The sun., 1907-12-31

opinion. This means that when O'Brisn
goes before the commission within the next
ten days he will be firmly notified what the
American Associations demand has been
turned down and that II the association wishes
to 60 ahead with the proposed invasion a red
hot baseball war will result.
While several Of the association men
are talking war. IL Ia a fact that others do
not care for II at all. 10 that when the officiRl
rundown comes there will either BED serious
split in the associations ranks or a com-
plete backdown by the overzealons minor
league. We will wait until next year"
say some OF the association men who do
not feel like losing money. and then we will
not only invade Chicago but we will also
place clubs in Cincinnati, Pittsbur9. Cleve-
land and even Detroit" In order 10 ac-
complish this feat the warlilke minor lesguers
would haWe 20 abandon sorne Of the leading
association cities. which. II In said. would
he quickly supplied with new clubs, backed
by the major leagues and filled out with
surplus players under contract TO the clubs
in the two big circuits. In that way the
present American Association circuit would
be perpetuated. while the invaders Of the
cities already occupied by 1rst class clubs
would be gradually driven 10 the wall in
bitter fight and ultimately forced out OS
baseball.
President johnson OH the American League
is fearlessly Outspoken in his opposition to
the troublemakers. for he rightRully believes
that the present arran cement Of organized
leagues and clubs Ia entirely satisfactory
to the baseball public and that persons who
fOment strife have not the best interests Of
the game a. heart. When Johnson headed
the American League expansion movement
baseball was in a decidedly unhealthy state,
due to the long drawn out monopoly enjoyed
by the National League. But with tho Ameri-
can League once established a. was quickly
demonstrated that there was ample room
for two major league circuits. A third major
league organization, In Johnson's opinion,
would upset the present prosperity OF the
club owners and bring on needless trouble.
involving the loss Of thousands of dollars.
Secretary Nahon OF the New York Ameri
cans said yesterday that Clark Griffith would
arrive here some time next week and that
contracts would be sent out to the players
without delay. II is estimated that the
salary list OF the club will reach the Sos, ,OOO
mark which means that the men will have no
fault TO find with the terms offered. Chase.
ElberfeId and Stahl are already under con-
tract. together with several others. Elber-
fields salary will be about -. 700 for the sea
son. with the provision that u he does salts
factory work all next season he will receive
81 900 bonus In the fall Elberfeld agreed
to rhoee terms willingly. which means that
the little shortstop will probably play better
ball for New York than ever before.
Turfmen are reminded THAT the rich stakes
annually offered by the Coney Island Jockey
Club. the Brooklyn Jockey Club and the
Brighton Beach Racing Association will
close for entries ~ midnight of Thursday
January ?. With such notable events AS
the Brooklyn. Suburban. Brighton. Com
monwealth and Invincible h1ndicaps. the
Advance stakes, Brighton Cup, Double
Event, Great Trial Stakes and other fixtures
TO be filled, il is safe to assume that owners
all over the United States will respond TO the
call. In added or guaranteed money the
stlkes offered by these big racing Organiza-
which, with forfeits and entrance fees. will
probably be swelled to about SAOOOOO.
According 10 figures published by Chicago
Rdcin1 Form. IOs stake races we're run In
America during 1907, the aggregate value
being si.5s4.7l2. This is an advance OF
twenty stakes and S22i.SIl in value over
1905 Twenty-Five stake events were OF
$4,000 or more in value. feature was the
comparatively small contribution to the
total amount by the Middle West, where
racing Is at present practically dead issue.
The tracks represented In the summary are
otkand. Ascot Park. City Park, Fair Grounds,
Windsor. Churchill Downs. Hamilton, La
tonis Montreal. Fort Erie, Pimlico. Bennings.
Toronto. United Hunts Course, Belmont
Park. Sheepshesd Bay. Gravesend. Aque-
duct. Jamaica. Buffalo. Empire City. Sara
toEa and Brighton Beach.
Bookmaker Preston, now operating at
Oakland, who was supposed to be mixed up
in some way last season here with Boots
Durnsl. has this TO say about the recent rul-
ing on OF the young turfmHh: -Durnell and
I have been friends for four OF Ave years
He never had one dollars worth OF money
in my book. nor did ever own q hair in any
Of his horses names. The Jockey Club has
q perfect right to refuse Durnel's entries ~
il 40 desires. but I scarcely think the organ
ization should rule or a man without some
definite charge against him. While Durnel
has been accused Of everything on the calen-
dar. he has been too smart for Belmonts
hireinRs Don't be surprised to see him
racing In the East again next spring.
Steve L'Hommedieu, the sensational
plunger who has been ruled OF the turf since
1905. when he vas bsnished at Churchill
Downs by Judge Price for Offering bribe to
. jockss canned Fischer. has just been rein
stated by the executive committee of the
New Louisville Jockey Club. comprising Matt
J. Winn, &. F. Granger and Judge Price.
L'HOmmsdieu has been in similar trouble in
Chicago and several years ago he was warned
away from the Eastern tracks by the stew
ards Of the Jockey Club. Soon after the
latter punishment was inflicted I'HOmme-
dieu. who blamed the late Robert PinkertOn
for his trouble. met the noted dOtsctivs in a
New Orleans hotel and pulled q gun. But
Pinkerton merely laughed In his face and the
plungers friends dragged him away.
L'Hommedieu can resume his betting opera
Gions on the Western tracks under the Louis
vile ruling. but he is still barred in the East.
frankie Neil, who was recently beaten
to q standstill by owen Moran. the English
man who will nght Abe Attell for the feather
weight championship ~ tho world al Frisco
tomorrow. says that he will wager his last
dollar on Moran. Both men are down to
weight and Referee Jsffries has arrived on
the scene. Attell says he is willing TO wager
o.. 500 at even money that he will win by
knockout inside OF ten rounds. Moran
states that he expects hard fight but that
he has already wagered half HE share OF the
purse that he will win. Moran declares
that he hopes he ran knock AtteI o'it. but
that he will not bet on that proposition un-
less he xeta easy odds. He figures that ne
will get the decision by setting such fast
clip that the champion will bs ell in after
the first hfteen rounde. The rImor that
Jeifries may show Attell some favoritism
Is ridiouled by local sporting men. who do
10 be unfair. In FriecO yesterday Attel
4. -. n~lSa - sfkk