Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-31
MURPHY TRYING TO
UNLOAD PH|LL|ES
Leagues Stand Against Syn
dicate Ball Is Said to Be
Cause of His Efforts.

NEW YORK, December 31.-Charles W.
Murphy. President of the Chicago Ma
tional League club. and leader in the
movement which failed. suggesting the
election of John NJ Ward as president of
the National Baseball League. arrived in
New York yesterday. Mr.. Murphy is here
for two purposes-to remain in hiding and
To unload the stock of the Philadelphia
National League Club on some person or
syndicate. Mr.. Murphy was seen by sew
eral persons. but his address was not
given.
The visit of Mr.. Murphy is pointedly
suggestive of one thing, the National
League will not uphold syndicate base
ball. Ever since 1t was first reported that
MIR. Murphy, through his financial back
ers, Charles P. Taft, brother of William
III. Taft. the President. had acquired the
controlling interest in the Quaker city
club. there has been we'll drilled oppo-
sition to the plan.
During the meeting of the National
League in the Watdorf-Astoria it de-
veloped that one of the strongest aims of
Mr.. Murphy was to get control of the
Philadelphia club in order to have vote
in favor of John NJ Ward as National
League president.
Since the ection of Thomas j. Lynch
as chief executive of the old organization
there nave Deen strong movements Or
ganized, the bulls-eye being the displace-
ment of outside interests in the Philadel-
phia club. An investment of more than
$5U,UO was made, acquiring control of
the Quaker city representative in the
National League, and because of this
some OF the bidders who were active be-
fore the deal was closed are now shaky
about investing large sums in a club that
has been coupled with alleged syndicate
base ball.
The National League officials have al
ready declared against syndicate base
ball, and the movement to dispose of the
chicago clubs holdings in stock of the
Philadelphia club is a natural proceeding.
Without the support of a working ma
jority of the National League nothing
much can be accomplished by those who
oppose the rule of the organization.
There is strong opposition to the Little
Murphies'' of the National League. Under
the fire of early comment the Murphy
clan has dwindled. Before actual bust
ness begins there will be strong army
of base ball rulers. who do not believe in
the policy so emphatically expounded by
Mr.. Murphy.
Mr.. Taft was here yesterday TO attend
the wedding of the Presidents niece,
but he had time enough to slip away
for an interview with Mr.. Murphy. AS
hacker of the Chicago Nationals, Mr..
Taft has been active with Mr.. Murphy,
who represents the base ball end of an
impressive financial investment.
Thomas j. Lynch, new president of the
National Base Ball League, refused to
make any comment on the syndicate
part of base ball He would not discuss
the umpire situation, excepting to the
extent Of saying that he had been UNI
pire mself. and had had various ex-
reriences which might help him in MAX
ing the arbitrary part Of base ball go
more smoothly after he has made in
designations
The National League has been aiming
to get on footing that will not permit
easy topping over. By opposing the tao
tics of Mr.. Murphy some of the club
owners believe that they have hit the
mark. In modern base ball there APP
pears to be no place for a club owner
who has more power than the league
in which he is supposed to be interested.
Without trailing any one in the mire of
league politics. it seems that there are
members of the old organization who
will be Obliged to face the base ball
jury or shuttle into seclusion. The strong
stand that Mr.. Murphy made against
John A. Heydler and others who crossed
his path in base ball ruling has brought
about test case, in which the question
will be: Shall Murphy or the league
officials govern the Nationalist