Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-29
MORE LIGHT WANTED
ON PH|LL|ES' SALE
President FogeI Should Give
Out Full List of New
Stockholders.
Frank Ilough in IN" Philadelphia inquirer.

Frank Ilou.h in the Philadelphia Inquirer
That was warm one that Horace
rogel put over the plate Friday night
The transfer of the Phillies at this time
casued almost as much of sensation as
did the deal of the year before. when the
syndicate headed by Col James Potter
sold out to Senators Durham. McNichol
and Wolf So far AS the general public
knows the Philadelphia club is owned
only by the gentlemen who constitute
the officers and the board of directors.
'but there seems to he a general feeling
that much of the stock is owned by 9TH
whose names do not appear in the di
rectorate. In this connection the name
Of Charles ', ebb Murphy, the more or
less pugnacious president of the Chicago
Cubs. figures most prominently. Then the
names of the we'll known theatrical men.
+. r. Albee and Percy G. Williams. both
prominently identified with the amuse
ment graft, have also been mentioned In
connection with the new ownership. and
the fact that gentlemen intimately
socated with them in business, Harry
Jordan. local manager of the Keith house,
and Grant Laferty of the Orpheum. one
of Mr.. Williams many theatrical enter
prises. were present. is construed as proof
Of the financial interest of those gen
tlemen IN the reorganized Phillies.
Behind the alleged financial interest of
Mr.. Murphy is said to be burning de-
sire to defeat John Heydler for the presi-
dency of the National League and to help
the election of John NJ Ward. The .rea
son ascribed for the appearance. of
Messrs. Albee and Williams in the base
ball game is a twofold one. First, they
believe that it VIII be a profitable invest
ment from the base ball point of view
alone, and, secondhand here, 1t is said,
is where they expect TO score heavily
they have as amusement caterers I'M
bounded faith in the future of Open-air
show. at night exploited at Forbes
Field. in Pittsburg, and in less preten-
tous way in this city at Columbia Park.
1t would net be for the best interests of
q base ball If club owner i'll another city,
by subscribing to a block Of stock of
club in another city should be permitted
to use the vote of that club in order that
he might crafty a purely selfish end. So
far as Messrs. Albee and Williams are
concerned, assuming that they have pur-
chased any of the Philadelphia clubs
stock, their interest is perfectly legiti-
mate and businesslike
If 1t Is true that Mr.. Murphy, repre-
senting c. z. Taft has purchased any
interest in the Philadelphia club for the
purpose Of gaining opportunity to
spend his spleen upon John Heydler in
his quest for the presidency of the Ma
tiOnal League, then the cry Of "syndi-
cate" ball will be raised-a cry which
must eventually rebound to the detriment
of the Phillies. There can be no objection
10 Messrs. Albee and Williams. however
even II they are not residents of this
city. The cry of "alien ownership was
played off the boards when John T.
Brush. Arthur SOden. A. c. Arson and
Messrs. Reach and Rogers went to the
rescue of John B. Day, their owner. Of
,the New York Nationals. nearly twenty
years ago, and again. later when the
Wagner brother secured the Washington
franchise. If local ball clubs always de-
pended upon local capital for their or
ganiZation or their continuance both
leagues would have been shy club or
two years ago.
IL would be the part of wisdom for
President Fogel to take the public into
his confidence at the very start. Ordi-
narily ii is none of the public's business
who is furnishing the capital for this or
that enterprise. but base ball. always sus-
ceptible To sinister criticism. is a differ
ent proposition. The idea of men holding
financial interests in two or more clubs
members of the same league is repugnant
to the true sporting spirit. So many
things may arise during the course Of the
playing season to suggest the idea of
hippodrOming. that to put another club
in the hands of the enemy by giving them
the opportunity to cry syndicate ball
would be grievous mistake at this time
why the names of all those who have
subscribed To the stock of the reOrganized
Pniilies should not be made known, even
If there is no necessity to name the exact
holdings of each. There is no apparent
necessity for concealment, while there
are many good reasons from the business
point of view why everything should be
made clear and aboveboard. Right at the
tump-on Mr.. F'Ogel should announce the
names of all the new stockholders, as
summing that there are others who were
not named at the dinner Friday night. If
he fails to do so. then his opponents will
interpret his silence as a confederation of
their parrotlike charge of syndicate base
ball.
Murphy may he successful in his cam
paign to down John Heydler. but 1t does
not follow that he will be successful in
his effort to boost John NJ. W ard into the
chair. Ii is not likely that the National
League would do anything to affront
friendly business rival by naming John
NJ Ward as its president. any more than
this government would persist in naming
as an ambassador a man who was per-
soma non grata at the court to which
he was appointed. President Ban John
son could not sit at session of the ma
uonal commission with John NJ. Ward
without stultifying himself, and any one
who knows Mr.. Johnson knows that he
is not partial to the qualification gag.
The old sport Is not familiar with the
ethics of the New York bar. but certainly
could hope To draw up two contracts. as
Ward did for George Davis. and still re-
tain the respect of his fellow members Of
Iior r1ax he 1afn tod hut