Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-28
WILD RUMORS IN
BASE BALL WORLD
Philadelphia Deal May Dis
rupt the National
League.

he Philadelphia National League tiub'
Presumably TO d syndicate controlled by
= w Murphy of the Chicago club, mas
caused d sensation in base ball circles ana
Already rumors of serious complications
are in the air. The attitude OF Ban
Johnson, president of the American
League, toward the possible election OF
John NJ Ward to the presidency of the
National League instead of John a.
Heyder, was used today the basis for
the opinion that if Ward is selected there
may be another big base ball war. caused
by the jumping of the Pittsburg and en-
cinnati clubs, controlled. respectively, by
Barney DreyfusS and Garry hermann,
to either the American League or new
major league circuit. The American AS
ISOLATION, il was pointed out, IS ready 10
expand, and. with the sanction and the
assistance oil organized base ball, new
organization can be formed, leaving the
auti-Iteydler element in the National
Ierglle out in the cold.
While it is a trifie early to go into the
possibilities of such an upheaval, 1t was
freely predicted today that if Murphy is
permitted to boss the affairs of the Ma
tional League, and incidentally bring
about the downfall of Heydler, the old or
ganization may be wrecked.
Hermann and Dreytuss control the
Boston clubs vote, and when noses are
counted Robson of tile st. Louis may
decide to vote with them because OIL
rumored business relations between the
latter and Hermann, But even in that
event there will be a deadlock unless
John t. Brush of the New YORK club or
C. II. Ebbets of the Brooklyn club decides
at the last moment to turn away from
the Murphy clique.
Brush Not in Syndicate.
Brush declared today that he was in no
way connected with the purchase of the
Philadelphia club by the syndicate OF
which Horace E'oGel is announced as the
head. He went further and stated posi-
tive.y that he did not know anything
ABOUT the deal until he read of it in the
papers. that he was not consulted by any
regarding the purchase and that no
money OF his was used to pay for the
stock or any part of 1t. He could not eN-
pain where such q rumor originated nor
understand why he had been named as a
member OF the syndicate.
4 have been out of touch with the
base ball situation to great extent"
said MIR. Brush. In fact, many things
have been kept from me, doubtless owing
10 my illness, that l should have been
told about.
Are you pledged to vote against John
A. Heydler for president of the National
League was asked.
Il have given no pledges, but | am
not in any combination to defeat Mr..
Heydler. 1t may not be generally known
that Murphy and l We're the only ones to
insist heydlers election last spring.
The balance of the league voted to re-
tain Pulliam in office, but to give him
leave of absence.
Have YOU spoken to John NJ. Ward
concerning the possibility of offering him
the presidency"
Mr.. Brush hesitated a moment before
replying, and then said:
Il prefer not TO discuss the question"
Ward Makes Statement.
Johnson's quoted objection to Ward is
said to have been due to the case of
Player George Davis, who signed con-
tracts with the Chicago Americans and
the New York Nationals and was after
ward enjoined from playing with the
Giants by the federal courts 1t is said
that Johnson blamed Word, as Davis
legal adviser, for the tangle, and that
he notified Ward several years ago that
he would always oppose him. When
asked about JohnsonS statement that
he would not sit as a member Of the
national commission if Ward was elected
president of the National League, Ward
replied:
1t is hard to believe that johnson
has been quoted correctly. In fact, l
Go not believe ne ever said such thing.
As far as Davis case is concerned, |
did nothing illegal and simply acted as
that player PAID attorney.
When George Davis and Clark Grif-
nth came TO my office l was out of base
ball. l had no interest in any associa-
ton, club or player. but was practicing
my profession as a lawyer. Griffith said
he wanted TO sign Davis to a three-year
contract with the Chicago American
League Club, and Davis insisted that /
draw UP the contract. 1t was to be an
Ironclad contract without any contingent
cIes, and | drew it UP that way. 1t was
b nding on both parties. and / told them
nothing on earth could break 1t.
Davis Couldn't Lose.
1T appears that Davis was on the re-
serve list of the New York Giants at
the time, but l had nothing to do with
that. Davis played a year in Chicago,
and the following winter again came 10
my office He had another contract for
one year signed by John McGraw as
manager of the New York club. in which
the club agreed absolutely to pay him j
certain sum of money To play with tho
Giants, but 10 pay i'll any event should
he be stopped from playing through no
"a ult of his own
Can | collect money on that paper!'
asked Davis.
II told him the contract was binding,
but that the Chicago club could sue him
tor damages. Asked if he could be en-
Jo!lSu tpld MN 4 thought moi DIT iedSt
in this state. | acted merely in legal
capacity. not moral one. | collected Il
zee from Davis for the advice as my
books show and he will corroborate
"Comiskey the Chicago owner. who
was the one most injured by Davis ac-
ton. never blamed me for my part in it.
He is now one of my warm friends.
John T. Brush knows all the features of
the case and we are friends today. Mr..
johnson may imagine that / draw up
the second contract and induced Davis
To- sign it. He is mistaken"
Look Who's Here, the Wagners.
If Murphy really controls the Philadel-
phia club il is believed that ne swung
the deal with the financial assistance of
Charles p Taft who helped him TO buy
the Chicago club. If Murphy is not in
terested in the Philadelphia club base ball
mea said today that Horace Fogel could
convince the public that he Is backed by
Local capitalists by coming out in favor
of Heydier. Among the new officials of
the Philadelphia club is Judge Frank Ell
lott, who was or is the legal adviser of
the Wagner brothers, George and j. Earl,
former owners of the Philadelphia Play
ers' Leagle club, and the Washington
club II was said several weeks ago that
the WaEnerS were after the Philadelphia
Nationals. so that Elliotts presence in the
deal is causing much gossip.
Murphys opposition to Heydler is due
to several reasons. During the final series
in Pittsburg several of the Cubs INDUCED
in fragrant rowdyism. and Heydler, who
was present handed out discipline with
ne ther fear nor favor. Murphy then de-
clared that he was after Heydler's scalp,
and his antagonism increased when Heyd-
Ter, member OF the commission. voted