The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-27
Federal Leagues Father.

Fcocfd d League = ather.
This is story OF James A. Gil
more. of Chicago. whose rapid-fir
financial dealings saved the Fedora
league from ruin and made the neg
organization a big power in baseball
with reported backing of s20, 900,
600. To President Gilmore goes tn,
credit of expanding bankrupt
the support OF great financial inter
ests. 1t was the young Westerner'.
rare manipulating genius that mad,
this possible within a period of sew
en- months OF the leagues develop
ment, which caused him to trave
thousands OF miles and hold countless
conferences day and night. Mr. Gil
more himself tersely says 1t was
simply case OF hustle. fight. hustle
and fight"
Had Big Reputation.
The real growth of the Federal
league began last July. when James
A Gilmore assumed charge. At this
time the pittsburg club didn't have
enough money to hire ticket takers
The Chicago team was in financial
difficulties The club owners in
desperation called on their friend
Jimmy Gilmore. president of a Chi
cago iron company. who already had
a big reputation as an organizer, for
advice.
Young Jimmy Gilmore startled his
callers by saying he would take
charge of their club and league Long
a baseball fan himself Mr. Gilmore
saw the possibilities of the new
league and he quickly got busy. He
first mapped out a campaign against
organized ball, the supreme body
in baseball.
The iron president practically ne
elected his business for the coming
baseball war To make sure OF his
ground he employed the best counsel
obtainable in Chicago and had the
legality OF the reserve clause in
players contracts thoroughly exam
ined His lawyers told him that
players could be engaged when only
held by their reserve clauses to or
In1 -, ~,
President Gilmore began firing off
his guns against the opposition.
But players cost money and the
young league at that time badly
needed money, and lots of it, So the
Chicago promoter began a hurried
pursuit of capital that was soon to
bear fruit.
Aside from his financial ability Mr..
Gilmore is what successful business
men call a good mixer" He has the
faculty of making friends easily and
keeping them. 1t has been one Of
Mr.. Glmore's notices to stay near
big money by cultivating the ac-
quaintance of Influential men. He
had hosts of friends. and he called
them by their first names. Finley
Shepard, Helen Gould's husband, is
"Shep" to his pal Gilmore. President
Gilmore is Jimmy to his old club
mate. 1t was the same way for
many other leading men throughout
the country.
AS said before, Gilmore required
money for his new league. He soon
lined up his friends on the subject
The first one he tackled was Charles
Weeghman, a young Chicago million
aire and owner of twelve quick
lunch restaurants and two moving
picture theaters. 1t so happened
that Mr.. Weeghman for some time
had wanted to buy a baseball club
In 1911 he tried to purchase the ST
Louis Nationals President Gilmore
unfolded his plan to Weeghman and
it was accepted.
After much celebrating Mr.. Weigh
man agreed to finance the Chicago
club. Charles Weeghman ever since
has been a prime mover in the new
project and his Windy City friends
say he has so far advanced $4,000
to the Federal league.
Following this he worked hard to
get other moneyed men to support
clubs in other cities. 1t took time
and patience. but in it all he won
out.
James A. Gilmore. who has put
the Federal league on its feet. is
SO years old, married, stands over
six feet, weighs about 100 pounds
and is a fine specimen OF a big raw
boned Westerner.
Auto Races Scheduled.
The following dates were assigned
for automobile contests during the
coming season:
Nav 3O-500.mile race Indianapolis