Evening star., 1916-12-14
AMERICAN LEAGUE MOGULS
GO INTO ANNUAL SESSION
Legislation Vital to Interests of Base Ball
to Be Enacted-Class AA League
Heads on Hand.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, December 14.-Legislation
that is vital to the interests of base
ball will be enacted at the annual ses-
sion Of the American League. which is
to start here today. Every club in the
circuit had it's representatives on hand
at noon when the first session of the
league was held.
The new Boston owners were on hand
to be welcomed into the orga Lizatfon.
There was some talk that there would
be opposition to the confirmation of the
sale, which was made by Joe Lannin
to Messrs. Frazee and Ward, but mas
much as Ben Johnson has passed ia
vorably on the ma ynates the talked OF
opposition was considered idle.
There are several important issues
to be taken up at this session outside
of the routine affairs of the league.
The strained relations that exist be-
tween organized ball and the Players.
Fraternity gives the session an air OF
more Importance than usual The ef-
fort of the big minors to have the draft
abolished is another cause for more
than the usual amount of interest in
the session.
leagues are here to present their re-
quest to the American, after having
been favorably received by the mem
bers of the National League in New
York There also is a committee COM
posed of Cal Ewing. president of the
Oakland club of the Pacific Coast
League; Dan ONeill, representing the
New England League. and a. r. Justice
from the Central League, to press the
arbitration of five members to handle
all of the cases of the minor leagues.
If this request is granted IT VIII cut
of half Of the work that now is being
performed by the national commission.
There is the usual amount Of trade
talk going the rounds in the lobby OF
the hotel The first deal rumored was
a trade between the Chicago White
Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Pitcher
Jim Scott is on the market, and Ray
Chapman and Bill Wambsganns were
to come to the Sox for Scott.
Clark Griffith, who has been in town
for several days. nailed a report that
he was trying to dispose of Walter
Johnson with the remark that the
of the Washington team for another
year, at least. and would be the big
drawing card next season. as usual.
Branch Hickey is going to be one of
the much sought after men at the
meeting. because there are several
players on the Browns that will fit in
nicely on other teams. Fielder Jones
Is being counted in the running from
the very start next year. Every one
has an eye on what Hickey Is doing.
The New York club is out for trade
or two to brace up the infeld. 1t is a
second baseman that Bill Donovan Is
looking for. but he will fall back on
Fritz Maizel If he cannot make the
right sort of dfcker.
The contracts that were adopted by
the national commission some time ago
will be UP for ratification at the meet
ing. Most Of the players of the league
still are unsigned because the owners
have been notified to wait until the
new contracts are ready. President
linn Dunn of the Indians signed up
several of his players before he was
notified by Big Ban to wait until the
new contracts were ready. There are
several holdover contracts from war
times that will not be out for another
year. but most of the men on every
team are unsigned and 1t will be rush
ing business to get them all rounded
up before the training season opens, IL
the fight between the Players Frater-
nifty and the big leagues goes much
further.
Frazee and Ward are expected to