The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-28
Lands PROPOSAL
CALMLY STUDIED
Baseball Gar Won't be Able
To Abolish Chain Gangs
This Season
nv .m1DSON BAILEY

spite of all the clamor ana coA-
fusion. b~asebalI's farm systems are
likely to look essentially the same
newt summer as they did last sea-
son.
Shell shocked from the repeated
bombings of Commissioner Kenne'
saw Mountain Lands which lnclud-
ed making 81 members of Detroit
farm hands free agents, the major
league magnates are too astoundeo
by his latest proposal for abolish
ment of the chain gangs altogether
IN comment on the validity of the
plan.
But there is a unaninity of opin-
ion that the Lands program OF
training schools, subsidies to minor
leagues and elimination of optional
assignments is a long-range shot
and does not affect materially n
muddled 1910 situation.
Conflicting Opinions
AS to the consequences OF his
previous seven-point declaration OF
restrictions on farm operations n
big league owners are noting agree
ment. However, most Of them have
decided to run the gauntlet on h
theory that operations which were
bonafide in 1889 will continue to be
this year.
A hasty survey shows only the
New York Yankees, st. Louis Cardl-
nails and BROOKLYN Dodgers coIsld-
ering any considerable curtailment
of working agreements. How sweep
ing their cut may be remains 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 hulle-
tin makes any change in u setup
and we have not withdrawn work.
ing agreements with any clubs"
Will Continue
In Boston Billy Evans said the
farm operations, and the Bees not
only are planning to maintain their
system Of last year but are ex.
banding into the Interstate league.
Washington's farm agreements
likewise are all set for 1910. Clark
Griffith said he saw no need for
curtailment, but added: "Detroit's
been hit a 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 go on"
Connie Mack Of the Philadelphia
Athletics expressed a personal be-
lief that Lands ruling was a good
one" While the AS working agree
ments haven't been completed, and
some changes may be made. he
didn't foresee any revision.
l11C L ii1lllSSt dof1lS 41lSI0liSo q
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 a couple of small
clubs, but the Cubs will have the
same lineup.
Standing Pat
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 it's 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 wait.
ing to see how far they can go this
year.
A possible Temporary solution for
the problems of the Cardinals and
Yankees, whose operations are in.
comparably more complex thar
those of other clubs. was held forth
last night by President William G
Branham Of the National association
(of minor leagues), who asked
Lands to postpone some of his pro-
Libitions until after the 1910 season
SO that the clubs would have {
chance to straighten out their af
fairs.
If this doesn't meet with Lands
approval the chances are some O.