Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-04
SYNDICATE BASE BALL
To Be ELIMINATED
National Commission to Take Action
Against Existing
Evil.
BAN AND GARRY
HAVE NEW EVIDENCE
Spalding to Take Lively Interest in
Coming Crusade. 1t
Is Hinted.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, November Syndicate
base ball, which has threatened the life
of the national game for years. will
be attacked with unusual vigor by the
national base bali commission this win
ter August Hermann, chairman. and
Ban Johnson are determined to inaugu-
rate a policy that will drive syndicate
ownership from the sport. Thomas J..
Lynch, the other member OF the com
mission, always conservative, has not
yet declared himself on this point, hut
his friends say he will be found in line
with Hermann and Johnson when the
proper time comes
1t appears that evidence to prove that
syndicate base ball actually exists in
one of the major leagues has been dis
covered unexpectedly and that, armed
with ii, the commission will attempt to
force certain persons to sell out. rather
than be subjected to the limelght. If
the commission can furnish proof that
one man controls two clubs or that one
club is financially interested In another
1t is a certainty that an upheaval Will
follow. While syndicate ownership so
far has not resulted in suspicious ma
nipulation on the ball field. the commits
sion. it is said, is opposed to its exist
ence. if only for the reason that in due
time the confidence of the base ball pub
lie may be shaken IL the practice is al
lowed to continue
A. G. Spalding. for nearly forty years a
real champion of honest base ball. always
has combated syndicate methods. Yet Al
one time he was compelled to own STOCK
in both the Chicago and New York clubs
by force Of circumstances 1t was in the
Brotherhood year, 1890. that Mr.. SpaldinG
helped to subscribe a war fund to keef
the New York National League club alive
receiving as collateral a certain amount OF
stock. But Mr.. Spalding was the first tc
realize that dual base ball holdings were
detrimental to the sport, and as soon as
possible he disposed of his New YORK.
stock His example was followed by A
HI. Soden of the Boston club, F. A. Abel
OF the Brooklyn club and A. j. Reach Of
the Philadelphia club. all of whom hac
come to the assistance of the Giants
owner in days of conflicting dates and
heavy losses.
owner, remains loyal to his first love. the
National League, and it is said that he
intends to take a hand in the commits
sion's crusade against syndicate ball. Mr.
Spalding knows much about the methods
in vogue, and when he came east to at
tend the worlds series he was informed
Of certain matters that will be made pub
lie in the course of time. AS result, hi
probably will urge Messrs. Hermann ant
Johnson to conduct thorough investiga
ton. Base ball men on the inside say
that the commissions policy will receive
the moral support OF large majority OF
club owners in both major leagues. whe
have been anxiously waiting for a cru.
SADIE OF this kind to begin. II the com
mission is successful, therefore. 1t is be.
lieved that 1t will be many years before
syndicate ownership will bob to the sur
face again.