The Washington herald., 1908-05-25
CELLAAFTER BROWNS
RobisOns May Sell Out to
Gambling Syndicate.
WOULD PROBABLY MEAN WAR
Garry Hermann Notifies the Present
Owners OF the st. Louis Club that
National League VIII Not stand for
, CeIIa-AdIer-TiIIes to Get Control
ling Interest in the Team.

New York. May A.-While on the sur
face everything Is harmonious in the
baseball world at present, there are indi-
cations Of impending trouble If GER
tain big deal which has been framed for
several weeks goes through.
1t was learned to-day that Frank De
Haas Robson is trying 10 sell the St.
Louis National League club for $3.50. 900.
He already has received an offer Of $780,
600 from the st. Louis sporting men.
Celia, Adler. and Titles. who controlled
the racing game in the State Of Missouri
until Gov. Folk succeeded in closing the
tracks there.
Celia, bookmaker. horse owner, specu-
lator, and race-track stockholder, has
been trying TO get into the baseball busi-
ness for some time.
Robson, who never has made a success
of the club since he took the franchise
out of Cleveland. has been willing to sell
out for some time, and has been only
too glad to entertain several propositions
from the Cella-Adler-Tilles syndicate.
OHer of sI5O,OOO.
Two weeks ago. It is said Celia made
a cash offer of $4,000. which he increased
TO $4,000 in a day or two. Robson con-
suited with his brother and also several
other National League magnates, after
which he decided 10 hold out for $3.50 900.
The Cellas have been thinking the matter
over, and IL was said to-day that II
Robson would compromise on 500 900. the
deal would go through
But the mere sale OF the club Is moth
ing compared 10 the probable outcome OF
such a deal. There is any amount OF
opposition to the admission OF Celia &
Co. into the baseball circle. particularly
on the part Of the American League men,
II is said.
From the West came a statement To-
| night that IL the Robisons sell out to the
syndicate the relations between the
American and the National leagues viii
be quickly severed. and that a baseball
war Will be declared without delay.
Garry Hermann Opposed.
From the West also comes word tha,
( Garry Hermann. owner Of the Cincinnati
club and chairman OF the national com
mission. has been tipped of that the
deal is about 10 go through. and that he
had notified the RObisons that under nc
circumstances Will the National League
stand for such a transaction. Robson
however. is obdurate, il Is reported, and
! has notified Hermann in return that he
Will sell the st. Louis club 10 Celia OF
anybody else who pays the price; that
the National League has no right 10 in
terfere IN the matter. and that Herr
mann must mind his own affairs in Gin.
cinnati.
| Cellas friends say that II Robson sells
out big money VIII be spent by the new
owners 10 give st. Louis a crack bal
team handled by capable manager. and
that the Ceilas would have practically
nothing 10 do with the playing end OF
the club
Il was reported a year ago that Bar
ney Dreyfuss had organized a syndicate
20 buy out Robison's club. but II appears
| that ROblsOn's figures were too high. and
that Dreyfuss finally gave 81 up. There
IS lot OF wire pulling going on under
/ the table at present. and all OF the mag
mates in both big leagues are taking part
IN il. They don't want a baseball war
but they realize that there Will be ar
outbreak il the race-track bOokmaking
element succeeds in getting a footholc
IN the National League