The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-02
VAN BRUNT TO FUR
NISHMONEY. FOR
new CLUB
st. Joseph Magnate Is Picked
as the Backer of the Amer
lean Leagues New York
Ball Team-Johnson Re-
fuses to Discuss the Re-
port. y41 -ays nj, no r.
port.

The announcement made in TIL e
q b Wednesday morning that w.
L. Van Brunt is being considered in
connection with the leadership Of the
New York American league team has
been confirmed by the Chicago Rec
ord-Herald with the following:
1T is practically certainty that
western money will back the new ball
club Of the American league in New
York. w. T. Van Brunt, of st. Joseph,
Mo-, financial hacker of the Western
league, has been picked as the man to
buck Andrew Freedman and John T.
Brush in the new enterprise. Mr.. Van
Brunt is millionaire and an enthusi-
astic baseball fan. He has practically
severed his relation with the Western
league, although he came to Chicago
this week to see if there was a, chance
for Western league club in this city,
not for himself but for friends of his
in the Western league.
Mr.. Van Brunt soon found that
there was a slim show for any West
ern league club in this city, and the
conference here with President John
son and Charles Comiskey was de-
voted to the New York venture The
st. Joseph man will soon shake the
Missouri dust off his feet and move to
New York. He expects to move the
middle of this month, 1t was learned
yesterday. and he will have his per-
manent residence in Gotham.
Friend of Hartman.
1.-THE prospective owner Of the
American League Ball club in New
York is rated as muItimilIionaire
Until some time ago he was the sole
owner Of the street car system in St
Joseph, which was sold to a syndicate
headed by E. II. Hartman. 1t is said
that Mr.. Van Brunt realized several
millions on the deal.
"E. H. Hartman has been mention
ed in connection with the New York
ball club, but if that f1nancier is at all
interested it will undoubtedly be as
silent partner, with Van Brunt the real
head Of the club. There is a close
friendship between Hartman and Van
Brunt, and the latter is regarded in
some circles as Mr.. Harriman's right
hand man.
Probably no better choice as hacker
of the new club could be made than
Mr.. Van Brunt. He has been one of
the most liberal men ever connected
with baseball, and is considered a
thorough sportsman and an enthusiast
tic baseball fan. He practically un-
aided backed the Western league in it's
fight against the American association
last season, and was a heavy loser in
the enterprise. Mr.. Van Brunt was in
the old western league and was a
close personal friend of B. B. John
son, and is at the present time
"Mr. Van Brunt, it is said, has not
closed the deal for the New York club
yet, but it is regarded as reasonably
certain that he will Mr.. Van Brunt
could not be found yesterday at any
of the downtown hotels. There were
several kilograms at one of the hotels
for him, but he had not called for them
late last night.
johnson Is Silent.
president Johnson, who was absent
from his office most of the day. would
not say that he had been in confer
ence with Mr.. Van Brunt. but it was
reported that hes with Henry KiIlilea,
of Milwaukee, had held a conference
during the forenoon at one of the
down town hotels. Mr.. Killilea left for
his home in Milwaukee at O'Clock"