New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-06
Joint Meeting
OfBigLeagues
Still Up in Air
President Hampstead Of
Giants Says Such Con-
ference Is Not Needed Yet
By w. !. Macbeth

president John X. Tener Of tho Va
''ohai League left for Philadelphialast
evening without having heard anything
iur'ner regarding the announced Joint
meeting OF the two major leagues in
O"iesso week from to-day.
All three local major lcaguo ogoo.
were IN the dark on HERMANN an
"ounced project. Harry n. Hampstead.
VI the GIANTS, expressed the opinion
'nat 1t was unlikely such a conference
would take place in the immediate fut-
ure' primarily because there wa, No
pressing need Of it. He, however. will
ROT oppose the idea if the matter comes
TO vote at the annual meeting Of tho
National League in this city next Tues
day.
In all probability, the National
League not having pledged itself on
the subject, Mr.. Hermann is more than
ilkely to put his suggestion squarely nm
70 his confederates.
May Postpone Meeting
It would not be at all surprising. if 4
JOINT meeting should be held, that it
would be delayed until the annual
spring gathering of the National Com
mission IN Cincinnati on January Z. A
delay Of few weeks might do no harm.
The rival major magnates would then
have plenty Of time to deliberate upon
the various points of difference between
their respective policies and avoid the
danger of hasty action.
The schedule proposition seems to
have become minor issue. The rosie,
limit just now commands chief atten.
ton. The American League is to G
man behind Johnson's suggestion L
limit the roster to eighteen players
There is nothing to prevent them TAX
ing this action, even should the Ma
tional moguls stand behind Tener'.
proposal to leave the National roster a
twenty-five, as last year.
or course, such radical change OF
the part of the American League, pro
vided its rival stood pat, might civ,
the parent circuit q most decided ad
vantage in the world series next year
More especially so, as it now appear
the American League suffers far thu
more heavily in the loss of material t,
our war machine.
There is some talk now that the TIVE
leagues may side-step definite schedule
policies Tor the time. There is no oc
casion for hurry in this matter, a.
neither side holds its schedule meeting
until February. b. marking time tn
operators could get more definite lin,
on how far the next draft will affec
players OF high calibre. Later the,
might make their plans accordingly
whereas now they would be shooting
more or less in the dark.
Post-Season Series
Also. it is said, certain magnates o
Dotn leagues are willing 10 have trie,
out scheme which Barney Dreyfu
has had in mind for many wears. Thi
is a new form of world series. embrac
ing a post-season series for the cham
pionship Of the world, in which eacl
National League club would meet eacI
American League club in homeland
home series.
1t was just such a project as wa
arranged between the American As
ISOLATION and the International Leapu
last winter, but which fell through be
cause President Hickey of the Associa
ton got case of cold feet after tn,
season was we'll under way. He wa
afraid of the travelling expenses in
voved.
This inter-league series between tn,
TWO big minors would have satisfied tn
majors as to the advisability of such :
scheme for the world pennant. Blu
unfortunately it did not take place, an
the Dreyfus suggestion is right wher
1t was the past four or FIVE years.
Many major league magnates woul,
like to see it tried, but, like Hickey
they fear 20 vote for any innovation
preferring to let we'll enough alone
There is an excuse this year for tn,
change. The world series between IN,
White Sox and Giants last fall did 40
draw up to the standard. Indeed, j
has been felt for the past two year
that the annual classic might be i'm
proved in some manner Wartime con
ditions leave the loophole of excuse
if the majors care TO embrace the op
portunlty.