Evening star., 1913-11-27

Special Dispatch to The star
NEW YORK, November 27.-Ban john
son. president of the American League,
slipped quietly into town yesterday to
attend to some private business, and
after remaining several hours he slipped
away just as quietly in the direction OF
Pittsburgh. johnson came here frens
Boston, where he managed to keep out of
the way OF reporters for two days. But
New York Is different. and he had to
submit to an interview. -
johnson was found at the Hotel
Wolcott He seemed surprised when
asked what he had been doing
in Boston. He admitted that he had
talked with Gen. Charles H.. Taylor and
John l. Taylor, half owners Of the Bos-
ton Red Sox, who have made big of1er
for the stock held by James r. McAleer
and Robert McRoy. but he added that
nothing definite had been accomplished.
What do you think of Gov. Tener'
coming election to the presidency Of the
National Lacquer" johnson was asked.
1T will be big thing for the Ma
tionaI League and for the game, he re-
piled. Gov. Tener knows base ball from
every angle. He is an ideal leader, and
gratulate him as soon as he is chosen.
Gov. Tener will serve on the national
commission with Mr.. Hermann and my
self after the 1st of January. and he will
find that there is plenty of hard work.
He will be of inastimable value in help
ing the other members of the commits
ION in handing down decisions.
Gov. Tener's candidacy was not only a
surprise to the American League when
first made public. but also to some OF the
National League men as Well. | under-
stand that President Baker of the Phila-
deiphia club originally suggested Tener.
for which he Is entitled to much credit.
1t was a wise move"
when will the Base Ball Players Fra
ternity receive a hearing?"
"The American League at the recent
meeting in Chicago empowered me to act
as a member of the commission in con-
sidering the fraternity's demands. l un-
derstand that the National League, when
1t convenes here December ., Will give
similar bower to Gov. Tener. The COM
mission, therefore, will take up the fra
ternity's demands at the annual meeting
to be held in Cincinnati the first week in
January.
filed by Mr.. Fultz which the American
League hasn't granted already. We have
paid for the players uniforms and some
time ago We decided to pay the players
travelling expenses TO the spring training
camps.
"As for the request that players who
have been drafted or purchased from the
minor leagues must be subject to waivers
down through the various classes, l may
say that il does not have much merit.
If a major league club secures a player
from a class d club and he doesn't come
up to expectations it Is invariably the
case that he is sent back to a club i'll u
higher class to be developed
DO you believe that the players will
refuse contracts IL there is refusal of
some of the fraternity's demands?'
NO, I do not think that the players
will remain idle. In fact, | may say that
many Of them already have expressed a
willingness to sign with their present en-
ployers."
Are you worrying about the Federal
League movement.
Not at ALL cannot see how the Fed
erals can expect to make much progress.
You see, they must build new ball parks,
which will require a heavy outlay. Then,
again, they must have lot of money to
induce star players to go with them. !
do not know whether each Federal League
club has put up a twenty-hve-thousa
dollar guarantee, but If the money has
been posted, what does 1t amount to? 1t
will require many times that sum to put
the Federal League on sound basis"
do you know James Gilmore of Chi
cago, who is the president of the Federal
League?"
..Yes, and he is a very fine fellow. The
Federals have offices across the street
from my Office in Chicago, and 1 have
met him frequently"
do you think that third major league.