Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-18
PUBLIC NOT READY
FOR ANOTHER LEAGUE
Launching of a New 0rgani-
cation Is Not a Matter of a
Month or Season.

CHICAGO, June 1S.-The tough sled
ding encountered by hackers of the Unit
led States League probably will convince
: promoters that the public is not yet ready
,ffor a third major league. After all, that
Is the only test to be applied. When
there is demand from the public for an
other circuit in the larger cities success
will attend such a venture and not until
then The hoary-headed law of supply
and demand governs base ball the same
as any other commodity, be it necessity.
luxury or amusement
Financial backing always will be forth
coming for new major league whenever
anybody starts one. for there is popular
impression that base ball is an inexhaust-
ible gold mine. But the financial backing
such new enterprises command is usually
of the kind that expects immediate re-
turns The idea of possible loss Is not
taken into account and when more funds
are required from the hackers instead OF
dividends they are at loss to under
stand why.
The launching Of q new base ball league
: Is not a matter Of q month or season. II
REQUIRES time and hard brainy work 10
gain the prestige and build up the teams
to a standard that will command pubic
patronage to a paying extent. Promoters
OF such organizations invariably point 70
the American League as an illustration OF
how impossible 1t is for base ball to
prove a failure. They have small con-
ception of the fight the American League
had to win its success and or the ragged
edges on which it's existence hung for
weeks at q time during It's youth.
Time Was Ripe Then.
Everything favored the American
tel 60 nd
VAS only one major league then and it oc-
coupled only seven cities. for New York
and Brooklyn practically we're one. That
left considerable vacant territory Of
major league caliber. The National
League through lack Of . Arm executive
& had fallen into the hands OF players VINO
were conducting its games about as they
+ pleased and BY kicking and wranghns naa
E driven away lot Of good patrons.
There was demand for different kind
of base ball In which sport should De
supreme and prize ring tactics aoonsneo
The American League set OUT 70 suppay
that demand and found a ready response
Ii also found favor in the eyes or the
major league players by raising the scale
OF salaries until today they are two and
three times greater than those IN vogue
But in spite of all the favorins circum-
stances the American League PROBABLY
never would have been able to stick It OUT
If IL had not had IN us own TANKS SiSti icS
". Somers of Cleveland and If the Cleve-
land capitalist had known much about
base ball.
When the ambitious young organization
expanded and invaded the east SomerS
furnished most Of the financial prestige
and lot OF the actual backing necessary
to secure plants in Philadelphia, Boston
and Washington, and carried the plans
for invading those cities along until otner
and more tin!d hackers could be shown
that the American League meant bust
ness Then. and not until then. was II
possible 10 obtain the kind OF owners de-
sired for the new clubs Resident owners
were found except in Boston. which was
taken off Somers' hands by Milwaukee
men for time.
Without the daring confidence OF SOM
ers the American League would have
found IL impossible to secure the backing
necessary for the immediate Inauguration
OF building operations In the eastern
cities where il established teams in 1901.
! IT was necessary TO finance for CLUBS dur
= ing the winter of l9OO-19O1 and to have
four plants ready 10 open the champion
ship season in the spring. The delay In
cidental TO finding home hackers would
have been fatal.
somers Chosen for Purpose.
For that reason c. w. Somers was
elected perpetual vice president of the
American League. For that reason the
American PUBIC owes STedt
deal for the revival OF base ball and its
tremendous growth through the healthy
rivalry that resulted from the existence
of two major organizations conducted
along the lines of clean. honest sport
The Cleveland magnate was recklessly
daring IN the quantity Of obligations he
assumed That he was not called upon
TO make good all of them was due to the
tact and ability OF President Johnson
backed by the personality and reputation
OF Charles A. Comdskey. But when any
one attempts to hand Somers a bouquet
, or compliment Of other nature for his
nerve and foresight in risking so much
on an uncertain venture he will tell you
il was neither nerve nor foresight on his
part He frankly admits now that II he
had known as much base ball as he does
today he never would have gone into l,
that deep. and asserts that his foresight
was chiefly ignorance Of what new
base ball league is up against. Moreover
he says without reservation that the
American League never could have made
good. even with unlimited backing and
genius at the helm, IL there had not
been a big demand for such an organiza-
ton
That is the opinion of q man who
knows.
Fred Clarke. manager OF the Pittsburgh
nd Ion IF AWr ~~nf<