Evening star., 1901-09-20
President Postal Says a Great Sur
prise is Coming.
BAN JOHNSON HAS 4 BOMB READY
Manager Marnng Still Silent
About New Senatorial Timber.
PORTS IN GEN E r A L
Where They Play Today.
Cleveland at Washington.
Milwaukee at Baltimore.
Chicago at Philadelphia.
Detroit at Boston.


Milwaukee at Baltimore.
Chicago at Philadelphia.
Detroit at Boston.
President Fred Postal of Detroit and
Manager Manning arrived in washington
at noon today, and were Immediately sur
rounded at headquarters by crowd or
local fans who were desirous of learn
ing any news that either could give out as
to the signing of players for next season.
Mr. Manning said:
4 am very sorry that will have to dis
appoint you again, hut 1 am under obliga-
tion to remain quiet as to the players l
have signed for next season until all the
games for this year have been played The
out-of-town newspapers have certainly
gathered together great team for me next
season, but l am in such position that
can neither deny or affirm the reports.
4 have seen several National League
magnates and they have assured me that
l am making a big mistake in getting to-
gether an expensive team for Washington,
as they say the city will not stand for 1T in
the way of patronage but this years lndl-
cations have been enough for me. and am
willing to take the chance. washington
has never had a winner, and am sure IL
/ can place team In the first division
throughout next season there will be no
worry coming me as To WHeTe the uloNSS
will come from to pay salaries.
President Postal had nothing to say about
the Washington club, except that he was
surprised at the patronage bestowed on a
losing club by the local patrons of the
game. and that he was thoroughly satisfied
with the financial outcome of the season.
Mr.. Postal Joined Mr.. Manning in Boston,
going to that city directly from Chicago.
where he was In close conference with
President Johnson of the American League
for several hours. Mr.. Postal said:
President Johnson has the fuse of a
bomb lighted, and that explosive he Is
going to toss among the National Leaguers
in short time. He is nearly ready now.
but he is still wrapped up in shroud of
mystery and ice, and when he acts all
these things will flee from him.
1T is as clear as a primary reader that
something is going to happen. There have
been many wild guesses to what the
American League is going to do, some
wilder than others and others still quite
within the range of reason and possibility.
All know that there is going to be pow
erful stroke delivered, but nobody but
President Johnson and the magnates whom
he has taken into his confidence as advisers
know where it will be dealt.
1T has been settled that the Milwaukee
franchise will be transferred to st. Louis
and the American League team will get all
the National League players now in that
city for the new team that are desired.
The Messrs. Robson flatter themselves
that Wallace, Burkett, Kruger and Powell
will not leave the ST. Louis club. That is
exactly what Chicago fans thought year
ago when it was hinted that Mertes Grif-
fifth and Callahan would desert Mr.. Hart
for Mr.. Comiskey. But they went because
the money was offered them, and just so
will the st. Louis players go. base ball
man plays for money and not through sem
timent He does not care where for
whom he plays if he gets the money
I'm addition to the st. Louis players,
who will desert the National League, can
say without eXaggeration that I believe
there will be more men signed from the
older organization for the American next
season than were secured last spring
The salaries contracted to be paid next
season by the American League are no
bigger than when the national sport saw
its greatest prosperity, and there is no rea-
son why base ball history should not re-
peat itself. The American League clubs
made money this season under adverse cir
cumstances. and all the club owners are
willing to take chances on making still
more next season with stronger clubs"
President Postal was pressed for some
definite news by The Evening Star reporter,
but he remained obdurate and refused to
give out the names Of players whom he
knows have been signed When the an
nouncement Of the American League plans
will be made is not known, but when 1t
does come it Is expected that it will cause
no end of surprise.