The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-06
BASEBALL C0NCAvE
NEXT week SHOULD
BRING A SHOWDOWN
ORGANIZED BALL, THROUGH
SECRET AGENTS, MAY CHARGE
FEDERaI.S WITH FRAUD.

baSeDdii hopes TO crush the Federal
league next week.
The most stupendous gathering in
the history OF the national pastime
will be seen in this city at that time
The annual spring meetings Of the
National. American and International
leagues are booked then, and In ad
dition the National association--or
governing body OF all the various
minor circuits-has been called into
conference.
At the conclave will be presen ted
the reports of secret service de-
partment, which for the big organixa-
ton has traiied every movement Of the
independents since their aspirations
were first announced.
The organization intends to light the
Invaders with their own weapons
they will try TO prove the opposition
guilty of fraudulent practiseA All
those players who showed disrespect
for major league reserve In order to
sign Federal league contracts, and
then jumped back to the clubs which
held options on their services. will be
arrayed against the opposition.
Affidavits from these men have
been prepared. showing that their
loyalty to the organization was in
huenced by soft words and promises
Immediately forgotten. Indeed. If the
Federal league decides to carry It's
case as far as the law courts, or
gan!zed baseball stands prepared to
prosecute its officials for fraudulent
practises.
king Cole" Storm Center.
king Cole" of the Yankees, Is
likely to become central figure in the
storm. He openly accuses President
Gilmore OF deception. In letter to
Charles Weeghman. president of the
Chicago Federals. the Michigan bar
Der yesterday accused Gilmore Of af-
fixing a false date TO the document he
signed Furthermore. he accuses Gill
more of retaining private correspond
ence that had been shown him
Il shall play with the New York
American league club this year." Cole
wrote Weeghman yesterday +" About
the middle Of December / received a
letter from Mr.. Farrell asking me
what ] thought was fair In the way
Of salary. On December 20. 1919,
wrote Mr.. Farrell, telling him that
would be glad to play under Mt
Chances management and offering 10
come for salary which ! named in
my letter. On January 2, la44 re-
eetved . telegram from Mr.. Farrell In
which he accepted my offer.
II told Mr.. Gilmore, of the Federal
league. exactly what had happened
between Mr.. Farrell and myself" the
letter continued. land l told him
about the offer had made Mr.. Far
rell. I,showed him the telegram ac-
cepting my offer. Mr.. Gilmore assured
me this was not a contract. He told
me that Mr.. Farrel had waited too
long before accepting my offer. and
he made the same statements to the
newspapers later.
Mr.. Gilmore was very urgent and on
his advice I signed contracts with the
Federal league. These contracts were
signed after the end OF January, and
after I had showed Mr. Gilmore Mr..
When the Federal league contracts
were made up Mr.. Gilmore said that
TO avoid trouble he would date them
December 80. 1919 Although have
asked for them I have not been given
copies OF the Federal league con-
tracts.
After it was given out to the papers
that i had signed with the Federal
league l received letter from MIR.
Farrell in which he said that he un-
derstood that he had binding con-
tract with me. then consulted my
lawyer. who advised me that had
made a contract with Mr.. Farrell. This
being the case there is nothing for
me to do but to live up to the con-
tract nTSt maze ana propose 10 play
for Mr.. Farrelrs club on precisely the
terms offered In December and which
he accepted in his telegram. I am
instructing my lawyer in Chicago to
return TO the Federal league the ad-
vance payment ! received from them"
Cole declared yesterday he was will
ing TO corroborate every statement Of
his letter under oath. He insinuated
also that through signing with tho
Chicago FederAls and under agreement
to play in the Windy City theae promo
ters intended To shunt him OF to ST
Louis, against which town he had a
decided aversion. 1t Ia claimed by
friends Of organized ball that Killifer,
of the Phillies. and Kirkpatrick. OF. the
Dodgers. had experiences quite similar
to those Of Cole. A somewhat strange
and significant circumstance. however.
10 the fact that since Farrell notified
Gilmore Of his acceptance OF Coles
terms the king has never been bull
letincd ~ Federal property.
Next weeks big baseball conclAve
here 10 bound to develop some sort Of
showdown" The attitude OF tho Fed
aral league in the meantime may shape
the ultimate action. Kan Johnaon's
policy will ina the hearty indoreement
~ the fAmeFtc4n tea1ne, HI a4vooAkAa
= wlde bexth ~ ~ law. ANa ~ ne-
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