The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-05


ference in Chicago yesterday be-
tween August Hermann, chairman of |
the National Commission, and Presi-
dent Ban Johnson of the American
League, it was~decided to hold a
joint meeting of the club owners of |
both leagues in Chicago to discuss the
wartime problems confronting base
ball.
The National League will hold it's
annual meeting in New York on Dec
II, and following this the owners will
go West to meet the American League
club owners who hold their annual
meeting in Chicago day later. Each
organization having discussed its own
affairs, }te wartime policy to be
pursued next season will be decided
upon.
Slashing the player limit to 18
men, devising a plan to collect the
Federal war tax. limiting the training
season to two or possibly three weeks
and the possible shortening of the
schedules will be among the import
ant questions for consideration.
In discussing the reasons which led
Garry Hermann said in part:
Baseball faces critical situation;
the only thing to do is to put the
cards on the table and settle every
question confronting the two leagues.
''The club owners in both organiza-
tons have different views to express
in regard to the player limit, the
schedule and other issues. and joint
session I think will iron everything
out satisfactorily. We must have
unity of operation il baseball is to
survive"
With the growing seriousness of
conditions brought about by the war,
the club owners are realizing more
season is extremely dubious. They
believe that If the game is going to
continue, it will not be on the large
scale on which it had been operated
in the past. Retrenchment policies
will be necessary wherever possible
and radical changes will undoubtedly
have to be made in the players SAL
aries.
There is so much difference of opin-
ion about just what schedule will be
adopted that the club owners believe
the question can be solved better in
joint meeting. Whatever differences
there are between the two leagues at
this time must be laid aside for the
common good Of the game, and much
Of the rivalry which has been crop.
ping up Of late between the two ma
jor organizations will probably be
smoothed over at the big love feast
| next week. The National League ia.
vors the regular schedule of 154
games, while the American League
| men advocate cutting the seasons
| program down to 140 games.
The club owners are sure to decide
on new term of wartime contract
at the joint meeting. This is the
question which has been troubling
the owners more than anything else,
and the suggestion, recently put forth
| by William F. Baker of the Phillies,
to include a clause in the contracts
so that the agreement may be can.
celed in case the leagues should fail
to operate the full season, may be
considered.
When the National League con.
venes here. next week President
Charles H. Weeghman of the Chica-
go club is likely to be called to task
for alleged tinkering with players OF
other clubs. A few weeks ago the
| Chicago owner was voted a sum OF
| 100000 by the stockholders of his
club to get new players to land the
pennant in the Windy City next sea-
son.
| It is stated by some of the other
club owners that Mr.. Weeghmar
started negotiations with players Of
other clubs without the consent Of
| the owners. When it was learned thai
| the St. Louis Cardinals had refused
to give Roger Hornsby the big con-
tract which he demands for next sea-
| son, 1t was announced that Weigh
man started negotiat ons with the dis
satisfied player. Hornsby wanted 6
three-year contract at $4,000 year
but as President Branch Hickey ha:
announced that he will consider ne
contracts until next February, it Ii
believed that the ST. Louis club does
not intend to meet Hornsby's de-
mands. If the serious aspect of tht
| war continues until next Spring 1t L
not likely that Hornsby or any OF thu
other stars of the game VIII be aol'
to get long term contracts.
Hickey Immediately denied tina
Hornsby was on the market ant
wasn't at all pleased with the re
ports Of Weeghman's activities Mex
it was announced that Weeghnlan wa
negotiating with Helnie Groh of Gin
cinnati and Manager Christy Mathew
son Immediately got busy and advis
ed the Chicago owner that none
his players were for sale or trade
Weeghman's activities in other direc
tons have also caused more or les
comment among the club owners an
it is predicted that the law will be lai'
down to him next week.
There is a section Of the Nations
League constitution which prevent
such activities as Weeghman is sal
to have been pursuing. This sectio
reads:
"a player shall not enter into ne
gotiations with any other club fc
services without the consent of tn
club with which he is under contrac
or reservation, nor shall any repre-
sentative, manager, or agent of an