The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-11
WHAT BIRMINGHAM IS DOING.
Montgomery Will Be Backed by Bir- mingham in Case of Legal Fiphts.

Birmingham Jan. 10.-(Speciaf.)- )-For several weeks past the sport-loving ele- Meht .h or Birmingham has been watching the baseball situation in Montgomery with considerable interest and though the two Alabama cities will be intense rivals, the packers of the Coal Barons want the team sent out from the Capital 10 dereat everything except Birmingham
 Though the fans in this city do not ex- actly understood the troubles existing in Montgomery between the new league crowd and the old league men. they know that something needs to be adjust ed. and the announcement that Lew whistler had been selected as manager, and that the trouble was practically over was source of much pleasure
 Lew Whistler is one of the best baseball men who ever came into the South, and though he made a failure at Chattanooga two years ago, 1t was not his fault He was not given the authority and power to do what his judgment dictated and consequently Chattanooga was not a top notcher. His past record, however as a pennaEt-winner Is good enough to land him in most any job in the baseball busi- ness, With Whistler at the head of Montgomery's organization, O~Brien lead ing Birmingham, Alb Powell in Atlanta, Newt Fisher in Nashville, Mike Finn in Little Rock and Charley Frank in Mem phis. the race in the South next year promises to be exceedingly warm. All of tfese men are past masters in the art of baseball, and from now on 1t is a dues- ton of generalship.
 Birmingham so far has been very care ful; and but few of the men are signed. It has been decided that Sam Brown will return as catcher; that Denver and Frank Smith will he pitchers and that Lawler will be again appointed to oper- ate around second base. The field will be selected from Cavender, the heavy hitting Texan; Billy Smith. one of the fastest men in the league last year, and Johnnie Dufty. who was the ''phenom' of the New York League last season. It is said that Duffy will be paid the largest sal ary of any outfielder in the Southern League.
 The only team so far to announce the players signed Is Nashville. They are {: Pitchers. Orr. Bennett. Logan. Bagwell. Ehret, Prince, Bumpus. Jones and Clyde Ingall; first base. Bussy; second base, c. Horn and O'Connell third base, Cargo; Outf1elders. Gertenrech, Harley. Knoll, Collins and Reldhaus. Manager Fisher ham for Charlie Moss. who left here the early part of last season. It Is not known what action will be taken in the matter, but Birmingham fans are anxious for the trade; Of the old players. Fisher has Knoll, Collins, Kennedy and Wise man to draw from.
 All of the teams will begin work earlier this season than heretofore on account of large number of big league teams tour ing the South that will have to be trim med down before starting towards the pole. Birmingham seems to have been the most desirable place to these, big leaguers on account of the big crowds turned out early in the spring and a number of dates have been arranged. Following Is the schedule up to date:
 New York National League), March 27.
 Boston American League, April l.
 Milwaukee (American Association),
 Cleveland American League), April
 Cincinnati CNatioaal League), April g,
 St. Paul (American Association), April 15, I6
 New York: (AmerIcan League), April r, IS.
 An interesting story Is going the rounds that Chattanooga intends to give Mont gomery and the entire Southern League a whole lot of trouble ere the flag drops in April, end that the litigation which gave so much annoyance last season can be given cards and spades by these irate Tennesseeans Naturally, the Chatta- noogans are little upset over losing the franchise to an Alabsma city, but as they fell below the dead line in the way of att tendance. the league officials say they have no kick coming Chattanooga claims that under her franchise of five years she has three more seasons coming to her. and unless the stockholders are remunerated by the Southern League for the time thus lost, they intend to make 1t warm for the entire organization
 It is also said that Mobile has gone in with the Chattanoogaps and will attempt to. get out injunctions against the Bir- mingham and Montgomery teams when- ever they attempt to play in Alabama. The magnates here ho vever. do not look on the Mobile threats seriously and in- tend to stand pat on what they have in hand. If Montgomery will jotn them, the two Alabama cities can wade through the league like brothers fighting each others battles. but at the same time fight each