The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-15
Ban johnson Hot on Trail
of Syndicate Ball Evils

New York, Nov. IA One of the
principal issues of the annual major
league meetings in New York next
month will be syndicate baseball.
Strange to say, this concerns only
the National League and national
commission. A year ago the Ameri-
can League summarily disposed OF
the nuisance by ruling that no one
could own stock in two different clubs
in Ban Johnson's circuit. The Ma
tional League at. the time decided to
trail along after it's rival. But its
resolution, drawn up by John T.
Brush, and supposed to be aimed at
syndicate tactics, was simply joker.
It's wording was SO framed that it is
possible for any one to own stock. in
every club in the National League
burt the controlling interest of only
one club.
Ban johnson intends to 60 further
than ever this season. He will make
it compulsory for each of the presi-
dents of his clubs to furnish the ma.
tional commission and the press with
the list Of stockholders and the ex-
tent to which each investor is inter
ested. Johnson will further try to
have the National League adopt the
same ruling, so that the matter OF
syndicating baseball property may be
prevented by the national commits
sion.
Syndicate Baseball Evidence.
In the National League the situa-
ton is quite different from what 1t
should be. The name Of Barney Drey.
fuss, for instance, has for some time
been linked with two or more clubs.
The owner of the Pirates is supposed
to be heavily involved in the Boston
Nationals. Barney denies the charge,
but how easy it would be to arrive at
the truth of the matter if Boston had
to show it's list of stockholders
Charles Taft and Charles Murphy own
the Cubs. Neither Of them denies it.
Taft owns the grounds of the Phila-
delphia Nationals, and it is generally
supposed that he owns the club also.
President Horace Fogel says not. But
Fogel refused to make good a year
ago the names OF his hackers or pro-
duce the signatures to the stock GER
tificates.
Straws, they say. shows the way
the wind blows. Murphy engineered
the deal that put the Phillies in Fo-
gels hands. He did it for revenge on
former President John A. Heydler
when there was no other way to Dust
that executive. Since the transaction
such tokens Of fellowship have passed
between the Chicago and Philadelphia
clubs as to make the deal appear at
least shady.
Murphy Behind FoseI.
Those on the inside claim that
Charles Murphy prompted Horace Fo.
gel to call off the big trade with Gin.
cinnati. an action that has resulted
in serious complications to the league
Murphy and Fogel are now hobnob.
bling in New Orleans. and from far.
off Louisiana comes Horace's threat
that Manager Doom will be traded to
Chicago if he isn't good. Fogel says
that either Johnny King or Johnny
Evers will lead the Quakers if Doom
lis let out. Imagine Murphy letting
any club get any Of these players #
he would not continue to draw shek-
els to Murphy's strong box. The
Giants last year offered a record price
for King and were spurned. Brush
has told Fogel that he can name his
own price for Doom. But Fogel will
evidently talk business with none but
Boss Murphy.
1t will be good thing for baseball