The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-05
Carlisle Braves After Vnas Scalp Capital Crdon This Afternoon
FLETCHBR'S LEAGUE
WORRIES MAGNATES
National Commission Plans
to Put CruSher on 1t.

New York, Nov. 4.-D. A Fletcher. OF
Toledo, who has threatened third major
league for next season, has organized
baseball more worried than the magnates
care to show. Fletcher himself is not
seriously regarded. He is a professional
promoter. and himself admits that he
depends upon the capital OF others TO
swing his enterprise. Yet Fletcher is so
persistent in his hobby and is so open
in his maneuvers that the powers of
baseball have at last begun to take
notice
Fletcher states that he has raised
5000. 900 backing. and that he already has
secured five OF his proposed eight clubs.
He Is soon coming 20 New York TO open
offices. he declares. TO be on hand 10 meet
the baseball fraternity at tho big De-
cember meetings here, at which time by
the way, the national commission intends
to put a crusher on Fletcher and his
aspirations.
There is no doubt that Fletcher could
rob the two big leagues OF the best
playing talent If he had the necessary
capital. but ii would take millions 20
turn the trick. Ban Johnson started the
American League on shoestring. Il was
the moneyed men behind him. Ike
Charles Somers, William Yawkey, and
Frank Farrell. that finally enabled John
son 10 bring the National League to sub
mission.
The idea OF Fletcher putting clubs in
major league towns which already have
two representatives is ridiculous Two
rival clubs dovetail nicely and improve
the sport Three would be disastrous TO
all. for that would involve continual
conflict In playing dates There Is a bet
terfeld outside the East and those who
at all seriously regard Fletcher's Skin
mishing are convinced that the American
Association. or some part OF IL. could
easily be influenced 10 cast its lot with
the Toledo reformer. For several years
now the association has talked war on
the majors. George Tebeau has been
one Of the reyolutionists. Joe O'Brien,
deposed from the presidency after fall
ing out with Tebeau, has had the war
bee IN his bonnet for at least two sea-
sons
BY dropping some OF the American As
ISOLATION cities for Detroit. Cleveland.
Cincinnati. and Pittsburg, the most com
pact circuit OF history could be arranged.
Those four cities have but one major
league team each. and any town big
enough for one would be bettered by the
rivalry OF two clubs
That the national commission and
major leagues are worrying over Fletcher
is shown by the alacrity with which big
league clubs have been permitted 10
barnstorm this fall. George MuIIin has
taken the Detroit Tigers 10 Cuba and
Frank Bancroft will take the worlds
champion Athletics TO the island later In
the fall The present baseball contract,
which reserves the services Of the player
FOR the entire year, was directly aimed
at transforming. which the magnates de-
clared before Fletcher butted into the
scene would be a thing OF the Past this
autumn.
II the necessary capital is forthcoming
enough players Will jump 10 make the
war interesting. Players in general would
welcome a war, for that would mean
more money TO every one. OF course, or
ganized baseball might meet the demands
OF the revolutionists. That would mean
a test OF financial strength and TIE sur
vival OF the fittest. There is not a player
to-day who does not hope that Fletcher
viii so further than newspaper talk II
is simply q question Of his raising money
in sufficient quantity 10 offset the COM
bined surplus of the two major leagues
With anything less than that sum the
Toledo promoter would soon be frozen
out