New Britain herald., 1916-10-17
O'NEIL Will Lead
EASTERN LEAGUE
Murnane, Who Held Reins Last
Season, Declined Reelection

Worcester, October 17.-"Dan"
O'Neil was elected president and sec
rotary of the Eastern baseball league
at the annual meeting Of the league
here yesterday afternoon. This was
on of the most important items OF
news, but there was another inter-
esting fact in that the league will
meet again in a couple of weeks IN
Sprin gfeld for further consideration
of the make up of the circuit for next
season. William E Carey of Spring
geld, H. Eugene Mccain of New Lon
don, M. j. McMahon of Worcester
Michael E. Healy of Bridgeport and
Eugene B. Fraser of Lynn were ap-
pointed a committee on the schedule
and on the make up of the circuit.
They are in charge Of affairs.
The appointment OF this committee
is of real Importance. The members
really are the league mapmakers.
They will consider the eight cities for
the eight clubs and though they may
rot have very much Of a definite line
up to report at the next meeting, they
feel sure they will have at least made
progress. There are problems for
them TO solve. Their ambition and
the ambition of everybody concerned
is a strong eight-club league
There are signs that "Hughie" Duff
~ will not be in the Eastern league
next season. Duffy himself said he
did not expect to be in the league,
that he had something else in mind
but what it was he was not ready 20
say. Duffy declared he wanted to sell
his Portland franchise. Some feel
that so shrcwd 6 baseball leader as
Duffy IS qualified 70 serve in a league
OF larger dimensions than the East
orn, and that at the worst he's sure
to land as a scout 1t is, declared
Duffy no longer wants to be a club
owner, but that the job as manager
would just suit him. Fitchburg in
terests may try to buy his Portland
club and transfer it.
The election of Mr.. O'Neil as chief
executive was both expected and q
surprise. When it became time for
voting on the officers, Thomas A.
O'Brien, acting secretary, became
temporary chairman. Tim Murnane
retiring president, got up and declared
he was not candidate again and
that he would not think of running
for office. He paid the league a fine
tribute and declared that in a short
time it would prove the best league
of its class in the country Then
James H. Clarkin, owner of the Hart
ford club, nominated Mr.. O'Neil. The
election was unanimous. In view Of
the fact that Mr.. O'Neil, as vice
president, was the active head of the
league the past year, and that the
league constitution was so worded as
tn Wiz
thority, it was agreed to bring the
constitution up to date and in har-
mony with O'NeiPs election as secre
tary and president.
The league elected the following di
rectcrs: James Clarkin of Hartford,
Edward F. Smith Of Worcester, Will
liam E. Carey of Springfield, H.
Eugene Mccain OF New London and
e. b. Fraser of Lynn. A change was
made in electing as directors indi-
viduals instead of the clubs and an
amendment along this line will go
in the constitution. Tim Murnane
presided at the start of the meeting.
First the retiring directors met and
then reported to the league. Treas
urer Fraser read his report but there
was no news here other than that
an assessment was voted on the climbs
because Of deficit in the treasury.
The size of the deficit was not named
but it was due, it was said, to the
fact that the league officers had to
be paid. E. F. Smith of Worcester
did the auditing.
The New London club was officially
declared champion of the league and
was awarded the pennant The
league voted to settle Jesse G. Bur-
kett's claim of $3.50 against the Law
renee club. The original demand was
1920, but Burkett got 500 by at
taching receipts. Lawrence. WorceS
ter and Portland by the merger deci-
sion, were each supposed to pay $500
to Mrs. Daniel \. Noonan, widow Of
the former owner Of the F'itchburs
club. AS Lawrence has not paid vet.
the league voted to square up the
debt itself The other two clubs
paid their shares.
Dan O'Neil was elected the leagues
delegate at the annual meeting Of tho
national association of minor leagues
next month in New Orleans,