Evening star., 1901-07-31

| Chicago. So 20 .6i8 Washington. 81 40 .444
betrot. betors. s. Is Sc $3.50 $50 ailwauRee 50 s S
National League CIub.' Standing.
s,,';ss :, e; e; ess York 5 tSs IS
Philadslpha = Ghissgo, 3. e 4as 4os
The chief topic in base ball circles today,
both cast and west. is the controversy be-
| tween President Ban Johnson of the
| American League and Manager McGraw
| of the Baltimore club of the same organi-
zation. President Johnson has not been at
| all backward in charging the Baltimore
| manager with endeavoring to wreck the
American Association, and the latter has
come forward with a half-hearted denial.
From Washington standpoint 1t can be
stated that there is no doubt that ad-
vances were recently made to Manager
Manning by the Baltimore club looking to
the desertion of the American League. A
well-known Baltimore newspaper man
came to this city about a week before the
Washington club went west and held
long conference with Mr.. Manning. An
other scribe from Baltimore was also in
the deal to entice Manning away, but all
efforts proved fruitleSs.
1t looks like foolish move on the part
of the Baltimore club officials to deny that
they fathered the scheme of disruption
when they adopted such loose methods of
procedure. To use a slang phrase every
body was next to the move. and when
they accosted Mr.. Manning they were
simply playing into President Johnsons
hands.
Manager McGraw is evidently bent upon
having his own way and will not brook
interference with his plans. While pos
ing as a magnate he Is the manager and
captain of the Baltimore club, and when
dignity nnCfffan "a
with the latter McGraw evidently be-
lieves that his financial interests should
act as shield while on the field.
Ban JOhnsOn's Success.
President Johnson has made a success
of the American League by not playing ia
vorites. and in the past has done his most
effective work through the blind following
Of Messrs. Mack, Comiskey, Manning, Nc
Aleer and Killilea. These gentlemen have
been working on the plan that 1.-The king
can do no harm." and as aresult the great
est successes have followed. President
Johnsons methods are sometimes distaste-
full to these American League magnates,
but time has proved them money winners
and successes in other ways, with the re-
suit that at the present time he can de-
pend upon the blind support of at least
seven out Of the eight club owners.
Last season President johnson had to.
use radical methods to bring Magnates
Burns and Stallngs to their senses, but
the plan proved effective. and now this
| pair are stanch believers in all that their
| leader does. Manager McGraw doubtless
| realizes that the National League is
| stronger today financially, as result of
| a good season. than it has been for several
years past. and to hold their own the
| American League magnates will have to
| stand shoulder to shoulder. A compromise
looks to be an impossibility, and in fight
ing President Johnson Manager McGraw
| has weakened his cause considerably. His
| Baltimore friends, 1t is asserted, would
be acting shrewdly II they advised McGraw
| to fall into the steps of Burns and STALL
| ings, instead of playing the part of dis
| gruntled magnate.
President Johnson's executive ability is
| the envy Of the National League magnates
| and just such tactics as those adopted by
| McGraw has created unlimited trouble for
/ the older organization. That McGraw Is
| thinking seriously of quitting the American
League there can be little doubt as the
| Baltimore American today, after long
| interview with the Oriole leader, says:
| while McGraw did not say So it was
| plainly shown that he will make efforts to
1 part company with Johnson next season."
| Ready for MeGraw.
While President Ban Johnson Is more or
less reticent on this point, he said enough
in Chicago Monday to show that McGraw
| will be turned down and turned down
| cold"
| Il cannot and will not state definitely
| that Baltimore will not be in the American
| League circuit next year." said the presi-
| dent of the league in discussing the situa-
] tion. but 1 will say this: We have our
| eyes on other cities that are much better
| than Baltimore. They are better base ball
| towns and we can place a better team III
| any of them. You know that in running a
| big league you must have several strings
| to your bow. You must always be pre-
| pared for just such moves as this one Of
| McGraw'S
LAS you can readily see, it is lucky now
| that we have another city in the east where
| good club may be placed and where it Is
sure to make money and plenty of it. Bal
/ timore is not such great base ball .own.
| There are many better.
| And as to McGraw. he's traitor and a
| man who would not hesitate to throw
| down his best friend. His actions in start
| Ing movement with a view before him Of
breaking up the league proves this But
| we were ready for him. / found out what
| he was long time ago. and as soon as
| he started his game he was headed off,"
/ President Johnson would not say what
| the other cities are which he has in view.
but 1t Is known to almost a certainty that
| he and the magnates of the American
| League have their eyes on New York. That
| Is the only other city in the east that can
| take the place of Baltimore, unless, indeed
| the Brooklyn club Is moved to Washington
| If the National League carries ont the
| wishes of Freedman Hanlon's men will be
luscious Ming for the American League
and If a winning team could be placed there
| 1t would be money maker.
Philadelphia, II; Cleveland, s.
Philadelphia outbatted and outfieIded the
! Clevelands yesterday, in the latter city,
| and won out by the score of IL to B. Moore
| was knocked out of the box In the seventh
inning. The feature of the game was La
| joie's batting. the big Frenchman getting
| single, double, a triple and home rnn
Attendance, 1.400. Score:
| Cleveland, R.H.O,A.E. fPhiladel,a n II n =. y