Evening star., 1917-11-09
HICKEY SEEKS AID
FROM COMMISSION
A. A. Head Demands ''Union
League" Be Forced to Re-
spect Territorial Rights.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

| Predictions that the movement to launch
a new league composed Of four clubs from
both the American Association and Inter-
national League would stir up a lively
rumpus in organized base ball are being
borne out Considerable talking and
threatening has been done. but the first
definite move in opposition to the plan is
the protest filed with the national COM
mission by President Tom Hickey Of the
American Association, who sets forth the
rights of the Minneapolis, st. Paul. Mil
waukee and Kansas City club owners will
have been invaded if the Union League
| is esta blished. In his petition Hickey
seeks to have Messrs. Johnson. Tener and
Hermann enforce the provisions Of the ma
| tional agreement guaranteeing protection
for the territorial rights of all major and
(! minor leagues
| There can be no dissolution of the
! American Association except by mutual
consent, Hickey is quoted as saying.
This means that the association will be
back at the old stand doing business next
year. and that all of the eight clubs now
affiliated will be fighting for the pennant.
All organized base ball amounts TO is
pact to protect property rights of the club
owners These rights must not be denied
II base ball is to exist under the present
form OF government We expect faNOra Die
action by the commission
Whether Hickey's confidence is we'll
founded may be considered doubtful in
view OF the fact that the national COM
mission has no jurisdiction except in con-
troversies between major and minor
leagues. and the Union League will not
be classed a major.
In reference to the threat of President
Timme of the Milwaukee club to throw a
monkey wrench into the machinery of the
proposed new circuit by Withholding use
OF the Toledo ball park, on which he
holds lease. Roger Bresnahan. the To-
ledo mogul, declares he holds suitcase
which will permit his use of the grounds
in any manner he sees fit Bresnahan
hints at legal action to prevent Timne
from cumming the Union League game
in Toledo.
President Rupert Of the New York
Yankees is going to the meeting of
the minor leaguers in Louisville Ky
next week with a pocketful OF money
and line of spiel calculated to sepa
rate some Of the other major league
magnates from the promising PLAYERS
that Miller Huggins. his new mana ger.
ma mas inalcated he needs in pursuing his
task OF making the Yanks a pennant
contender in the American League
Rupert realizes he has little chance
or obtaining any good talent for cash
But with the material he has to offer
IL is doubtful that he will get very
far He is reported as still anxious
to obtain Walter Johnson and his bat
terry mate, Ainsmith. and is said to be
contemplating an offer that as one
scribe put it. will so astonish the Old
Fox that he is likely to throw a fit
This writer represents the Washington
club as being desperate for money,
but afraid to sell Johnson for cash
only. so. besides making big money
offer. Rupert is said to be ready TO
offer three or four athletes, besides.
| Caldwell is said to be one Of the play
ers- 1t is assured that Griff will
throw fit II any one offers TO give
him Caldwell in exchange for anv
thing. The local pilot has been heard
to say that he would not have Caid-
wen on team of his under any con-
sfderatfon. and as far as letting John
son go is concerned. Grin has grown
weary Of denying it,