Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-27
MUCH DEPENDS
ON WHAT FEDS
Do THIS YEAR
Should Coming Season Prove a
Success, Organized Baseball
May Recognize Outlaws.
Bv Frank G. Menke.


NEW YORK, Jan. 27-"B John
~ son personally told me that II
We went through another year
we would force them TO take us into
organized baseball"
! This is an extract from letter
that has Just come to the writer from
one Of the men largely Interested IN
he Fedora League, a man high In its
councils and one whose statements
always have been found TO be truth
ful in every detail.
Ban johnson. president OF the
American League, and the head OF
organized baseball, was asked If ne
had made any promise to anyone con
nected with the Federal League that
II would be taken into organized base
ball Here Is IohnSon's reply:
There is absolutely no truth in The
statement that ! promised anyone
connected with the Federal League 10
take them into organized baseball AZ
It survived he 1914 season. Nor is j.
true that | promised anyone to use
my influence. | am on the other sid"
Of the fence / am lighting the Fed
eral League, both in 1914 and In u
tufe years
THE statements conflict. and both
come from men who have estab-
lished regulations for truthfulness.
Ran Johnson's word always has been
regarded as good as his bond, The
writer OF tho letter has a record for
veracity
However whether Ban johnson
approves the plaN or not. II looks
from this distance that organized
baseball will makcl the wisest move
possible If il makes the Federal
League part OF organized baseball in
1915 II the 1914 Federal season is 4
success
A baseball war is disastrous to
every magnate involved II mean that
they must pay top-notch salaries TO
the players--paying many of them
from 81 900 to S., 900 year more than
they would pay them in times ~
peace II means that they must d.
vide The patronage to great extent
and II means thousands OF dollars in
expense in carrying on the tight
- HOuLD the Fcdcrals have sue
- ceSstu season IN 1914, 1t CO.
iajnly VIII mean that their 1915 sell
son will he greater success. nv
this time il will be established. The
fans will be patronizing It's parks. 1t
viii have the confidence of the play
FiE, ana having lUlN confluence u
will not have a very hard job infu
encing organized players 10 Join It's
ranks, provided larger salaries are Of
fered. The success of the Federals in
1914 will mean that many men who
have idle none will invest II in Fed
eral League stock With Increased
capital, the Federal Leagucrs can in
wade territory SO far untouched. an
invasion that will mean hard shedding
for the major leagues already estab-
lished there,
pUT taking the Federal Leaguers
- into organized bali viii change
the aspect of thngs-and get the or
eanized baseball crowd out OF a tight
hole, Merging with the organized
baseball people, the Federal crowd
naturally would become part of that
body and would not do anything ruin
Gus TO its own interests.
The Federal League as II is now
constituted Pittsburg, Baltimore,
Buffalo. Toronto. indianapolis, Kar-
sds city, st Louis and Chicago
would III pretty well into the organ
ICED baSeballs idea Of places where
third league should he located il its
location was absolutely necessary. In
only three cities does Il conflict with
American or National League clubs,
sand in these cities it Is felt there is
room for another ma Tor league team.