Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06
B|GLEAGUE MEN
WORRIED BY FEDS
Organized Base Ball Magnates
Rushing to New York for
National Meeting.
SEEK TO DEVISE. PLANS
TO STOP PRESENT RAID
Peace Talk Revived in East, But
Both Factions Emphatically
Deny Possibility.

Of11OAdO, Ill, DeCelHDSI ).
-Magnates of organized base
ball are rushing to New York to
devise ways and means of stop
ping the raid of the Federal
League. Minors as we'll as majors
are heading eastward, and by
Monday there will be scores OF
club owners or league officials in
Gotham.
Each will come with chip on
his shoulder, and Judging from
expressions today there will be
no peace between the independent
circuit and the other leagues. The
landing OF Walter Johnson by the
Chifeds started the scare, and ru-
mors that other "big fish" are
likely to be on the Federals' pay
roll pushed it along. If money
talks the salaries paid up to the
present time for certain stars NAV
soon look like piker's coin.
That there will be no peace-at
least, not at once-was made
plain by President Johnson of the
American League before he start
ed today. With him was Presi-
dent Comiskey of the White Sox
Peace with the Federals? That is an
absurd proposition" said Ban johnson.
why should we make peace? Let them
go on signing ballplayers 1t may be
easy to sign a bunch of stars. but the
trouble is the salaries come due regu-
larry. and the Federals may have some
bills yet to pay. Don't bet any money
that Walter Johnson will play with
any Federal League team, either.
johnson signed a contract with the
Washington club last spring, and it
had no ten-day clause in it." said
President Johnson. '"The Washington
club can hold Johnson under that con-
tract, I am sure.
Has Faith in Minor.
'T consider Ben s. Minor one of the
ablest lawyers in the United States.
and he tells me he can hold this pitcher
under his Washington contract
'T guess the Chicago Federal League
club needed to increase it's capital
stock. SO signed Johnson to accomplish
this purpose.
Some of those mentioned as jumping
n co mt n
in the American League Waivers had
been asked on some of them.
THE Washington club is strong in
players. and will be in the race next
season 1t has several of the best young
one of the best fielding clubs in base
ball. and is rated among the best hit
ting organizations in the circuit"
President Johnson refused to say
why the most influential magnates in
the American League were hurrying
down to the National League annual
powwow.
Another bunch will start east tomor-
row. President Thomas and Roger
Bresnahan of the Cubs will leave at
noon and on the same train will be
Tip ONeill of the Western League
and Tom Chivington. head of the
American Association. Other minor
league heads will meet in New York.
1t is known that the question OF
signing players now belonging to the
Federal League and to be released lat
er will be one of the subjects thrashed
over The national commission. which
meets Monday, will give the views OF
the major leagues and THIS is TO Of
ratified by the minors.
1t is claimed that number OF Fed
eral League players have asked to bt
reinstated and others soon will be FREE
favor of taking back any one wht
went over to the independent organiZa
ton. but some of the minor league
owners would like to get the pick o.
the discards whom they may have
without putting up any coin as pur
chase price
Peace Talk Revived.
The revival of peace talk is getting 6
new lease of life in the east. but Presi-
dent Gilmore of the Federal League as
serted today that it was all bunk ant
that the Federal League has gone a:
far as it ever will go. President Gil
more confirmed the report that Chief
Bender of the Athletics has signed {
Federal League contract, but he said h,
did not know with what club HI
Wouiu play ne also volunteered tnt
information that he has received 81,
letters from major league greats" II
regard to signing, but that he shad no
answered the prospective jumpers al
yet He also denied the story tina
Catcher Archer of the Cubs had signed
a contract for 1916 with the Kansa,
City Feds.
Nothing in that whatever" he said
CSC far as / know. Archer will pla,
with the Cubs. We are signing men 70
next season"
Manager Joe Tinker of the Chifed
returned from Coffeyville with the in
formation that Walter Johnson is ,
gentleman and a scholar
Finest fellow / ever met said Joe
and easy to do business with
1T was no trouble at all to do bust
ness with Johnson ! offered him
contract and he signed it, and he sal,
that he was glad to come with u.s.