The Washington herald., 1917-12-14
JOINT MEETING
BOOKED TODAY
The American and National
Leagues Get Together on
Baseball Problem.
By JAMES cRUs1NBERRY.

By JAMES CRUSINBERRY.
Chicago. Dec. 1s.-whether baseball
will start next spring early in April
or about May /. and whether the major
league teams win play a schedule Of
154 games as usual or cut the season
to 40, will be determined tomorrow
when magnates of the American
League and the National League as
semble together at the Congress Hotel
In the first joint session held in years.
While the American Leaguers were
waiting for their National League CO.
horts to come here from New York.
a session was held yesterday at which
there was much discussion. but not
much decisive action taken. On the
important issues OF the day the
American Leaguers begged to be ex-
cused until they had had an oppor-
tunity to talk things over with the
Nationals tomorrow.
Regarding the matter of the sched-
ule, the National League will hold
the whip hand tomorrow when the
two bodies meet because the National
Leaguers have absolute control Of the
ball grounds in New York, and as the
Americans have to use the same park
II will be necessary for them to agree
to the schedule adopted by the Ma
tionals so that games in Gotham may
be booked without conflict. In spite
Of that, the National Lsaguers have
refrained from naming the length Of
the schedule until they have talked
things over with their rivals.
The real purpose of the Joint meet
ing tomorrow afternoon Is to form
some sort of working agreement be-
tween the two major leagues so that
|, baseball can be carried on next season
regardless of war conditions, which
threaten to disrupt several clubs and
make baseball bad in general. Conse-
quently the National League club own
ers left New York today shortly be-
fore noon, cutting their animal meet
ing short in order to catch a flyer to
Chicago and meet the other half Of
tomorrow morning about o'clock IL
the trains are on time and at 1 o'clock
tomorrow afternoon the big men OF
both major leagues will go into joint
session to talk things over man to
man.
Aside from the matter of the length
of the schedule the clubs of the two
leagues will get together on the matter
Of players contracts for next season.
OF course, the idea Is to economic in
every possible way. and the first
means of economy which hits the mind
Of a magnate is his power to cut the
salary Of the players. There Is likely
to be some wonderful salary clipping
in the next few months, and naturally
some stories following of players re-
fusing to sign because OF mistreat-
ment.
Another thing which the magnates
hope to settle Is the fight with the
Federal League. Most fans thought
that fight came to an end two years
ago this month but as a matter OF
fact, there have been several little
side issues which haven't been set
It'd. For instance, 1t is said the major
league decided at the peace meeting
two years ago to give Mr.. Gwtnner,
Federal magnate of Pittsburgh, So
COO in cash if he woald just disappear
and quit noliering because he wasn't
getting anything out of the peace
agreement. Mr.. Gwinner apparently
quit hollering but 1t has come to light
that he hasn't yet received his $50OOO.
Now that the two leagues are to get
together, they are likely to take
vote and appropriate $4,000 apiece
and shut that Pittsburgh matter up
forever
But there also Is some more Federal
money to be paid out. In fact there
Is 10000 more, part of which is claim
ed by the Wards, who backed the
Brooklyn Feds, and part by Harry
Sinclair, who jumped in with millions
at the finish of the Fed escapade and
stirred things up so that the majors
were scared 1t is likely that all those
ol1 he r.yfr, M
the states tomorrow when the two
leagues get together and decide that
the best way out of the mess is Ito
pay
There will be much more informal
discussion among the magnates of the
two leagues pertaining to methods of
conducting baseball next season un-
der the trying conditions Of war and
an agreement Ion numerous matters
Of minor details will be reached.
During the session of the American
Leaguers today some one brought up
the plan OF letting the first fSIr clubs
of the league cut into the gate money
Of the world series on an agreeable
proportionate base. 1t was impossible
for the club owners to reach an agree
ment on this. though it was quite ap-
parent that the league. as a whole. is
opposed to it and preferred to go along
with the old idea that "to the victor
belongs the spoils.'
By, means of telegraph wires, the
magnates here learned early that the
National Leaguers had caught a train
a little before noon and would be in
Chicago tomorrow morning. Conse-
quently, all matters which involved
both leagues were left over for discus
sion today.
Before adjourning. however. the
magnates voted to give a benefit game
next summer in Philadelphia between
the Phillles and Athletics, the pro-
ceeds to be turned over to the widow
Of William G. Weart. baseball writer
OF that city. who died last week. At
the same time resolutions of sympathy
were passed for the relatives of Rob-
ert Mercy, vice president of the
Cleveland club, who was buried only a
little more than a week ago.
PAPP TO BE STARTER