The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-18
STRIFE IN AIR OYER
TERRITORIAL RIGHTS
National Commission Paves
Way for Its Own Chain
Of Minor Leagues.

While the spokcsmen of the National
Association. the minor league organize
ton which last Thursday night abro-
gated the national baseball agreement
said they hoped to operate in peace with
the major leagues and to draw UP an
agreement which would be OF mutual
advantage to both bodies there were
signs Of friction on tho baseball horizon
yesterday.
When the members OF tho National
Commission agreed to respect the terri
torial rights of the minor leagues they
said the agreement pertained only to the
territorial rights of leagues now In ex-
istence. The majors do not respect
rights to territory which was vacated
or abandoned in 1918 or prior to that
year.
This means that the majors already
are planning to make new WORKING
agreements with minor leagues which
are likely to spring up again with re-
turn OF baseball to normal conditions,
Prior to the Federal League war there
were fifty minor leagues in this country
and Canada To-day there are eight.
This means that the forty-two leagues
which went under during the last hve
years may align themselves with either
the major leagues or the National As
ISOLATION when they get on their feet
again.
Minors object TO Plan.
The National Association is, OF course.
unalterably opposed to any such ar
<an9ement, as IL considers the entire
United state. and Canada outside OF
the big leagues. minor league territory.
under the supreme control Of the Ma
t!onal Association.
The minor lea CUES. now that they are
free. are trying to realize the fruits
Of their freedom. but many little leaguers
say the organization carried the blum
too far
Yesterday the minor league confer
ence spent the day drawing up work.
ing agreement which II will try to enter
into with the National Commission. The
committee which will attempt to bind
the majors TO a treaty TO respect each
others rights. consists Of Joe Tinker,
owner OF the Columbus club John Far
rell, secretary OF the National Afso-
citation: Al Tierney. president of the de-
funct Three League. and Edward
Hanlon OF the Sioux City club.
The agreement the minors hope to en-
ter into with the majors calls first for
each OF the parties to respect each
others players. options and territory.
BY their territory tho minors mean the
territory held by the fifty minor leagues
Of 1913.
Would Eliminate Draft.
Next the privilege to buy and sell
Players between clubs Of the National
Association and the Jor leagues In
other words the majors may buy young
sters from the minors. and the minors
in turn may buy players the ma ors are
Unable to use. but there can be no draft
ing of players by the majors or no OPP
tional agreements.
In the event OF a dispute between the
organizations the proposition OF the MI
rors Is that the National Commission
! would select one man, the National
Association one man. and the pair would
decide on neutral arbitrator.
The minor league committee Intended
&c call on the National Commission last
| light, but the session has been postponed
Until! 20 o'clock this morning. After re-
celvins an answer the committee will
report back to the association.
Regard Themselves as Major1.
! The class "A clubs consider them
selves to be practically on the same
/ plane with the majors. I'VE are prac-
! tically majors now said Joe Tinker
I "In three years I will have n club In
/ Columbus as good as that possessed by
velop my own players and keep them
/ This does not stunt the advancement
OF the players. 1t means in the end
that the player will be the big gamer
with the draft and optional agreement,
! removed our clubs will gain In prestige
| and there can be real competition be-
/ tween clubs AS we continue to grow
there will be fve leagues able to employ
players Of real skill, instead OF two"
, While the class IA leagues are un.
willing to have players drafted from It's
ranks, clubs OF this classification, how
ever, will draft from class A clubs. but
only one player may be taken from any
club Class A may draft from B. class
Il from c, and class c from d. There
can, however. be no optional agreements
between minor league clubs under stif
penalties
Two Leagues Raised fn Rating.
Ths Texas League and Easter
League were raised from class Il to &
class A rating. Requests for territor,
by Fix new leagues were approved. Tit
names of these leagues were not an
nounced. II is believed, however. tina
,itular claims TO territory OF the large
Leagues. which failed in 1915, 1915 ant
liei7. will be held by some of the mel
who attended yesterdays meeting Il
checkmate any effort the majors ma!
make at a later date 70 claim such ter
ritory for farming purposes
For the present the National Asso
citation will be governed by the presen
officials OF the organization. Michae
sexton. president. and John Farrell
secretary. However. the present cum
hersome national board OF arbitration
.ans,st,np If eight minor league presi