Evening star., 1917-12-11

That there is a division of opinion
among the club owners regarding the
adyisability Of the joint conference Is
known. In addition to Hermann.
Presidents Ebbets and -Dreyfuss OF the
Brooklyn and Pittsburgh clubs. re-
spectiyely, consider 1t absolutely nee
essary for the welfare of the league and
the game that the meeting be held at
this time, and are positive in tnelr
assertions that 1t will come off in Chi
cago either next Thursday or Friday.
The two leagues must act in unison
on the important questions facing base
hall" Ebbets says 'It would be folly
for the two leagues to adopt olnerene
policies at this time. The same S prdo
lem confronts the two leagues. ana l
believe a thorough airing OF our views
to be entirely necessary
Owner preyfuss Is inclined to be
ontfmfstic over the problems faced by
the national sport.
Base ball will continue and we must
keep it on high plane, says ths
the eighteen player limit because /
think the teams will provide more IN
terestfng sport But I am opposed 10
shortening the schedule. l believe We
, should operate our business without
howling calamity anu threatening 10
close our gates. We are going TO keep
the national game alive, at the same
time doing our full duty as patriotlc
others. Base ball is not only sport,
hut also a business proposition, and we
should adopt certain policies to meet
war conditions instead of indulStng IN
eenseless complaints over the present
critical situation
Among the proposals that probably
will be made at the sessions of the
National Leaguers. which open TO-DAY
will be that the customary spring
training trips be abandoned during the
war. Other subjects regarded as war
measures that are expected to come up
for consideration are reduction of the
player limit, slicing OF salaries. short
ening OF the schedule and collection of
war taxes as well as the election of
officers
The election will be held. but 1t is
doubtful whether anything more than
informal discussion of the other prob
lens will be induiged In, as action
upon them undoubtedly will be re-
served until such time as the Magnates
have had a chance TO confer with their
fellow owners Of the American League.
President Branch Hickey of the st.
Louis Cardinals as yet has not signed
Jack Hendricks as manager and has
intimated that he may appoint himself
to the position. Hickey naiveiy OBJ
serves that he has had some experience
In that line Of endeavor.
OF most interest to the fans. aside
from the collection Of the government
tar on admissions. is the possibility
of trades or deals for players being
made. Several of the team pilots have
let II be known that they are are
whether any swaps of interest will be
made at the gathering is con1ectural
The fans have some hope that the mag
mates will decide to take care OF the
ducing their prices. but the latest In
dications are that this levy will be
added to the existing prices for admis-
nfons and seats.
Grim winter served to gum the pro-
gram mapped out for the International
League meeting yesterday. snowbound
trains preventing two of the magnates
from arriving in time for the session.
The only business transacted in their
absence was the official awarding OF
the pennant to the Toronto cIuo; the
meeting then being adjourned until to-
day, when q full representation of club
owners win be had.
Although some of the International
magnates with memories of losses sus-
tanned for several seasons back take
a gloomy view of the outlook for the
circuit In 1918 and advocate suspen-
sion Of operations for at least ono
year, others OF them have announced
their willingness to 60 ahead and try
TO weather the storm of another cam
paign- Talk of dropping Montreal and
Richmond, whose geographical posi-
tions greatly increase expenses by ne
cessitated long railroad jumps. con-
6nues to be heard.
It IL likely the owners OF President
8arrowg circuit vii proceed cautious
ly, however, az there 10 disposition
20 wait and see what developments Of
the winter are In regard to base ball
Il " pointed out that IL Sunday games
are legalized In New, York state base
bail probably would thrive in Buffalo
and Rochester. and by the admission of
Syracuse and Jersey City to take the
places Of the cities to be dropped tho
league would have fair prospects of
making both ends meet In 1918, as
Toronto demonstrated last year its ca
pacity to support team. and Sunday
bail already can be played in Newark,