ith him Chris Von der Ahe, who became famous as
"der boss" of the old St. Louis Browns, George Shaefer and others, he at
once begun pulling wires looking toward the formation of an organization
based on the old American Association lines, one that should do away
with many of the evils that now exist.

Milwaukee and Detroit capitalists were soon interested in the scheme,
and early in October, 1899, an informal meeting was held in Chicago, at
which Chas. Havenor, Harry D. Quinn and Alderman O'Brien of Milwaukee;
Chris Von der Ahe, George Shaefer and Al Spink, of St. Louis, and Frank
Hough, of Philadelphia, were present.

This meeting I attended by invitation in company with Walter H. Clough,
my son-in-law, and after talking the prospects over I finally agreed to
place a team in Chicago to represent the new association, providing that
a proper circuit of eight cities could be secured. I was then, as I am
now, in favor of invading the cities already occupied by the National
League clubs, and leaving the other cities to be occupied by the minor
leagues.

At this meeting Harry D. Quinn was elected temporary President and Frank
Hough temporary Secretary.

Quinn proved to be a hustler of the first class and spent both time and
money in interesting the capitalists of other cities in the proposed
deal. In November matters had progressed so far that a second meeting
was held in New York, which was attended by the St. Louis and Milwaukee
delegations, and by Secretary Hough of Philadelphia, Thomas Navin of
Detroit and representatives from Boston and Providence.

Owing to family troubles I was unable to be present, and but little was
accomplished. An effort was made, however, to interest Tom O'Rourke and
"Dry Dollar" Sullivan in the scheme, and this might have been successful
had it not been known that Richard Croker, the Tammany chieftain, was a
great friend of President Freedman of the New York League Club, and
might be tempted to cut streets through any grounds that were secured.
McGraw of Baltimore was also on hand looking over the ground, but he was
then still confident that Baltimore would be retained in the League, and
therefore was unwilling to cast his fortunes with the new venture.

Quinn was nothing daunted, however, and continued to work like a beaver.
Hough's promised backing in Philadelphia failed to materialize, and F.
A. Richter, of the Philadelphia "Sporting Life," claimed to be able to
find both the men and mo