Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-12
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

The current week, heralded as likely
to produce Developments of momentous
import to the base ball world has
lstarted in manner indicating that pre-
/ dictions viii be more than fulfilled. Of
| CHIEF interest to fandom is announce
ment of the sale by the Phillies to the
Cubs of Alexander and Killifer. their
star battery, for recor1 price. Other
eventualities include tpe reelection OF
1 President Tener by the National
leaguers, who also voted unanimously
TO meet in joint session with the Amer
| lean Leaguers as saoon their sessions
now on are endgd. and the apparently
narrow margin by which the disinte-
| grafton OF the International League
| was averied, Hlat circuit cutting Presi-
! dent Barrows salary from $500 to
| $500 and postponing until February
! decision whether the lcague will do
business in 1915. And there is more
| TO come. the American League club
owners gathering in Chicago today for
| what is regarded as one of the most
| important sessions they ever have held
| A number of problems arising from
| wartime conditions are listed for dis
| cusSion by the noguls of the junior
| circuit today. but if history repeats
| itself they will dispose of all business
| listed by tonight without any petty
differences of opinion between the
| owners rctarding the work. Therein
I uttS tH6 american 1se9S Ne UlIieT
! the National, the latter comprising an
/ aggregation of orators who insist upon
! debating at length every question aris-
I ing, thereby taking DAYS to transact
| business that could be completed in as
| many hours.
| Important policies must be decided
| upon today. President Johnson is quot
| ed as saying. but our time will be
| taken IN voting, not in talking. We
all know where we stand and what we
| must do. The game will be continued
| and run the same way it has in the
| past There are no differences among
| cruz owners and, though our business is
unusually important. no time will be
wasted
Advices from Chicago indicate that
there viii be no radical reduction in
the player limit. although nneasur of
economy are expected to comprise
large part of the program up for dispo-
sltion. Cutting of rosters to eighteen,
The minimum discussed when the sub
Ject hrst was preached, is considered
extremely unlikely, the consensus of
opinion among the owners arriving
early on the scene being that a player
unit OF twenty-five would be about the
r1ght number. Slashing of PLAYERS
salaries also will come in for consid-
Grafton, out no league action on this
question IS expected, as the rates of
pay for athletes probably will be left
10 the discretion Of individual clubs
II is likely that a new form of war
contract. engaging players for service
by the month instead of by the season.
VIII pc formulated, and adoption of the
existing fa4 game schedule Is expected
as the opposition of the National
League to season of 40 games leaves
no recourse, the latter organization
controlling the Polo Grounds in Sa,y
YORK, where both New York teams
play.
Although President Baker Of tbe
Phillies is reported to have received a
record price from the Cubs-the figure
being estimated at $50 ,00G-for Pitcher
Alexander and Catcher Killifer in adj
dition to acquiring the services of a
promising battery in Prendergast and
Dilhoefer. the. wisdom of the deal NAV
well be questioned. This is the trans
action that President Weeghman of
the Chicago Nationals referred to when
he announced some time ago that he
had a zeal pending that would rock
the base ball world" 1t will have this
erect in Philadelphia. lat least as the
fans are sure to resent what they will