The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-14
MAGNAIS W IN BIG CITY THIS WEEK. BLUE RIBBONS PLAY TONIGHT
MINOR LEAGUES ID FIGHT HARD
 FOR RELIEF FROM DRAFT CLAUSE

New York, Jan. IA meeting of the new International League off cials, and another of the National Association, at which question of ob- leagues, at which the question of ob taining for the minor leagues relief from the present draft regulations was considered, ushered in here to- day the most important week of baseball conferences held in many years. Some minor league officials intimated that unless the demands of the minors were granted they would break with the major organiza tions.
 Since the National agreement was signed years ago the major leagues have enjoyed the privilege of draft ing players from the smaller orgaui- zatious. This practice, minor league officials maintained, was unfair in that when one of the small clubs de- veloped good players, they were taken by the major circuits at the end of the season.
 Joe Tinker of the Columbus Amer ican Association club. who. with Al Taarney. of the Three I league and ! Ed. 5Ianlon of the St Joseph West ! ern league club makes up the minor league committee appointed to confer with the major leagues upon the question of reCOnstruC tiOn of the minors. was emphatic in his declara- ton that the requests Of the smaller clubs must be granted. Heretofore the minor leagues have asked" he said This time we will ask and if | r demand"
 John D. Farrell secretary of the | National association of professional ! baseball leagues, discussed the situa- 1 ton with several of the delegates ! ara iE was said that he was not one of those who advocated radical meas ures in dealing with the majors II was asserted. however, that whatever ! action was taken by the minors
 would be supported by all of them. { While minor league officials. ad ! Initted that ,the major leagues have shown a conciliatory attitude toward ! jor league official would discuss the | requests.
 The minor league committee Is to present it's case to joint committees l of the National and American | leagues and the National commission ! probably on next Friday.
 In toasting the competing teams | General Pershing paid a warm trib- ute to their sporting qualities.
 Never before in the history of the
 world" he said, has such a boxing .. .. hal +, i1I l has just been concluded. It was a
 tournament symbo1ical of the great
 war which brought men from all
 parts of the world to fight in ths cause Of right and justice. You men
 have taken part in an epoch akine
 event, and one that never will be
 forgotten. It brought the English
 speaking races together to engage 1T
 a great national sport"
 1-ieutenant-Colonel E. NJ Cox, cap.
 tain of the American team, drew { . round of applause when he declared
 We of the American team believe l Jimmy Wilde to be the greatest boxer
 the world has ever seen. or will evel
 see. We have seen such a gathering
 of champions which we may never
 see In competition again, and yot
 have honOred us by inviting us tt l come over and compete for such { | historymaking trophy as that pre-
 scented by the King of England.
 consider that Mike O'Dowd is ou1
 greatest fighter, but as he is nt
 steech-maker, I would ask Sergean
 Eddie McGoorty 70 say what ODow6 ., would like to s-- for his comrades
 The renowned McGeorty rose bash
 fully. Everybody has fought Hkt