The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-21
TAFT WILL NOT SELL
PHILADELPHIA CLUB
Owrer Tec es to Hang to Franchise Stock Grounds
and Players, Arranging to Hav shetsne Succ edFoge
as resident Du> T.me-M iler Will Fill Place in Mean
time

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20.-The
Philadeipnia National ieague club
will not be sold after all. Charles p.
Taft, before leaving for the Panama
canal zone last night, held a long
conference with Alfred d. Wiler. act
ing president Of the club, and William
Snettsiine, secretary. In Philadelphia.
Mr.. Taft notified them that he had
decided to hoid on to the stock. fran
chise and players and that he would
finance the club anew for the season
of 1913. 10 was after Mir. Taft mad
talked with President Wiler over the
long distance phone last Tuesday that
the pubic announcement was made
that Manager Charles Doom had re-
ceived full authority to sign the play
els and arrange for the spring train
ing trip. At the same Time MIR. TAFT
was informed that only $50 was in
the clubs treasury, which. OF course.
meant the furnishing Of q new bank
roll.
When Horace Fogei gave up the
clubs presidency In favor Of Wiler It
vas said that the formers lawyers
had advised IL as a tactical move prior
to the action of the National league
In ruling Fogel out OF It's councils.
As a matter of fact. lir. Taft ordered
Fogels resignation himself and COM
manded Attorney Wiler to assume the
duties Of president. 1t Is highly i'm
probable that Wiler will remain At
the head of the club, fos the reason
that he cannot spare the time away
from his law practice and further
more his knowledge OF the intricacies
of baseball politics Ia limited. He has
carried out Mr.. Taft's orders. how
ever. especially in casting the clubs
vote for the reelection Of Thomas J.
Lynch 10 the presidency OF the Ma
tional league.
Shectsline for President.
When the resignation OF Wiler has
been placed In the hands OF Mr.. Taft.
Shettsiine will be chosen as his sue
cesor unless there IL a sudden change
in the plans OF the Cincinnati man.
Shettsline has been as An executive
otYicer, bushes manager Identified
with the club for many years. and
also manager OF the team at different
periods. He is a conservative. level
headed fellow. popular with baseball
men and fans in the Quaker city. Al
ready shettsiine Ia practically in
charge OF the clubs business. He has
decided to shift his offices from the
Stephen Girard building to the ball
park, where Contractor James Foster
has received an order to build new
headquarters for his personal use
Ehettsline alone will have the keys
to the new Offices. SO that Fogel can
| be kept out
Fogel. apparently unwilling to real
| ixe that he liz out OF baseball. has
! been making daily visit to the clubs
offices In the Stephen Girard build
ing. accompanied by the friends who
/ have stuck to him through thick
ard thin. Yet, according to persons
| who are conversant with Mr.. Tafts
| baseball interests. Fogel voluntarily
| surrendered his equity In the club in
| consideration for the SStion he re-
| ceived from Mr.. Taft which expired
| on December 18th. II Is said that
Fogel does not own share of the
! clubs stock and that he has no
| further monetary claims. The last
| check he received was for $ioo, which
was paid TO him about November list.
Taft Wanted to Sell.
| Mr.. Taft at frst wanted to sell the
club and the grounds He held Fogefs
notes which expired on October z6th.
also the clubs stock--se0 shares--as
! collateral. Frederick Chandler. OF
! Philadelphia, was instructed by Mr..
Taft to sell the stock and the ball
park, the latter owned by Mrs. Taft,
for about ssso,ooo Chandler receiv-
| ed offers from Cohen a Harris. the
Balfour syndicate. company or
ganixed by Philadelphia politicians
ard from Fl. Fl. Fraxee. Of this city,
with whom former Police Commits
| sioner Baker and w. II. Locke. OF the
| Pittsburg club. at frst were said To
be associated. The Balfour syndicate
| wanted TO purchase the ball park In
! t~a Ion nv htts
| Mr.. Taft declined to sell unless the
/ clubs stock an dfranch.se were in
ciuded in the deal. Nobody was ready
to pay $4,000 for the stock. SO Mr.
Taft notified Mr.. Chandler q week
ago to declare off all negotiations.
Fogel was suggested to Mr.. Tat
as the best man for president OF tht
club by c. w. Murphy two years ago
when the Taft interests bought ths
franchise and grounds. Fogel receiv'
ed a salary Of $4,000 year and ex'
penses, which. It as said. were un'
limited. Mr.. Taft furnished the mon
ey to swing the deal and also NOR.
money to rebuild the grandstand and
bieachers. Murphy. too, Ia said 4
have provided additional money FOL
other improvements. Fogel wa
thrown out of basball because Of hi
unsupported charges that the UNI
pires' dishonesty helped the Giant
to win the pennant last season. Their
IL d documentary evidence to prove tina
Fogel's charges were instigated b!
Murphy, yet Fogei. because OF tn
Cubs owner. has swallowed hts medi
cine without = sQueAl. In turniai
over the Philadelphia club to Sheets
line and DOOM Messrs. TAFT and Muir
phy believe that they can recove
some OF the money invested and tina
with the club IN better shape 1t tn
} end OF next season they may be abb
to sell at their own figures.
Il Brief Baseball Notes.
| Charley o.erleAt - an instructor
Princeton university thiS winter. III
denies the report that he will not 70
ioin the HighiAndeIs next year. Ster