Evening journal., 1914-02-03
FEDERALS ARE
PUzzLING FANS
OF COUNTRY
Some Think II is Merely a
Noise by PrOmOterS---Big
Boost for Players

Baseball fans throughout the coun-
try are in a quandary concering the
Federal league. They do not know
! whether the infant organization is to
be a go, or whether II is merely noise
the promoters are making to obtain
considerable free publicity. One can
hear In almost any sporting head.
I quarters on the streets and in the
cars, discussion of the Fedcrals. The
! principal points of the couversa-
tion seem to be: Whom have they?
] What are the prospects Of their
starting and finishing the season?p
lt Is not 10 be denied the Foderals
up TO date have made a lot of noise
concerning what they intend TO do TO
| baseball, and what excitement they
mean to create with the mon they
have signed They announce thev
have secured more than so players of
major league class, and hope 10 have
more before long. but decline to an
, nounce the names. Some have been
given out, but not sufficient 10 satis-
fy the fans, who are eager 10 know
Just what sort of clubs the league is
TO have.
II has been admitted that three
clubs of the Federals are almost GER
tain 70 be strong. They are Chicago.
ST. Louis and Baltimore, which teams
have Joe Tinker. Mordecai Brown
and otto Knabe, all former National
league players. as managers. These
leaders through their hustling pro-
civities have secured men of popu-
larity. and it appears at this early
date as If they will be dangerous
contenders for patronage in the
towns in which they are assigned to
play The report is the other clubs
are doing the same. but are content
TO keep secret the names of the play
ers they have signed until the league
president sends out the list Of play
ers.
IT a Federal team is placed in Gin
cinnati. as has been reported will be
done. the town would benefit. because
the Reds have put up such a poor
article OF ball the last six or eight
years that the followers there are
disgusted. The opening day in Gin
cinnatl is the big day Of the year. On
that day the stands are jammed. but
that ends the enthusiasm. A rival
club would be likely to result in the
Improvement of the Reds. If Herzog
should manage to present first d.
vision club, however, and have the
aspect Of pennant winner. the Reds
would draw nearly all the people and
federals would not prosper.
Whether Kansas City. indianapolis.
OF the second division. are affected
oy the intrusion Of the new league.
remains 10 be seen. st. Louis Is
much like Cincinnati. II Miller Hug.
gins and Branch Hickey succeed in
getting together clubs that have a
chance TO display a little strength in
the competition then IL Is 20 be fear
ca Mordecai Brown and his associ-
ates are to go under with hook. line
and sinker.
II Hugeins and Rioky do not pro-
duce, then the Fcdcrals are expected
70 prosper, as the new league had
strong hold on the fans there last
season, because the major leagues
we're not contenders and were at the
bottom stipend advanced. and be.
fore all of the other three towns will
support two clubs sufficiently to
make them money-makers is doubted
by many, and also remains to be
seen.
This near baseball war Is TO aid
the players and has done so already.
Many athletes who were getting only
mediocre salaries last season have
had their stipend advanced and he
fore all of the major leaguers are
signed many more will have recoir-
ed an increase. Tho coming i'm of the
Federals has caused a change In tho
contracts, and II is doubted AZ tho
Baseball Players fraternity would
have obtained It's demands had a not
been unknown by the men i'm organ
lied ball that Il was certain Dave
fultz and his players would iump In
body over TO the new leagues.
So far everything has practically
gone calmly between the Federals
and the major leagues. but IL an
pears as II bomb Is to break before
the clubs depart for the South. The
majors are becoming indignant at the
wav the infant body has gone ahead
and signed players belonging 10 the
clubs under the reserve clause.
William +. Baker. of the phillies
has disregarded the new leagues con-
tract and signed William Killifer.
catcher. This is expected 10 start
litigation and may result in ascer-
tanning whether a baseball contract
viii stand the test OF law. The Fed
erals declare they will take the case
into court il Kilifer plays with the
Phillies. II the court rules that
the baseball contract is invalid the
Federals mean TO sign all the stars
they can get, regardless Of contracts.
and, Of course. this will mean the
ruin Of baseball. as manv are inclin-
ed TO believe baseball will not stand
another war such as IL experienced
I when the American league was born.