Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-10
BAN JOHNSON HERE
American League President Interest
ing Local Capital.
IMPORTANT MOVES CONTEMPLATED
Baltimore Conference to Be lg-
nored, Say Western Magnates.
COMISKY TALKS KNOWINGLY

There was quite base ball atmosphere
around the Hotel Raleigh this morning, the
American Legue magnates being quite an
attraction to the local enthusiasts, dra awning
many of their local admirers around them.
The western group is made up of President
Ban Johnson, Charley Comisky, Connie
! Mack and c. W. Somers, and consulting
with them were Michael Scanlon and Mr..
O'Donnell of this city.
Mr.. Johnson was positive in his state
ment that the American League will place
club in this city next summer and that
Jimmy Manning Of Kansas City will have
charge thereof. 1t is the desire Of the
controllers of the American League to have
all local capital possible invested In the diff
ferent clubs, and for this reason Mr.. Scan
Ion and Mr.. O'Donneu are interesting
Washington people in the scheme to back
up Mr.. Manning when he arrives here.
Mr.. Scanlon was very enthusiastic this
morning over the Washington outlook and
claims he has sufficient capital to take the
club entirely out of Mr.. Manning's hands
should such a contingency arise as would
call for such action. Papers from the west
have stated that Mr.. Manning does not
want to leave Kansas City and that he
may go into the Western Association.
Should these reports prove true Messrs.
Scanlon and O'Donnell will be in a position
to take care of the local end Of the Amert-
can League.
Important news was hard to get out of
Mr.. johnson. When asked whether he was
going to Baltimore for a conference with
Mr.. McGraw, he said most emphatically
that he and his companions would go di-
rect to Philadelphia from this city. but
that they might return to the monumental
city next Week On the face of the re-
marks The Star reporter had to record
Mr. Johnsons words, but it is known for
fact that Messrs johnson, Comisky, Mack
and Somers are in for one of the biggest
base bail conferences this evening in Bal
timore that has taken place in recent years.
Al TINS conference the western magnateS
will meet Francis Richter and his hackers
from Philadelphia, Messrs. McGraw and
robinson and their hackers from Philadel
phia, Messrs. Dwyer and Walker Of this
city and perhaps the representatives from
Boston. Whether the conference will re-
suit in big base ball sensation coming to
the front is question. but, nevertheless,
the greatest interest centers around Balti-
more tonight and tomorrow.
President johnson was called to his rooms
by pressure of business, and The Star
reporter had quite lengthy chat with the
veteran player and manager. Charles Co
misky of the Chicago club. Charley Is look
ing hale and hardy. his health having be-
come unusually good since he has quit the
diamond. During the conversation he said:
The American League has had a SPLEEN
ulu season, almost all the clubs finishing
with good balance on the right side of
the ledger. We know that our league IS
not perfect and for that reason we are
reaching out. A good substantial opposi-
ton to the National League will not only
make money. but it will also revive the
interest here in the east that Is SO much
needed and the loss of which has become
SO noticeable.
Three better cities than PHILADELPHIA
Baltimore and Washington cannot be OBJ
tanned, but III admit that the eastern end
looks little ragged with Buffalo tackled
on. Had We either Brooklyn, New York
or Boston the fourth city the American
League circuit would almost be an ideal
one. But we will have to crawl before we
can walk. and with the three closely con-
nected cities I have named as a starter
we may do better hereafter"
Comisky did not take much stock in the
National Association, although he admitted
to The Star reporter that the St. Louis end
OF 1t was all right.
This Is about all the reliable backing the
National Association has In the west" con-
tinued Comisky, "and where 1t will get
backing from In Chicago. Milwaukee and
Detroit is mystery to me. A third club
may be made a go in Chicago, as that viii
lage Is a big one, but with two clubs in
Milwaukee and two in Detroit 1t is hard to
see where each club will get It's patrons
from.
I'm St. Louis, I'll admit, the Robisons
are not very popular. but to make an OPP
position club go there the best players
would have to be secured, and l don't be-
lleve the stars will desert the National
League. In Milwaukee a club has to be one,
two, three in the championship race to
make money, and with two teams dividing
up the patronage somebody would be sure
to get hurt financially.
Il know the National Association people
are banking on the present owner of the
Detroit club deserving the American League,
but MesSrs. Richter and Quinn should not
lose sight of the fact that the Wolverine
team cleared something like SO OOJ last
season. 1t will be business proposition to
the owner of the Detroit club, and whether
he can afford to let go a certainty for an
uncertainty is for himself to decide, but
with the American"
The Star reporter asked Mr.. Comisky
what he thought Of a consolidation of the
American League and the National Asso-
citation on the lines Of the four best west
ern cities-Chicago st. Louis, Milwaukee
and Detroit-be. contributed by the for
mer. while Washington, Baltimore, PhiIa-
delph!a and Baston would be put forward
by the latter. Mr. Comisky replied, with a
sarcastic smile:
Association is still on paper, while We have
grounds and players. AS a practical man
1t Is hardly necessary to put forward the
difference"
But there is difference and the western
contingent may find out what 1t is in Bal
timOre when they come together in con-
ference.
Should the base ball situation drift along
as 1t is at present and an American League
club be located in this city it Is more than
probable that the Washington patrons will
be given new grounds to visit Mr.. John
says that National Park IS in very bad
condition, and he favors an entirely new
site. The Malone lot, near the government
printing office, Is spoken of as the most de-
sirable, and 1t is more than probable that
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