The Washington times., 1901-07-27
JOHNSON SCENTS TROUBLE
Believes There Is a Traitor in the
American League Camp.
The President Intimntes That Nc
Grnw Is DickerinE with the Op-
position - The OriOIe Declares
There IL Too Much One Man Power


| CHICAGO, July 26.-American League
| magnates charge that q man in their
camp is dickering with John T. Brush
! or other National League magnates to
betray them. They say that this man is
John J. McGraw. and that he has been
conducting negotiations with the Ma
tional League representatives with the
object of jumping to the National League
at the close of the present season, ana
that an emissary of his has approached
James Manning, of the Washington club,
and George Stallings, manager of and
stockholder in the Detroit club.
The scheme, as outlined by American
League magnates conversant with the sit-
uation, is this:
The National League is anxious this faii'
when it reorganizes, to go back to
twelve club basis They count on Nc
Graw and the Baltimore club. They nave
figured on Washington. which is the cen
tral point in the negotiations, and VIII
ccmplete their circuit with Detroit ana
indianapolis. President johnson, oil the
American League, is fully cohVersan.
with the details of the scheme, and TINS
morning discussed it at length. He said:
You may quote me as saying that
don't care how quick the Baltimore cluo
takes its bag and baggage and goes over
to the National League. We don't want
any Benedict Arnods in our camp. we
know what has been going on and we are
prepared for any move.
The negotiations are said to have been
carried on through Baltimore newspaper
man, who. it is asserted, has been acting
as agent for McGraw, but he made
mistake when he approached Manning
dnrIvT
suggestions at once, being thoroughly
loyal to the American League, and con-
sidered it in the nature of an insult to
he even approached on the subject.
President Johnson said he understood
a meeting was to have been held with
Brush on July II Manning is here with
the Washington club. and this morning
admitted having been approached. Man
ming declares he is in the American
League to stay, and that McGraw or any
body else cannot possibly win away his
allegiance.
II do not know whether you could eX-
actly call it being approached" he said,
but the man who talked to me hinted
around and suppose could have learned
more if / had stopped to listen or asked
questions, but l shut him off right quick.
You know exactly where l stand
a feeler was held out to Stallings also
and both these men reported to head
quarters. President johnson has known
for some time that there was something
doing in Baltimore.
Il have known that there were some
sort of negotiations going on for some
time, but / thought they might just as
well be given enough rope to hang them
selves We are positive it is McGraw and
also feel sure that he is alone in his
work"
That Manning turned them down so
coldiy frustrated the scheme in great
part, for ii was the intention OF the Ma
tional League. it Is said, to switch the
Brooklyn Club to Washington and thus
accede to the demands of Freedman, who
insists that the Brooklyn Club must go.
Washington is the most critical point in
the whole scheme, and the National
League may even be forced to go into
Washington in opposition to the present
Senators if it carries out its plans. De-
troit and Indianapolis would be taken to
fill out the circuit.
The National Leaguers figured that
Burns was hostile to Johnson. and would
welcome chance to administer a crush
ing blow. The American League is an
ticipating dcGraws s move, and its forces
are all fixed. 1t is likely they will be able
to deliver the National League more
crushing blow than the latter could ad-
minister to the American League.
Said resdent johnson today: I'VE
have demonstrated that we could get all
the financial backing that we possibly
needed. We have shown that we can get
the players and that we can conduct
the game on the right basis. and give the
baseball public cleaner and better base
ball than they ever had before, and con-
sequently We have not the slightest fear
of any move like the one under discus
sion"
CLEVELAND. Ohio. July 26.-Manager
McGraw, of Baltimore was seen this af-
ternoon with reference to the report given
out by Ban Johnson that the Baltimore
manager was engaged in an attempt to
wreck the American League.
so the Julius Caesar of the league
calls me Benedict Arnold does he?"
said McGraw. Il should like to know
upon what evidence he bases that asser-
tion. l have my good money invested to
pretty considerable extent and / am
anxious that the league should meet with
success.
What has johnson at stake? He is
paid an annual salary to do our business.
and what right has he to make baseless
assertions about his employers? l am
frank to say that / believe there Is too
much one-man power in \he league and
that the affairs OF our oNanization are
being run in the interests of one particu-
lar clique.
"As to Stallings and Manning being ap-
preached let Mr.. Johnson give his proof
i can only say that Baltimore Is In an
excellent position to take care of its
rights and proposes to do SO. This busi-
ness is too important for the dictation OF
one man.