The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-29
SPORTING NEWS.
The Hartman Syndicate Inter-
ested in New Move.
Said to Be Backing the Ameri-
can League Venture.
BEHIND GOTHAM TEAM.
Made the st. Joe Club a Success
in Western League.
Conducted 1t in Connection
With Street Car Interests.

New York, Aug. 29-It was stated to-
day on good authority that the Harrl-
man syndicate will be the hackers OF
the American league baseball club
which is to be put in New York next
year. W. T. Van Brunt. who has been
one of the hackers of the st. Joe west
ern league club and representative OF
the Hartman interests in that city, will
be the new president of the New York
American league baseball club. This Is
said to be a shrewd political move on
the part of the Hartman syndicate
against Tammany hall through Andrew
Freedman.
According to the Informant. Ban
johnson, w. T. Van Brunt and another
representative of the Hartman syndf-
cate have been in conference in this
city several times lately. Van Brunt
has met Ban Johnson in Chicago In the
latter's office numerous times within the
last few weeks, and the two are said
to have held long talks over the forna-
ton of the new club. These confer
ences are said to have resulted in the
present plans whereby the American
league is enabled to command sum-
cient capital to finance its new CLUB IN
a lever to the Hartman people to be
used against Andrew Freedman and the
Tammany hall ring.
Van Brunt who has been running the
ST. Joe club, was the president OF tins
st. Joe street railway company until
recently. A couple of weeks ago the
control of these interests was sold by
the Hartman syndicate. which mad
owned them for some time, to other
capital From a poorly paying prop
erty they were made to pay large divi-
dends. One of the features of the
amusement park run by the railroad
was the st. Joe Western league base
ball club, most of the capital for which
was put up by the railroad, represented
by Van Brunt. The latter has become
a fan. If the stories told are true, and
succeeded in interesting the Hartman
people in a baseball team in New York.
1t was said that one of the conditions
under which the big railroad syndicate
went into the deal was that the club
should be made a winner capable Oh
staying in the first division. Not only
would this then be big paying bust
ness, but it would also give the Harri-
man syndicate the lever in New York
for which they have been seeking.
w. T. Van Brunt is said to have had
some time. and it was while in this
capacity that he first attracted the at
tention of Mr.. Hartman When the
latter bought the S. Joe street railway
interests Van Brunt was put at the
head of them. and his success in that
capacity is said to have resulted in the
present move on the part of the Harri-
man interests.
Van Brunt is said to have been fa-
vored during his connection with the
western league by President Hart of
the Nationals, yet the present move is
taken against the National league. 1t
is said that Van Brunt's desire to
break into baseball in the major leagues
led him to take the first chance offered,
which was that of the American league
1T Is said here today that Ban John
son VIII return for another conference
with his new hackers before he returns
nome. The removal of the American
league headquarters from Chicago to
this city is said to be a matter of the
immediate future, a move which will
pc made at the end of the present base
ball season.