New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-04
Minor Leagues
Meeting Should
Be Most Lively
Major Circuits Will Be Repre-
sented at Coming Louis
vile Gathering

Practically all the baseball men in
the country. including those OF the
major leagues. are preparing to go to
the annual meeting of minor leagues,
10 be held at Louisville next week.
At this meeting il is planned to re-
district the entire minor league field.
as well as settle upon the proposed
third major league. For that reason
!, will be one Of the most important
meetings Of the year for the leaders
% the big show as well as the smaller
FRY. and it is likely that lively time
will be had by all.
The redistricting Of the minor
leagues means less baseball for the
country next year. II will mean the
elimination of some OF the smaller cir
Cats that managed to weather last
season's financial storms. But it will
Also mean that the leagues which con-
tinue and are essential as the arteries
Of the big leagues will be on a firmer
financial basis.
Minor Leagues Must Live
Owing 70 conditions brought about
b. the war. II has become necessary
to do something for the minors. Twelve
minor leagues finished the 1917 season,
IS against forIy-seven that were IN the
field year or two ago. The majors
are obliged 70 keep the little fellows
-. ~ 60 10 n hP1 m
which to draw players.
However, the formation of the pro-
resed third major league by a merger
Of clubs from the American Associa
tion and the International League
promises to furnish the real fireworks
ef the meeting Ban Johnson. John X.
-ener ard others who have proposed
and planned this merger have been
notified they will meet with some
strong opposition at the Louisville
reeting.
The fight against the proposed league
is more or less local in the two or
carnations concerned. Certain ele-
ments in the Association and Inter
national are opposed 10 it, those ele-'
ments quite naturally consisting OF
the club owners who are not mentioned
in the merger.
Providence, in the East. has voiced
its opposition, and in the West A. F.
Timme, president of the Milwaukee
club, is leading the administration
party Of the Association which is back
ing up President Hickey. President
Hickey has a 7remonition that II
third major league is 80 formed Id
Barrow, and not he, will be its presl-
dent and from all indications his pre-
monition is eminently correct. Barrow
would be the logical man for the job
and is probably the only man who could
put the merger over.
This merger is in line with the plan
10 redistrict the leagues and bolster
up weak spots. AS war measure II
would 'at least provide stronger
circuit than either the International
or Association. For that reason IL may
be necessary to the game.
Object to Name Major
But President johnson and others
who are planning il had better 20
slow in calling il a third major league.
As league second only TO the majors
ii would be accepted. But II can
hardly be foisted on the public as
third major league. II il is, Johnson
and some of his cohorts will have to
gulp down some Of the assertions they
made not so long ago in the days Of
the feOeTs4 LtdRAt-
Il seems almost ridiculous that or
ganized baseball would attempt TO do
the very thing the Feds made dismal
failure Of, and it is probably not their
intention at all 70 classify the league
as a major Ban Johnson was tho most
persistent in claiming that there was
no room for a third major league when
the Feds were in the field, and be
proved 70 be right. Some Of the cities
that made up the Federal League will
form the new organization and they
are no more big league cities now than
they we're then.
Il is quite probable that Ban johnson
will not desert the American League 10
20 70 war, after all He has not yet
received an appointment from the gov
eminent, and in the mean time his
friends and associates are urging him
to remain in baseball. Johnson has been
paid high and deserving tribute for his
willingness 20 sacrifice personal inter-
e,s to serve his country. But base
ball men feel they can sacrifice others
easier than Johnson.
However. IL has remained for the
older men in baseball 70 show the way
70 the younger element, the players
Captain Huston is already IN France.
Bar Johnson has offered his services m
all sincerity. and Clark Griffith, Chris.
IL Mathewson and other men too old
70 be called in the draft took an i'm
portsnt part in the last Liberty Loan.
So far, ball players are far behind a.!
other branches OF sport in their con-
tribu;ion 70 the army. -.
Clark Griffith practically abandoned
all personal interests 10 work for the
Liberty Loan, as we'll as for the Bat
and Ball Fund, which ne started. Dur
ing the last week Of the Liberty Loan
drive ne devoted his entire time TO the
sale % t6nds in Washington and con-
dueted meetings on the streets from
ar automobile. He slEo gained big sub
seriptions 20 his Bat and Ball Fund In
.hs same manner. He is deserving Of
great credit for what he has done so
wholehszr.edly for the soldiers and the
government.
Now that the local clubs have lined
up for Sunday baseball, the issue is
70 be placed before the Legislature this
winter with real yigor for the first
tine.
Pimlico Results