Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-25
GOOD IDEA,
President Murphy Looks
Out for Reporters.
Cleveland Management viii
Stand Fat on Players.
Crusade Against Spikes May at
Last Bear Fruit.

'haiicS Webb Murphy. owner Of the
champion Chicago team, is one prrsi-
cent VINO gives the newspapers tier
Shar" of credit for the prosperity of
h@Scball. Moreover, Mr.. Murphy is alert
to sec thatrhe baseball reporter rs Get
the news OF his club. This applies to the
now 1pap"rS Of Chicago: but on points
Of policy Of general interest the Muir
rh battery of tyF"writcrs begin to hum.
and The mails Of that day carry infor
natiDn t. al of the leading baseball
writers in the seven other cities of the
National League circuit
Mr. Murphy is the only figure in base
bah With publicity bureau ANA it has
laid rich dividends Of good will. There
are two reasons for Mr. Murphy's en-
cr2Y in this direction:
First, he believes that without helm
from the ni WspaperS one ticket seller
would be able to accommodate pat
rnnS ut the park; secondly. three years
ago tho owner Of the Chicago team was
drawing q salary as assistant city edi-
ter Of the Cincnnti Times-Star
Previous to holding this position he
WAS frr many years q sporting editor,
@rd this experience has fitted him to
deal understandingly with baseball
writer's
at is the habit Of most baseball
heads to give out news in a pcrfunctory
sort Of way" said Mr.. Murphy, in dis
cUsSing the matter.
II the club president has just
closed 4 deal for a new player. he will
give the story to Bill Jones. if Bill
Iln1- h0nnnnc m n Inn nd 81
any deals are on.
I'll Bill Jones has been unable to see
the owner, then the other papers would
have 4 Leaf. My policy is to see that all
the writer's get the news Of the blub
whether the reporter happens to call
AZ tho Office or not. | have system;
others !acl. one.
"Of course. we do not give away any
club secrets. or point out that when
Manager Chance places his arms AKIN
DO it j. signal u hunt hut there is al
ways interesting news in Il ball team
that makes good reading for the public.
and ! always "a" that the boys get it,
Mr. Murphy is the original baseball
soldier Of fortune. When he became in
tcrested i'll the game less than three
years ago. The Fact was virtually I'M
r"tic"d. Before the baseball world
know what ho was doing Mr. Murphy
had 4 controlling interest in nn,' of the
most valuable baseball properties in
tn country.
Thrc" years ago John T. Brush lured
Mr.. Murphy from the newspaper fila
in Cincinnati 10 hcCom" assistant ScCr"-
t2r,- of the New York baseball club ON
tho first visit of The Giants 10 Chicago
President James Hart Informed Mr.
Murphy that ne wanted 10 ger out of
hasrball ia livc the simple life.
"Why don't You buy me OUT" said
Mr.. Hart. punching the rotund Mr.
Murphy in the chest The query was
made in 4 spirit Of fun. Mr.. Murphy
bowed himself ont and had Il deep
thinking Eout with himself for Il period
of about l. minutes.
Murphy hal private fortune Of no
incorsdera bic figure hut it was not
large enough to close such hig deal
once determined. he took train to
Cincinnati To consult with Charles p
TAFT. tln multi-millionaire brother of
Secretary Of War Taft.
Mr.. Taft. who is 4 Staid capitalist
laughed ut first ut the thought of put
ting any ~ his money in baseball, but
eventually decided that he would take
z little flyer in Z sporting game. The
result was that the deal was closed and
Nossrs. Taft and Murphy became own
ors Of the Chicago club.
Tho second season resulted in the
Cubs winning the National League
cham ?innship. This was in 1906. and the
profits We're 50 large that Mr.. Murphy
was able to buy enough stock from Mr.
Taft to give him the controlling inter-
cst in the club. Mr.. Taft did this so
that Murphy would be the absolute ex-
ecutivc. as his enormous interests did
rot give him time enough to watch his
baseball property.