Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-18
THE WASHINGTON FANS
Wish to Know What Is to Become of
Their Club.

The very able baseball editor of the
Washington Star said, before the meet
ing:
The coming meeting of the Ameri-
can League in Chicago, next Thursday
promises to be one of the most impor-
tant ever held by that organization. 1t
will be most interesting to the follow
ers of baseball in Washington, not
alone on account of the sale Of the
Senators, but also on account Of the
general legislation. The situation in
Washington and Detroit is to be
Strengthened out, the reserve fund
which has accumulated for three years
and which amounts to nearly $4,000
is to be distributed among the eight
clubs or kept intact for emergencies
and the abolition of the foul-strike
rule is most probable. The schedule
for next season will also be discussed,
but it's adoption will not be until the
spring meeting.
The chief point that concerns Wash
ington is the sale of the local club.
When President johnson was in Wash
ington he told Star reporter that he
was not in the city to sell the club, but
to get something definite in the way
OF a proposition so as to present it to
the full meeting in Chicago, this week.
Just how the situation stands can be
CLEANED from the following interview
given to Joe Villa of the New York Sun
by President Johnson just before he
left Gotham for home. Mr.. Johnson
said:
1.-THE American League is not in
favor of a 12-club circuit, and stands
for two organizations. The report that
several National League men want to
consolidate surprises me. We are in
line shape, and see no reason why we
should not continue as we have in the
past. There is $4,000 in the Ameri-
can Leagues treasury, and three clubs
alone-Boston, Cleveland and Phila-
delphia-made more than $4,000 last
season. have secured new owners
for the Washington club, men of
wealth and national reputation, whose
names will be made public at our meet
ing in Chicago. next Thursday"
Just who these influential bidders for
the Washington club are cannot be an
nounced at this time for fear of block
ing the deal, but should the present ar
engagements 60 through, the Senators
will have as good backing as any club
in the country. The capitalists in ques-
ton are enthusiastic lovers of baseball,
and have gone into the game with
something besides the idea of making
money. Attorney Wilton J. Lambert,
counsel for the Washington club, and
one or two others who think of buying
the team. will probably leave for Chi
cago tomorrow, to attend the meeting,
if other important business engage
ments do not interfere. At the meeting
a decision will be reached as to wheth-
err it will be better to carry the club
along and endeavor to regain the thou
sands lost, last season, or turn it over
to the latest bidders. A hint from the
inner circles is to the effect that the To-
cal capitalists are willing to saddle
themselves with one-half of last years
losses in addition to the old-time pur-
chase price. but Mr.. Johnson wants
them to be responsible for the entire
something like $4,000. This
sum can easily be recouped, next sea-
son, by the American League with a
team that can hover around the first
division. and the magnates in control
are fully aware of the fact, hence the
obstacles in the way of concluding a
deal. Mr.. Johnson has always been
anxious to have local people in charge,
and this is a big point in favor Of the
new would-be purchasers. By the time
the meeting is over it will probably be
known definitely in whose hands the
club will be.
The situation in Detroit, President
Johnson has declared, is most favora-
bic, a new syndicate having been formed
to take some of the trouble off Magnate
Angus hands, which will leave the cir
cult intact and give him a chance to
strengthen the team.
The lengthening of the schedule by the |
National League will not be met by the |
americans, as President Johnson Is fully |
ware that the seasons games in the past |
we're plenty. and unless as team is bat
ling for one of the top positions there is |
title interest displayed in the fall con-
ests. The patrons tire somewhat of the |
ia faces and even games with the minor |
leagues are preferable to rehash of the
mes they have been witnessing all sea-
on. For instance. should the Baltimore |
Tub capture the Eastern League pennant |
series of games in the fall between the |
and Orioles would be crowd
d with interest. The Philadelphia In
Iuirer sent out letters of inquiry for !
pinicns on the frightening of the season
different people connected with Ameri-
an League clubs, and the following from
he pen of Attorney Wilton J. Lambert |
most interesting
Mr.. Lambert said:
The action of the National Baseball |
league in prolonging their playing sea-
on. thus making Impossible the post
eason games between the two big
eagues. was palpably an admission that
ne American Leagues clubs. as was con-
lusively shown in the past few months.
re the strongest and are thus entitled to
e. r viewed as such by ~ the e. public. In
9th associations met the American clubs
anne out victorious, notably In the Bos-
)n-Pittsburg series.
In irving to maintain It's prestige as
ne major association, the National
eague admits its artistic weakness when
declines to meet the American. From a
usiness point of view there Is more pat
mage at the end of the season in these
ost-season games than in regular
L.