The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-23
Eastern Leagues
4 Session Devoid OF
, Surprise For Fans
Reiterate Intention of Starting Season May 22Jack
Egan Talks With Club Owners Nothing Definite
Appears Regarding Providence in Circuit.

Springfield, Mass. Feb. 23 - The
I club owners Of the Eastern League
gathered here yesterday afternoon
a meeting at the Cooley Hotel, but
! aside from discussing among them
J selves the outlook for baseball
throughout the circuit for 1918, as
( Viewed by each individual since their
! last meeting in this city Jan. 1, almost
: one and a half months ago, did little
to change the situation in the minds
Of the baseball fans They reiterated
their intention of operating this year,
declaring they would start an eight
dub league; and aside from the fact
that a club will not again be placed
in Lawrence, gave no further hint of
a change in the present circuit for
the 1913 campaign.
All Of the clubs, with the exception
df Hartford, were represented at the
session.. 1t was understood that
>--GMner James H. Clarkin of Hartford
was called to New York Thursday on
S-lsiness and that he intended to be
" present at the meeting, if he found
it possible to return in time, but as
he did not appear it was thought that
he failed to finish his New York af-
fairs in due season. Dan O'Neil pre-
sided at the session, and the follow
ing were present at the meeting.
George B. Prest, New London; James
T. Collins New Haven; c. F. Lane,
Jr., Bridgeport; William E. Carey,
! Springfield; Edward F. Smith and M.
J. Mcmahon, Worcester; John A.
Flynn, Lawrence; M ]. Clarity, Port
! land.
Owing to a delay in the arrival of
trains, the meeting did not get under
way until almost 4 o'clock, as many
of the club owners were unable to
appear at o'clock, the hour set for
the session. 1t was declared after
the meeting that Robert w. Emmons,
I'd, who backed the Lawrence club in
that city last year, was willing TO su
ahead and finance the club again the
coming season in another city, the IN
ference being that in view of this the
I circuit was complete, unless some
thing unexpected developed with re-
lation to the Portland franchise.
Jack Egan, who managed the Prov
idence club in the international
League last year, was present at the
session, though he did not arrive unit
5 o'clock in the afternoon. Asked i
4 he was on hand looking for a fran
chise in the Eastern league to plact
in Providence, he declared that he wa!
there looking the situation over, bu
that he was in no way prepared t.
take an Eastern league franchise anC
place it in the Rhode Island capital
as that city was in the international
league and the Interpational Lcus,,'
at present was making every errort t.
continue it's organization. He point
( ed out that the recent stories were t.
the effect that the International wa
taking steps to carry on baseball thi
summer as a six-club league.
Mr.. Egan went into the Eastern
league meeting and talked with tn
club owners, but nothing was said a
the close of the session as to wha
the nature of the talk was, or wheth
er it might have any future bearin
upon the makeup of the Easter
league.
1t was also announced that tn
Eastern League had filed territorif
claim to three cities, Waterbury, Hoy
yoke and Pittsfield, the idea bein
gathered that it was possible that tn
Lawrence franchise. might be place
in the best one of those three cite
IN OTQeT 10 compete the eight CluD
The club owners voted to adjour
until Monday, March is, when the
will again meet to further plans fl
the opening of the season, which
set for May %.
The presence of Jack Egan of Pro-
idence at the session to some conve.
ed the idea that there is more tha
a remote possibility of that city b.
ing included in the Eastern Leagl
next season. Despite the reports
attempts to reorganize the Interni
tional upon a six-club basis, the fee
ing will not down that the form
Barrow circuit will not get under W;
again this season. In that case,
has been pointer out in this colun
before, the Providence. people wa
and should have a baseball, and W
naturally turn to the Sastern Leag,
to give it to them. 1t is felt tn
something more definite may be e
pected at the meeting next mont
though no one of the directors won
say anything beyond the report tn
was gicen out at the close of t
league meeting.