The Washington herald., 1913-12-31
FEDERALS sign
TWO MORE men
Knabe, Of PhiIlies, and Miller,
Of Pirates, Desert Ranks Of
Organized Baseball.
BALTIMORE GETS ONE
Quaker City Star Decides to Cast in
His Lot with So-called
Outlaws.
BALTIMORE GETS ONE

ond baseman of the PhiIlies, has signed a
contract to manage the Baltimore club Of
the Federal League. according to Chi
Cago dispatch from Charles Weeghan,
president and hacker of the Chicago Fed
eral League club. Weeghan also said
that Johnny Miller, recently traded by
Pittsburgh to st. Louis would manage
the Toronto club. When seen Knabe
said:
Il have nothing TO say now, but may
have something to say in a day or two"
New York, Dec. S0-John Miller, first
baseman Of the Pittsburgh ball team,
who keeps a saloon in Rearney, N. J.,
waived examination tonight and was held
for the grand jury on a charge Of violat-
ing tn excise law. Miller's reasons
for not drawing the blinds that hid
his bar were that he had just received
word he had been sold to st. Louis, he
was considering 4 Federal League offer,
as volunteer fireman he was answering
an alarm, had an engagement with his
Girl and was drenched by a bursted hose.
A panicky feeling possesses the organ
ized baseball leaders today, not merely be-
cause Joe Tinker and Mordecai brown
have seeded to the FederaIs. but be-
cause of the veiled threats of the outlaw
crowds that they have a few more sur
prises, of an unpleasant nature, in store
for the National and American League
moguls.
The old idea OF the organized people
that the Federals were bluitIng. and that
they have no cash backing no longer
exists. Those who looked upon the
Federal League as a mere ty-by-night
organization, look at it just now in the
form of a menace
Some months back the organized people
announced tnat they nad several million
dollars that were kept idle merely for the
purpose of fighting any crowd of persons
SO audacious as to form another baseball
league and compete with the organized
leagues for public favor. II they nave
such fund, il looks just now as IL the
fund will be idle no longer-that II will
be-must be-used as munitions of war
to battle with the Federal Leaguers
The National League people still are
stung by the blow dealt in the announce
ment that Tinker has signed up with the
Federals, and will manage the Chicago
team. Never for moment did any one
connected with organized baseball believe
that Tinker would go over TO the out
laws" They figured that Tinker was
merely bluffing in his threats, hoping TO
force the Brooklyn club to meet his
salary demands
The fact that the Federal people can
guarantee Tinker $4,000 bespeaks the
fact that they have money behind them
Thirty-six thousand dollars is a mere
bagatelIe in comparison with the amount
needed to finance a major league or
ganiZation, but when a crowd of men
are willing to risk $4,000 real, regular
dollars, it means they will risk more of
them.
Everywhere in major league circles to-
day, Charles H. Ebbets, president of the
Brooklyn club, is being blamed for the
Federals grabbing Tinker. The moguls
declare If Ebbets hadn't been so niggard-
ly with his funds he would have met
Tinkers demands, kept him in organized
baseball, and thus kept from the Fed
erals the biggest drawing card they have
and one that will add considerable pres
tige to the Federal League.
Tinker wanted a three-year contract
from Ebbets at $500 a year, in addition
TO his $4,000 bonus. This would have
given him a total salary for three years
of 332.5O0- Ebbets, it is said, offered him
the $4,000 bonus and a $6,o00-a-year con.
tract, a total of S3S, OO0
Ebbets knew, as did everybody else
that Tinker was not keen about playing
in Brooklyn. He knew that Tinker want
ed to play in Chicago. Also he heard
that the Federals had offered Tinker &c.,
600, or $4,000 a year to manage a team
in his home town. But Ebbets believed
that the Federals didn't have. the $685.
900 and also they felt sure that Tinker
wouldn't hurdle the fence in the gen.
eTal direction of the Federals' ball park
But the magnates' determination of Eb-
bets is nothing compared to the angry
roar that has gone up in Brooklyn. Fig
urinS that Tinker's presence on the Dod-
ger team was certain, the fans began
dreaming pennant dreams. Now to wake
up and find that Tinker will not be in
their midst next year simply because
Ebbets would not loosen up to the cx-
tent of an extra $3.50 year for three
years. threw them into fits of rage that
threatens to hurt the attendance at the
Brooklyn park during the 1914 season at
least.