Evening star., 1940-01-28
Baseball Farm
Picture Slow
Change
Only Yankees, Cards.
Dodgers Stirred by
Lundis' Actions
BY JUDSON BAILEY,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

Associated Press sports Writer.
NEW YORK, Jan. 27.-In spite Of
all the clamor and confusion, base
balls farm systems likely are to
look essentially the same next
summer as they did last season.
Shell-shocked from the repeated
bombings Of Commissioner Kenesaw
Mountain Lands which included
making 81 members of Detroit farm
HANDS free agents, the major league
magnates are too astounded by his
latest proposal for abolishment Of
the chain gangs altogether to COM
ment on the validity of the plan.
But there is unanimity Of
opinion that the Lands program OF
training schools, subsidies to minor
leagues and elimination of optional
assignments is long-range shot
and does not affect materially the
muddled 1910 situation.
AS to the consequences of his
previous seven-point declaration of
restrictions on farm operations the
big league owners are not in agree
ment. However, most of them have
decided to run the gauntlet on the
theory that operations which were
bona fide in 1899 will continue to be
this year.
Three Clubs Plan Major Cuts.
A hasty survey shows only the
New York Yankees, st. Louis Card.
inals and Brooklyn Dodgers con.
sidering any considerable curtail-
ment of working agreements. How
sweeping their cut may be ramins to
be seen.
On the other side of the picture
the New York Giants are going
ahead with all the farm clubs chosen
previously. In addition they have
seen fit to arrange one new working
agreement since the Lands ukase
of January IS.
In Pittsburgh President William
E. Benswanger of the Pirates said:
i don't believe the Lands bulletin
makes any change in our setup and
we have not withdrawn working
agreements with any clubs"
In Boston Billy Evans said the
Red Sox would continue their nor
NAL farm operations. and the Bees
not only are planning to maintain
their system Of last year, but are
expanding into the Interstate
League. -=-CI
Washington's farm agreements
likewise are all set for 1910. Clark
Grifith said he saw no need for
curtailment, but added: "Detroit's
been hit pretty hard blow. (By
Lands ruling making 81 players
free agents. I am afraid it's going
to hurt them and naturally some
minor leagues. Baseball, however,
will 60 on"
Mack Agrees With Lands.
Connie Mack Of the Philadelphia
Athletics expressed q personal be-
lief that Lands ruling was q good
one" While the AS working agree
ments haven't been completed, and
some changes may be made, he
didn't foresee any great revision.
The Phillies, having installed
farm director in John Ogden, intend
to expand. They had two or three
working agreements and plan half
a dozen this year.
The Chicago White Sox have de-
cided to drop couple of small
clubs, but the Cubs will have the
same lineup.
The Cincinnati Reds and Cleve-
land Indians, both with fairly ex-
tensive farm operations, are stand
ing pat for the present and in any
case are likely to continue their
connections in the minors through
the 1910 season.
Detroit is attempting to clear
away its shambles and reorganize
while the st. Louis Browns, which
own three clubs and had working
agreements with seven others last
season, are sitting back quietly
waiting to see how far they can 60
this year.
Bramham Asks Delayed Action.
A possible temporary solution for
the problems of the Cardinals and
Yankees, whose operations are in
comparably more complex than
those of other clubs, was held forth
last night by Pres. william G.
Bramham to postpone some of his
prohibitions until after the 1910
season so that the clubs would have
chance to straighten out their
affairs.
If this doesn't meet with Lands
approval the chances are some or
all Of the 10 agreements recalled by
the Cards and the seven by the
Yanks, all between lesser units in
their systems, may be Cancelled.
But the Cardinals chopped their
chain down last year from 80 units
to Is without much fanfare. Inas-
much as there were some $50 minor
league clubs which had working
agreements in major league farm
systems In 1899, the cutting of OF
a dozen or so more this season
seems unlikely to change the COM
plexion Of baseball on q national
IL