New Britain herald., 1916-01-25
|ROURkE SCORES
 CLARKIN AND PLANT
|esident of Eastern Association |DenOunCeS Former MagnateS

New York, Jan. 25.-The Eastern Msociation and the forces represent 3 the proposition for a merged New "a #gland League clashed before the N Nestigation committee of the Nation N Board at a meeting held at the 8aldorf Astoria last night. The meet Fling to President F. G. Barrow of
 h International League, a mem-
 Hr of the committee, being busily #gagcd at meeting of that league
 committee did not get together NtiI T:30 o'clock. They were in ses- Mn for three hours and after hear
 s both sides of the case from New Agland, stated that they would give @t their decision in writing.
 8The old anirnus between the repre- #ltatives Of the Eastern Association Md tho mergerites, cropped out be- a'e the meeting when the merger AopIe scored the first point by win #hg over tho committee to an open .sion to which all interested par 8s were invited. At first the East @l Association men declared that Ney would not go in for an open @eting, the purpose of which was to Ear the report. of the work of the Mstern Association In it's efforts to lN5anize. However, they receded from Aat position and entered the session Hamber, then to learn for the first Mle that they had completely mis- Nderstood the purpose of the investi-
 #ion committee.
 Chairman John H. Farrell of the Hnmittee explained that its appoint ant was to investigate New England @seball conditions and report as to @ether or not 8 merger was advis- Nle. That placed an entirely different #Dect on the meeting, and at the @rt put the Eastern Asso citation men #newhat on the defensive. Presi- Snt J. O'Rourke, of the Eastern As 8ciation presented the proposed line- s of that league as announced at 1
 s recent Hartford meeting, Spring | Mld, Hartford Waterbury New Ha- @1, Bridgeport and Pittsfield.
 Jim Goes After 'E1m.
 sJohn F. Irwin was present to repre- S1t Hartford, President O'Rourke Fed for Paddy O'Connor of Spring Hld. James F. Canavan was on End for New Haven, Harry Cornen # Waterbury, Hugh Reddy for Hidgeport and John Teller for Pitts EId,
 HHAfter presenting his proposed l hgue, O'Rourke attacked personally | asmbers of the merger combination, Hd in particular attacked the honor | Bleness of the stand of Morton F, Aant of New London and James IT Narkin of Hartford. 1Louis F. Pieper, who represents ae Lowell Club in place of Owner bach, presented the merger propo- efon, outlining the meeting held in bston where the New England hague clubs agreed to cut down |om eight cities to five and telling the Hartford meeting where 1t of from six to five clubs was Iocked by John Teller asking ss,00o abandon his Pittsfield franchise He then proceeded to attack the Rasonableness of the proposed six aub circuit of the Eastern Associal Eon, pointing out that they named sx cities in four of which they held ptions on parks that would expire few days. and on three of them would be necessary to repair stands Ed on one to build an entire new Aant He pointed out that they Fought no guarantee, except the Rere word of mouth, that these Races would be placed in good con- stion for baseball by next April Were Offered Franchises. He attacked the truthfulness of heir statement by showing that they eclared they had no option on Char sr Oak Park in Hartford and pre- snting a letter from President John . Piigard of the Connecticut Fair ssociation, which controls Charter ak Park, which said they never had n option on that property. He also ttacked the feasabilitf of their build lg grounds at all on the property in outh street, Hartford, by declaring lat the present lessee of the property ear lease and that it would be sui Idal for any man to put s15,000 into
 baseball plant with only two ears lease. The Eastern Association dmitted the two years lease but aaimed they believed a longer lease ould be acquired.
 From this point the meeting
 ranched out into questions and an- wers from both sides. The Eastern Association declared they had offered Q return franchises to Messrs. Carey nd Clarkin, but they answered that here had never been any official offer f such franchises. They had sent d sewspaper man to them, they said Q make such an offer but he pre- ented no credentials to show his au- hority for making such an offer.
 The history of the season of 1914 n fha Easfern 4 Ascnninti xrr.a. 1-1