New Britain herald., 1917-11-14
NEW MAJOR LEAGUE
 PLANS ABANDONED
Hickey Faction Wins Fight to
 Keep Association Intact

Louisville, Ky, Nov. 14.-There will be no third major league. This fact became evident yesterday, when the committee on the revision of the con. stitution in the minor leagues decided to recommend to the National asso- citation that the American association be left out of any redistricting that may take place, and also when Joe Tinker announced definitely that he would side with the Western wheel of the circuit.
 The Hickey faction of the league won it's light when President Hickey appeared before the revision commit tee and although no report had been made last night it came straight from the meeting that members had de- cided to play a hands off policy on the American association.
 1mediately after the news of the committees action had leaked out, o. H. Wathen, Louisville; James Mo Gill, Indianapolis; Roger Bresnahan, Toledo, and Edward Marrow, presi- into session, but when they adjourned they had nothing to give out.
 The committee, of which Al T.
  the Pacific Coast league, was chair man, held its session behind locked doors. None of it's members would discuss what occurred. The other members of the committee are John H. Farrell of Auburn, N. Y. secre tary of the National association; J. w. Morris of Fort Worth, Tex. pres ident of the Texas league; Dan O'Neil of Hartford, Connecticut pres ident of the Eastern association, and R. L. Blewitt of Seattle, president of the Northwestern league.
 Only $60,OOO From Drafts.
 The annual report of John H. Far rell. secretary of the National asso- citation, revealed the tnroads the war war made on the minor leagues last season. Ten leagues were obliged to suspend and several were forced to shift their territory to stir up new interest. The American and National leagues and the Class A and A leagues turned only $60,O0O into the hands of the minors for drafted play CTS as compared with $150,000 to $20O,00O under normal conditions.
 Secretary Farrell explained that the major league clubs were unwilling to risk Durchasej of promising players because of tho fear that they would be called into the military service.
 Suspension until the end of the war of ten or twelve small leagues, in- cluding two or three weaker organi- zations in Class B, probably will be by President Sexton at today's meeting. War taxes on travel ling expenses and gate admissions and heavy subscriptions Of the baseball public to the Liberty Loan and war charities will force the smaller or ganiZatiOns to close if they attempt to start, President Sexton said
 Central Willing to Suspend.
 The meeting of the Central league club owners scheduled to be held to await the action of the National association in regard to redistricting and reclassification of minor league territory. Harry W. Stahlhefer, president of the league was unwilling to make any predictions in regard to the 1918 season. Some of the club owners, he said, had expressed a willingness to suspend. If we decide to start I shall recommend the adop- ton of an eighty-four game schedule instead of 12O games.' Stahlefer said Then, if the war seriously threatens our operations we will be in a posi- tior to end our season without ser ious loss.''
 Accuse Kid Elberfeld.
 Officials of the Chattanooga club of the Southern association filed triple petition before the board of arbitration yesterday asking settle ment of dispute involving Kid" Elberfeld, manager of the club last season, and Players Hyatt and Graf whom Elberfeld sold to Little Rock two days before the close of the sea son. After the sale Elberfeld signed to manage the Little Rock club next season.
 The Chattanooga club claims Fiber field was under contract as manager for 1918. The club also wants the sale of Hyatt and Graf set aside and the releases of five other players FL berfeld set adrift cancelled. The pc tition was filed by new owners of the club They contend the five players were released without their know ledge.