The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
Atlanta Five to Play Here January II
The Sporting Forecast
by ASA RoUNTREE, JR.

approached with offers bv Federal nro-
moters. Tinker has stated that he has
SIX major leaguers signed for his Chicago
clup ana that more are In prospect.
Other federal managers are also ener-
seuealiy at work lining up men and 1t
is claimed by officials of the new league
that when the complete roster of the va
rious clubs is published the whole base
ball universe will be treated to a SUI
prise such as has rarely been evidenced
before.
The operations of the Feds has not
been confined to the major leagues alone
but the leading minor leagues as we'll
Contracts have been rendered a number
of leading players in the international
league and American association, promi-
nent among them being Harry Swacina,
The Newark first baseman has been Of
fered a guarantee of $4,000 for three
year contract 1t has also been reported
that players in the Southern have not
been Immune fl0m the Federals. Rumors
have gotten out that the new league is
desirous Of securing the services of
Catcher Bemis of Memphis Street and
Flick of Chattanooga and other prom,-
nent Dixie players
That the new league has good financial
backing is shown in the list that was
recently published of the men who are
behind the movement in the various
league towns. Bankers, lawyers, brokers.
merchants. capitalists. brewers and con-
tractors are among those listed as sup
porting the new venture. The men who
are backing the various teams in the
circuit are
Chicago: Charles weeghman, restaurant
owner; William Nj. Walker. oyster and
fish merchant; j. A. Gilmore, coal busi-
ness.
Toronto; Bernard Hepburn. member
parliament.
st. Louis: Otto stlfel. capitalist and
brewer
Kansas City: S. S. Gordon, merchant :
c. c. Madison, lawyer.
Indianapolis: j. Edwin krause. hotel
man; e. E. Gates lawyer; John A.
George, coal and ice.
Pittsburg: William A. Kerr, contrac-
tor; John b. Barbour, broker.
Baltimore: I'D Hanlon. real estate:
Harry Goldman, lawyer; John s. Wilson
Jr., banker
Buffalo: Walter Mullen. real estate: r.
T. Carroll. real estate; owen b. Augsper-
ger, lawyer.
One club owner who fully appreciates
the encroaching danger is chubby Chawles
w. Murphy. the domineering boss of the
Chicago National league club. The CUB
mogul has sent a circular letter to all
his players warning them of trouble If
they Ngn with the Federal. He says that
the best legal talent will be employed
to file injunction suits against those who
attempt to forsake organized ball and
that no leaning toward the new circuit
will be tolerated. The Philadelphia club
will very likely make some attempt 20
hinder Knabe joining the Federa1s and
should anymore clubs go on the war path
II may percipitate a merry little struggle.
such as has not been seen since the
American league successfully broke in on
the monopoly of the National league.
y
That the Federal leasiuers are deter
mined to make a stand is evidenced by
the declarations of league officials who
state that no effort on the part of Or
Ranized ball to coerce them will be suf-
fered Charles Weeghman, one of the
men who is launching the new league in
the Windy City has ventured the state
ment that the F'ederalists won't wait for
the majors to start the fight, but will
fire the first gun themselves.
In discussing the situation Mr.. Weegh-
man said:
The Federal league wants to clean out
organized baseball. and now is a very on
perfume time to disentangle their compli-
Gated set of rules. The Federal league is
open to the star ball player and intends to
treat them like human beings. We will
have no strings attached to the players.
Il am not attempting 10 convey the idea
that organized baseball is being run by a
swarm of crooks. To the contrary the ma
jority of the men behind the game are of
the highest character. There are. how
ever, as Mr. johnson stated. few greedy
ones who should be gotten rid of. and
their expulsion will prove a help to the
game"
So from the above it may he seen that
the new league is determined to make a
fight even If in the end with falls before
the powerful onslaught of organized ball.