The Washington times., 1914-06-22

DETROIT, June 22.-Intense expect
ancy best describes the feeling of ball
players today in relation to the general
baseball situation as regards the Fed
era1 League in its war on the older or
ganization.
For the first time since the struggle
of a dozen years ago when the National
League battled to stop the expansion
of the American League, those higher
up are thoroughly alive to the dangers
that beset organized baseball until
some definite line of action is outlined
and vigorously fought
Through the winter months column
after column was written in this paper
warning the magnates that the Federal
movement was pregnant with unlimited
possibilities and that some plan should
be adopted to stop the rush before base
ball in general would receive bitter
blow.
The answer was always the same.
they are buffers, they can't build
parks. they can't get players, they
can't even open their season. Now In
New York the National Commission is
meditating and apparently realizes that
its course of indifference has been an
utter failure. Today the Federal
League is a live issue that is Offering
the greatest threat that the present
system of baseball has ever known.
Its activities are not limited to steal
ing an occasional player. Its agents
have cut into other clubs and have
caused discord and dissatisfaction
through offering fabulous salaries that
are all out of proportion to the sums
that are at present received by the men
who are operating in each Of the major
leagues.
Clark Griffith has been extremely for
tunate thus far. The high esteem in
which he is held by the men who work
with him has stood him in good stead
IN the battle that has fairly centsred
around the Nationals. Barring Cleye-
land there has not been a city in the
West in which the Nationals have
stopped that they have not been fairly
besiesed by agents of the outlaws.
They started last summer by trying 10
ALLEVIATE men who are in the regular
lineup: now they are even gong after
those who can hardly be considered on
the first string.
The worries of a disastrous slump are
calculated to be sufficient to engage
the undivided attention of any mana
ger. But when you add to this the
fact that your club is being harassed
and tempted from the outside, the trou-
bies are doubled and trebled. Through
81 all however. Clark Griffith has main
tained a stiff font, declaring against
any compromise and insisting that he
would risk his last kopeck rather than
how to the dictates of those who are
financially and otherwise supporting the
Federals.
In public and privately he has tried
20 talk out of the minds, memory. and
thoughts of his men the idea OF the
Federals. In this he has partially sue
ceeded and while agents acting in Sc
cret may at any time bring about tho
unexpected, It appears reasonable to
assert that no member of the WASH
ineton team will be missed from the call.
st least until after the present season
expires.
Secretary Willie Fowler, who quietly
celebrated a birthday Friday. an
7ounced today that the double-header
With the Athletics on Wednesday would
start at . o'clock.
Jim shaw is the proud possessor of
alf dozen silk socks. the gift of
E'rrn in New York that makes the offer
'nr any player who makes a home r'In
IN the Polo Grounds. Shaw deli cre1
= homer when he opposed the Yauks at
the outset of the present ili-starred
'ourney.
For one who has been affiliated with