The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-30
BAN J0HSOh IS
B0[sTER|NG some
- F.,
Has Evolved a New Scheme
Among the Leaders Of
the Teams :,
fBx Gordon MacKayl

Philadelphia, Nov. 30.-Mr. Byron
Bancroft Johnson. the bulky gentle-
man who Is nine-tenths of the Amer
oan league, has evolved a presiden-
tial scheme to bolster UP the droop-
ing attendance along the circuit which
his aggregation tours during the sea-
son.
When the figures of the attendance
in the rival major leagues were pub
lished the American numerals looked
about as happy alongside the National
statistics as q blind man trying to roll
a peanut up a toboggan. There was no
comparison in the drawing powers of
the two major leagues: the other body
outdrew its Junior rival something
like millions.
The Boston Nationals, the lowest
bunch in the National league. III
drew the worlds champion athletics
something like 5000. 900 and when
one takes into consideration that the
Rustlers played to fifty-cent ball
towns h amount of coin which they
took in exceeded the receipts. Of the
best team in baseball by figures that
jump into five numerals.
The eason for this can easily be
explained. The National league had
a race-the American had a two
team fight. New York. Chicago and
Pittsburg, all three excellent baseball
towns, were in the thick Of the fray
until the Giants leaped out ahead in
the last weeks Of the dying season.
Stimulated Interest
This race between the leading
teams stimulated interest. increased
attendance and fattened the box Office
receipts to an enormous extent. Piled
on top OF this fact was the run of the
Phillies early in the season, a mag
nificent squirt that seemed destined to
carry Fogel's fellows to the van. This
helped swell the attendance in, the city
while. the st. Louis Cardinals four-
spaded dash brought the attendance
highest point since 1908, when the St.
Louis Browns were fighting in the
American league scramble.
On the other hand, there wasn't
anything to the American league tus-
sic. except the Athletics and Tigers.
the Mackmen at VIGOROUSLY a poor
attraction on the road; the people ex-
poet them to win. and don't figure
that the presence Of the worlds
champions means any game. The
Tigers are a grand attraction on the
road, but fall down woefully at home
unlness they are champions.
Under the combination of circun1-
stances the American league attend
ance records looked pitable in COM
parison with the National figures.
President johnson has observed this
difference in drawing powers. and he
has started Out 10 correct the fault.
First he took John I. Taylor out of
the presidential position in Boston,
The city Is acknowledged by players
to be h peer Of all baseball cities.
Taylor's tantrums had taken the
starch out Of the Hub fans, and If he
stood on the bridge much longer the
whole darned craft would have found
cred. To place McAleer in charge in
Beantown vas the first step toward
rehabiliating the American league in
that city. and drawing out the old
time crowds.
In Chicago
Chicago is wonderful ball town,
as far as Comiskey and his White Sox
are concerned. Give the Southsiders
a team in the thick of the fight, and
every single club in the league Will
make money on the strength Of Chi.
cago attendance alone.
Hughte Duffy did not seem able to
make a successful fight there SO he
was shifted and Jimmy Callahan, a
wise guy. popular Chicagoan and good
fellow. took the team. The same
thing applies with Harry Davis and
the managerial position at Cleveland.
These men, II they can build up
teams that will make a fight will re-
new the interest in the American
league fight. and the younger major
organization will come into it's own
once