The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-13
fjOINT MEETING OF
 MAJOR LEAGUES ID BE HELD THIS WEEK
Important Conclave To Be Held in Big City-Minor
 Leagues Also Meet.

New York, Jan 1.-The most i'm portant gathering of baseball men in . the history of the game will assemble 1 here next week to outline new policies for tive rebuilding of the national sport It is expected that several of them will get into town tomorrow, and the meetings will begin on Tues day. The International League. which recently elected Dave Fultz as I President, will meet on TSesday, and on the same day the National Assor citation of Minor Leagues will as- i semble to decide on the proposition ! 1t expects to submit 10 the major [ leagues.
 | There is just now a big difference of opinion among the minor leaguers about what changes they want, but if the4r plans go through 1t will be nec- essary to change the whole National ! Agreement, which has been in oper- ation for many years. The majority of the minors want the majors to lift : the draft and also the optional agree nent now exercised by major leagues. This suggestion is opposed by several ' of the major leagues.
 At the minor league c0nc1ave, | which will include representatives from all parts of the country, IS ex- pected that a. definite plan of( Eroce- dure will be formulated. and if would not be surprising if President Fultz of the International League will be one of the spokesmen chosen to plead the minor league cause before the majors later in the week.
 The National and American leagues will hold meetings on "Wednesday and Thursday, and there will be a Jodst meeting of both major leagues at the Biltmore. The majors will then ap- point committee to meet with the minor league men on Friday, when it is expected that all differences will be adjusted.
 i While the executive business Of the i baseball organizations will take up considerable time, 1t is expected that the important happenings of the meetings will be the numerous trades which have been in the air for some time.
 ! Both the New York and Boston ! clubs of the American League have a lot of trading material, and it would not be surprising if Manager NdL4leI I1uSSlilS NdS dDle lO ldHCl du- other first-class outfielder. Huggins has not less than twenty-six pitchers ! under option, and some of these will be either sold or traded. In fact, 1t now looks as if there was going to be ] a wealth of material this year for both the minors and the majors.
 New Commission Chairman. Another important matter which f will be settled will be the chairman ship of the National Commission. It is expected that August Hermann, the present owner, will announce his retirement, and that the two majog leagues will agree on neutral man for the important position at the head of the highest baseball court Up to the present time it is certain that the two leagues have come to no agreement on a chairman, and it may be a difficult matter to find S suitable man for the place.
 The question of players salaries will also be settled, and it is rumored that there is quite a surprise in store
 for the players when they see the contracts which will be submitted to them after the meeting. Few of the
 clubs have yet sent out their con- tracts for next year. They have
 merely sent out notices to all the
 players on their rosters, notifying them that they will exercise their op-
 ticns on their services as they have
 in the past.
 With the curtaiing of the season
 the baseball men see an opportunity
 to shave down salaries, and many of the players who expect to geu the
 same salaries as they received fol 4 inc full season of 154 games are ir
 for a disappointment.