Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-20
TRIED TO PURCHASE
FEDERALS' GROUND
Scheme TO Wreck New League
in Chicago Falls
Through.
NEWS FROM FIRING LINE

Through.
! NEWS FROM FIRING LINE
That thrilling little drama entitled
I"Wrecking the Federal League" still
held the boards in Chicago today, and,
as was depicted in the former pres
entations, the painting and sore-press-
ed ELIZA" dashed to safety by few
steps ahead of the major league
"heayies" The action began Satur-
day morning with the majors in pos
session of an option on 16 feet of
ground adjoining the Federal League
Clubs north side site, the same 30
| feet being necessary to the success
! full installation of a ball park. In the
hue and cry Saturday afternoon to
"get Weeghman" and at one fell
stroke end the outlaws the option
was allowed to lapse. Last Satur-
day night Liza" skipped across the
ice in triumphant possession of both
Weeghman and the defaulted OPP
ton.
Early yesterday the majors went
after the ground again. The previous
option called for $4,000 for the 16-''
foot strip for one year, the extent
of the present lease. This bid was
and today the Federals are in pos
session and awaiting the next at
tack.
DEVELOPMENTS today left both sides
the aggressive Federal League and
"organized balP'--confident of sue
cess. Predictions that the new
! league would give UP the ghost in
a short time were made. by President
Johnson, of the American League.
and Presidnt Murphy, Of the Chi
cago Nationals. Lack of preparation
| in a number of towns, although the
opening of the season in less than
three months away, was given as a
/ leading reason by prophets who ex-
pect the Federals' end soon.
! Meantime, at the headquarters OF
/ the Federal League, in Chicago, there
was a busy scene all day. Accord
| ing to Joe Tinker, manager of the
Chicago Federals, there are 40 ball
players in town, and most of them
were up here today as one of them
| put it after watching the crowd in
| President Gilmores office.
Among the visitors were Russell.
Ford and Ed Sweeney, the New York
Americans battery, both of whom
were closeted with Tinker and Presi
dent Weeghman. of the local club, for
some time. Howard CamnitZ, the
former Pittsburgh pitcher, traded to
the Philadelphia Nationals, had a
private discussion with DOC" Cess
Ter, the Pittsburgh manager
Have Signed SO Men.
Despite reports that Killifer, of the l..
Philadelphia Nationals, and Kirk
patrick, of Brooklyn, had not signed
with the Federals, President Gilmore
yesterday exhibited contracts signed
by these men.
A total of 80 major league players
have signed with the league, he said.
eight of them having Joined the new
organization since Saturday.
Infielder Mccarthy, of Pittsburgh.
was caller at the Office of the Chi
cago Feds and conferred with Think
err. Felix Chouinard, formerly of the
| Chicago Americans, and later with
| Des Moines, also consulted with the
Federal Leaguers, and intimated that
he would sign with them.
| WeeghmaD repeated today that he
would stand by the new league. de-
claring that since the stormy meeting
of Saturday he was sure it would be
a success. In this connection Presi-
dent Murphy claimed to have infor-
nation to Weeghman's protest at
the meeting against carrying three
clubs" resulted in a verbal attack
on him that created wounds that
cannot be healed"
Jennings VIII Not Jump.
Hughey Jennings, manager of the
Detroit American League team,
denied emphatically the story that he
| Is going to jump to the Federal
League. When asked about the report
of his jumping to the Federais. Jen-
nings said:
I'm 1912 1 received a letter from
/ ttcb rxy11o
/ l can't recall at present. He Offered
me the position of manager of the
Pittsburgh Federal League Club and
begged me to sign a contract at once
! sent a reply to the Pittsburgh offer
in which L stated that my contract
with the Detroit team did not expire
until the end of the 1913 season. How
ever, in my letter I said L would con- !.
slider any proposition offered by the
Pittsburg Club. Since then l have
heard nothing"
Would you consider an offer from
/ the Federal League now?" Jennings
was asked.
II would not consider any offer
from any Federal League club now
manager replied. II have signed 2
1914 contract with the Detroit Club"
| Joke Salary from Feds; Quits.
Harry Lumley, former big league
slugger and part of last season right
fielder of the Scranton New York State
League club, has announced his per-
manent retirement from the game
He had an offer last week from the
Buffalo Federal League team next
season, but the salary offer, accord
ing to the report, was a joke, and
Lumley turned it down. He wants
to go into business and will open up
in either his home town of Lester
shire or Binghamton.
Rudy Signs with Yankees.
Frank Ruddy, semi professional
player, signed with the New York
Americans yesterday. Ruddy plays
either infield or behind the bat. He
is twenty-one years old
Association Players Stay in Line.
The American Association is not
suffering seriously from Federal
League raids, according to informa-
ton which reached President Chiv-
ington here yesterday. A telegram
to the league head said the Louisville
Club had lined UP every one of its
players for the ensuing season, signed
contracts having been received from
all except two, one of whom has
agreed to the terms, while the other
has mailed his contract. The Louis
Vile Club is the second in the asso-
citation to announce a complete roster,
Kansas City having signed all of its
men. Other clubs were late in send
tho a,It