The Washington times., 1902-07-11
Makes Sharp Thrusts at
Head of Amer can
League.
READY TO DEBATE ISSUES
Former Oriole Talks Out il Defiant
MGnner-0ffe7s to Prove His State
ments-Denies That He Was Forced
Out and Says He Can Tie Up Club.

Some curiosity has been expressed as
to Why McGraw chose TO leave the
Baltimore club, of which he is part
owner. Directly Ban Johnson. president
of the American League, found that Nc
Craw had deserted. he asserted in an
interview that the former Baltimore
player had been forced out OF the team
by Robinson and Kelley. who are also
part owners.
In reply to this McGraw has the fol-
lowing to say: Amy time that MI.
johnson is anxious to engage with me
in public debate as to the business al
fairs OF the American League ! shall
be glad to do so. | will throw some
light upon the manner in which affairs
are handled In that organization. l left
the American League because it is a
loser. Put tht Just as l repeated it
because it is a loser; because there are
only one or two clubs that are able to
make money in 1t and because l am not
In baseball for my health. but for what
l can make out OF it.
Has Lost Money.
"Thc Baltimore Club has not made a
penny from the day that 1t became a
member of the organization. AS it
stands today 1t cannot get through The
season without financial assistance. 1
know what l am talking about. because
only recently l was one CT the principal
owners in 1t. So far as being put out
OF the Baltimore Club by any one. two
or three persons. | can tie up the Balti-
more Club tomorrow if care to do so.
l don't. l left the Baltimore Club in .
perfectly honorable manner and shall
treat the Baltimore Club just as honor
ably as ! was treated by the minor
stockholders. who were mere than sorry
to see me go.
The policy OF the American League is
everything for Boston, Chicago, and
Philadelphia. and the remainder Of the
teams in the organization take what
they can. am not saying this because
of a:y pre-. .udlce that X might be thought
would entertain. but because | was
told SO pointb!ank by the president of
the American League. II he wants TO
dispute that assertion | will tell him
the date and the time that nc made the
and l don't think that he will
want any more to say.
Governed by Clique.
Il made the American League possible
in the East. ! had not been a member
of the organization week before l
found that its affairs were handled ex-
clusively by clique that worked for
one end, That end was not the good OF
every club in the league. but the good
OF the cluhs that / have named.
The American League is badly in
debt. If Mr.. Johnson wants to deny that
I will tell how much it is in debt and
where the money is owed. l should not
have opened my mouth regarding this
matter had Mr.. Johnson not chosen to
attack me. l don't think the American
League is unanimous in the course that
he has pursued. in fact | know it Is
not. There is serious opposition, that
comes not from those in control on the
surface. but from those who have put
cash into the circuit and must put more
IL they expect to get anything back.
The Philadelphia club is not making
any money. 1t has a big white elephant
for ten years at the rate Ct $1,000
year, and the principal bacEer ct the
c.ub has had all that he wants Of 1t, be-
cause he cannot see penny coming in
at the gate. 40 money was made last
year and no money VIII be made this
year.
1T is about time the truth was toll
regarding baseball business in general.
| do not say that the National League
is making any money. In fact, have
reason to doubt it, but l do know that
TIE American League IS not the howliug
success that has been asserted, and ! 30
know that the American League is not
run on the principles of true sportsman
ship when the whole outfit is made
tributary to three cities that have 4
large population and are supposed to
keep the entire outfit going. You can't
have good baseball. baseball that is fair
10 everybody. both owners ana public,
lplcs3 every club in the circuit stands
On its own footing. Why didn't Detroit
get Liable in the American League
when an oTort was made? | know; 50
20 others.
The Milwaukee club we r'iI $1,000