The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-12-30
BASEBALL WAR
NOW PROBABLE
Federal Leagues Threat to
Grab Stars Will Stir Ma
jor Moguls to Action.
lHN. Tim Murnane.l

Boston. Mass. Dec. 3O.-The FEEDER
al league Is causing considerable un-
easiness in the circles Of organized
NJ President Gilmore Of the baby
organization, with headquarters in
Chicago. claims that thirty major
league players have signed with the
different clubs in the league, and dis
patched from Chicago say that he will
give out the names of these players
at a meeting Of the Federals next
week.
II this statement is true. and Mr..
Gilmore has the reputation. in C:hica-
go of being a good. clear-headcd bust
ness man. IL simply means baseball
a nothing more. nothing less. The
major leasne clubs and their allies
cannot afford to allow the invaders to
hold ground consecrated to organized
baseball if they can stop it with
abundant brains and backing as strong
as the mines Of Africa.
Majors Boast Bank Roll.
The Federal league was in exist
ence all Of last year and up to the
present time 100000 would cover
their investments, while the two ma
ior leagues have between $4,000. 900
and $1,000. 900 invested in their plants
alone. With the sinews Of war in
abundance the major league magnates
would indeed be poltroons were they
to surrender while there was a shot
left in a locker.
The Federal league had a splendid
chance to win recognition had they
developed their own talent and pick
ed up players outside Of organized
ball. Then they could not be blamed
for entering any city in the land with
MIA varC af fhnSp NuYN rnoIt~~ ryhn~N
the baseball public wanted the game.
For example. in cities like Detroit.
Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
where IL one major league club is
now located. it would have been an
easy matter to arrange a schedule Of
non-conflicting dates and eventually
win a place in the hearts Of the fans.
Hanlon Tnjects New Life.
With baseball YER day for six
months by the cream Of the talent, no
new league has a chance to live in
cities like Boston. New York, Phila-
delphia, Chicago and st. Louis. There
was territory open where the FEEDER
ais might have gained a substantial
foothold and forced a recognition.
Lack Of baseball brains has been CON
apicuous from the start ny the men
engineering the new league. ! look for
considerable Improvement. however,
now that Edward Hanlon has been
secured as a coach for President Gill
more. know, however, that Sir Ed
ward will not put any money into thi.
campaign against the baseball mo-
guls.
Mr.. Hanlon has a ball ground lying
idle in Baltimore he is anxious to
lease and therefore naturally is en-.
c~ourazinz the new move. Baltimore
h0E alUs1 vn Ironn n%srr, 4 - -, I~a-
every new league that Gomez along,
t" be n Of the first to Jump out
again. You cannot name a. baseball
league Of a national character but
what the Oriole city has been iderti-
fed only to he forced into a minor
league later.
Received With Open Arms.
In 1901 when the American league
broke away from organized ball, there
vas a demand for franchises in such
cities as Boston, Philadelphia and
Chicago. but the fans received them
with open arms. There is no such en-.
thusiasm for the Federal league. At
that time the National league was in
q. bad way. The magnates we're quar-
reltns among themselves and there
was no respect for law and order. The
teams at Baltimore and Cleveland
hurt the game in those cities, while
Andrew Freedman practically killed
the game at the polo grounds.
Then came h clever work of Char
lie Somers of Cleveland, Charles Com
iskey Of Chicago, Ban johnson and
Connie Mack at Philadelphia. The
American league was not forced to
compete with the old organizations in
the way of magnificent plants, for
there vas but one first-class plant in
the country at hat time. and that
was at Philadelphia.
Today baseball conditions are ideal.
Umpires are being respected, there
are no delays on the ball field and
the. finest people in the land can en-.
joy the contents and feel proud of the
national game in the hands OF the
present governing bodies.