongest club in the
Johnson league. That man so well
'M''NNN'fN WIN AAttNs litoN' 4 iNtf Al4 fHtNf
a. TWO successive failures, should gain
~ reappointment can lead TO but one
surmise. Comiskey must have far
bigger game in sight for 1918. In which
event he would be unfair to name a
successor 20 Rowland. doomed 10 but
ono years trial regardless of results.
10 has been whispered round for
many months that Comiskey had de-
signs upon John J. McGraw. The Little
Nspoleon's contract with the Giants
viii expire with the close OF the 1917
campaign. NcGraw's rs straight con-
tract. lie cannot be held against his
viii by the Giants after another
season. Comiskey. it is said, is willing
20 sell q parcel of White Sox stock 10
McGraw and 20 guarantee Mac a fabu-
lous salary = he will consent 10 60 20
Chicago. And McGraw has said that
81 he makes a change Comiskey will
have first call upon his services. Per
haps the rcengagement OF Rowland
foreshadows the passing Of Mac. Ger
ts.nly he has done too much for the
club 20 have the owners stand in his
way Of financial and business advance
mcnt
1fcGraw has renewed his overtures
90 Title Shafer. the fine young player
who went into retirement after the
close Of the 1913 season. Mac is
anxious to secure the services OF his
former star as general utility man
Shafcr can play any inheld position
except FIRST base. he is fine out
fielder 20 boot. lie is-or was three
years ago-a fine hitter and a wonder
5ul base runner. Such an addition 10
the club that finished the 1916 season
for NcGraw should put the 1917 Ma