Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-13
COTHAM'S IMPORTANT
WEEK FOR BASE BALL
Election of Ward May Mean
Bolt of Two National
League Clubs.

NEW YORK, December 13.-.in was
quiet yesterday with the rival factions
of the National League caInped in the
Waldorf-Astoria- Charley Murphy and
Charley Ebbets, who are leading the fight
for John M. Ward caucused again and
again. while Garry Hermann and Barney
Dreyfues, chief supporters of John Heyd-
Ter, spent the day in meditation and con-
sultatfon. They were the only club OWL
ers to appear on the field.
Not even the bombshell fired in Chicago
last Saturday. threatening to stir up a
lot Of dirty water in case John Ward is
elected president. disturbed the repose of
the magnates. To those conversant with
the base ball situation 1t looked like the
calm before the storm. Ban Johnson and
several Of the American Leag1ta mag
mates will be on the scene today. The
national commission, which comprises
Hermann, Johnson and Heydler, will
meet today or tomorrow. Johnsons OBJ
lection to Ward Is that he does not want
10 sit on the commission with the eX-
Giant, the president of the National
League being an ex-officio member of the
supreme court of base ball.
1t looks as if there might be a serious
break in the National League ranks in
case the two factions do not compro-
that Barney Dreyfuss will try to bar
Horace Fogel. the new president of the
Philadelphia club. from the league meet
ing next Wednesday, on the ground that
he is not the owner of the Philadelphia
franchise. AS Fogel would be entitled
to a seat in the session. even if he were
only a director of the club it was thought
that Dreyfuss will attempt to force Fogel
TO show his hand.
Bluff From Fogel
\ prominent base ball man, an official
of the Philadelphia Americans, says that
Fogel recently assured him that neither
Charles w. Murphy nor Charles p. Taft
of Cincinnati is in any way interested in
the recent sale of the Phillies. and he is
convinced that under the circumstances
there is not the slightest reason for
doubling Fogel's word.
While Fogel has announced that he
will not enter a caucus and will not name
his choice for president of the league
until he takes his seat Wednesday, 1t
is taken for granted in Philadelphia that
he will cast his vote for Ward
Those fans VINO do not relish the sauab-
bies of the magnates as they play ball in
the hotel corridors are taking much in
terest in the doings Of the managers who
will attend the two meetings Fully
thirteen National and American League
managers are expected to be on hand.
All of them will be ready, as Danny Shay
says. ITO trade a flock of sparrows for
one fat tnurkey" The ex-Giant now
manages the Kansas City club for
White Wings George Tebeau and ad-
mits he Is in the same frame of mind.
Jack Dunn. now owner of the Baltimore
Eastern League club. got to town YES
terday on the job for players to
strengthen the Orioles. Jack is a great
hunter and fancier of field dogs At
McGraw's billiard parlor he met John
RI IL
Grounds. Murphy breeds hunting dogs.
and spoke to Dunn about a recent we'll
bred new arrival at his kennels.
won't take less than $500 for him."
of players and not dogs answered.:
I'll give you 500 and an outfielder for
him.
Touchy Situation.
There threatens to be A mighty up
heaval in the lists or organized base ball
within the next few weeks unless the
wishes of Presidents Hermann and Drew
fuss are handled with care by their fei-
low-clansmen in the National League
The league members have been told this
and all know just what they have got to
90 if they want the family to remain as
il is and unbroken.
In other words. unless John NJ Ward
of New York is defeated for the presi-
dency of the National League, Hermann
and Dreyfuss are to leave that organiza-
ton and array themselves under the BAN
ner OF President Ban B. Johnson of the
American League. This may sound odd
to the ordinary man. but those who know
the inside history of base ball admit that
it is something which has been coming
now for the past year.
very close friend of President Herr
mann said yesterday that if Murphy IS
victorious in the election in New York
Hermann and Dreyfuss will both leave
the National League, and that this will
probably be done within the next few
weeks.
"'Dreyfuss and ] both know very vel.
just what is going to happen II Ward is
elected said Hermann to this man.
we know that the Cub leader will want