The Washington times., 1909-12-31
VIEW
OF BASEBALL WAR
Manager Explained in Advance Significance of Recent
A A Election Philade phia Athletic Politicians
Up 10 Same Old Tricks
BY THOMAS S. RICE.

The unexpected action OF the Ameri-
can Association in failing TO re-elect
Joe OBrien as president, and. instead,
in electing Tom Chivington, business
head Of the Louisville club. is going
to give the baseball dOpesters a theme
for much space-fling discussion this
winter
Naturally, one OF the first yarns after
the election was that It presaged a base
ball war which would be precipitated by
the American Association grabbing a
piece Of Chicago. Then, when It was
calmly examined. the conclusion was
reached by other sharps that Chiving-
tons elevation meant just the contrary
and that there would be no war as long
as he was in office How many times
the changes will be rung on these two
views no man knoweth.
Washington's Interest.
Apparently Washington has no direct
interest in the American Association
and no very great interest in the pos
sibility Of the association turning out
law, but II really has. As a tail-end club
which has made money. but has not
backed the United States Treasury off
the boards by any means, Washington
would be seriously affected by the war
tactics Of the strong association clubs
which might crave its talent. and some
Of those clubs have cleared tar more in
the past few years than some Of the
majors.
Under the circumstances, an explana-
ton Of the actions Of the American
Association. made by Joe Cantilloa be-
fore he left Washington. will prove in
teresting. He was discussing the pur-
chase by President Havenor. Of the NIL
waukee A A. club, Of the best remain
ing site for a ball park on the North
Side in Chicago. Said Cantinon:
The talk of the American Assccia-
ton being 50 DESTROYS Of entering Chi
Gag that it would risk a baseball war TO
40 so Is mostly mOOnshine. but the fact
remains that the association would like
TO get in there, and would do so we're
II not Tor certain conditions which bring
politics into play.
What Will Happen.
In the first place il the association
circuit IS ever juggled to include Chi
cago, the franchises Of Milwaukee. St.
Paul. and Minneapolis will be endan-
gered. These three cities are at the
far end of the circuit and are geo
graphically apart from the others.
Every time the clouds gather, the wise
pill rollers in baseball figure II out
that all three viii get the hook, or that
st. Paul and Minneapolis will. or that
the ST. Paul and Minneapolis franchises
viii be combined
This talk distresses us fellows WI.
own those clubs, for they are valuable
pieces of property and we are not
tickled 10 death with the prospect OF
being iegislated into a smaller circuit
and reduced profits.
Now here IS where HavenNS and the
chicago ball park enter. Havenor
bought that Chicago property In order
20 protect himself and the three clubs
mentioned Back Of this baseball
vancouver was the fact that il was an
excellent real estate investment. The
grounds he acquired are the only re-
naming site on the North Side where
a park Of major league Dimensions and
proper transportation facilities could be
bought at reasonable price, and with
out tying up 70 much Of his ready
coin.
Havenor's Object.
BY getting the lot Havenor cholked
OF the American Association entry in
to Chicago unless he were taken in on
the deal. But Havenor's Milwaukee
club IS paying enterprise and he
wants 70 keep the association intact as
It stands now. preferring that 20 break
ing up the circuit and taking long
chance on precipiatlnR an expensive
contest with the major leagues. Mil
waullee, Minneapolis. and St. Paul will
be found standing together. and 1 DO
not anticipate anything seriv1s from
all these startling stories abou the in
vasion of Chicago"
To a certain extent this forecast by
CautillOn was correct, as shown by the
result Of the election.
How far the Chicago stories can be
depended upon I'm this discussion Is a
question. The preliminary dispatches
from that city were TO the effect that
the CantillOns were 10 desert O'Brien {
then the yarns veered around to the ef-
feet that they were supporting him
tooth and nail. AS a matter Of fact /
Joe Cantillon was for O'Brien all the
time He was not a man to enthuse
over other men. but he was never tired
OF singing the praises Of O'Brien.
Johnson-CantillOn Row.
Incidentally. this friendship for
OBrien precipitated an open breach !
between Cantllon ard Ban Johnson, ac-
cording to Cantillon. The story is that
O'Brien went into CantillOn's cafe I'm
Chicago one day and was seen bv John !
son, who made some derOgatOry re-
mark concerning the association head as