Evening star., 1914-01-25
FACTS OF FEDERALS
NOT YET KNOWN
Details of What Occurred at
Last Weeks Meeting Still
a Mystery.
CANTILLON LEASED
GROUNDS TO OUTLAWS
Other Sites Could Have Been OBJ
tained, But We're Turned Down.
New Activity Displayed.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, January e4.-
considerable comment has been
caused outside of Chicago, and,
indeed, in Chicago. by those not
familiar with the situation. by the
tact that President M. Z. CantiI.
lon, Joe Cantillon and Edmund
Archambault, stockholders in the
Minneapolis American Associa-
ton Base Ball Club, leased prop
erty to the Chicago Federal
League club upon which the latter
will erect its plant to fight or
ganized base ball.
The ninety-nine year lease exc
cuted by the owners to Charles
Weeghman and w. M. Walker of
the Chicago Federals was a plain
business proposition. The terms
OF the lease provide for payments
OF $4,000 annually for ten years,
$4,000 annually for the next ten
years and $4,000 annually for the
remaining seventy-nine years OF
the lease.
This tract Of land cost SI75,ooo
several years ago, SO the owners
are receiving good return upon
their investment under the terms
OF the lease. whereas the present
rentals are said to bring in annual
receipts OF approximately 10000.
Whether the ground is worth
$4,000 a year for purposes other
than a ball park is for real estate
experts to determine.
The humorous feature in con-
nection with the lease. however.
was the fact that the annual meet
ing OF the American Association
called for Thursday was ad-
journed until Friday owing to the
announced illness OF Mr.. Cantil-
Ion. while the latter was in law
yer's Office inspecting the final
papers in connection with the
transfer OF the property.
If any critics Of Messrs. Cantillon and
| Archambault wish to charge them with
disloyalty in thus leasing their property
to the open opponents of organized base
ball, it may be stated that the federals
could have secured other sites. perhaps
not as well situated for their park. When
they exercised an option to take til.
North Side site they allowed options to
expire on ground on the South Side and
also on the Northwest side.
When Chairman Hermann of the ma
uonal commission was in Chicago week
ago attending that mysterious conference
of major leaguers. he said TO a group of
his conferees that he did not believe in
spending any money to prevent rivals
from securing a site. Perhaps his re-
marks were significant Of some previous
plan that was dropped.
Just how near the Federal League came
to blowing at that memorable meeting
where Weeghman OF the Chicago club
demanded a show of strength from the
other clubs of the circuit. and apparently
was satisfied. is known only TO those on
has not been revealed.
Hermann of Cincinnati. President
Hedges OF the St. Louis Browns and
! President Navin of Detroit were in con-
ference for many hours at the office OF
President Johnson of the American
League. President Ebbets of Brooklyn
and President Murphy of the Cubs Were
in telephone communication. some o.
TIE excuses offered by the magnates for
their presence in Chicago did not sound
logical.
The attitude of the major leaguers was
that of persons expecting something TO
ha ppen'' Hints were dropped that the
Federals would blow up at their meet
ing Long faces at Federal headquarters
early in the day supported the supposi.
ton. A newspaper man FOUND sexetai
strange companions in conference. Ihen
the situation changed, and the Federal
League announced it would go ahead.
Renewed activity was shown in signing
players and in preparation Tor redcrat
parks Perhaps the real story VIII come
out some time. ,.,
that there was any truth in the runor
and reiterated that he was heart ana
soul in the Federal League, and before
long all the fans of Chicago would he
assured of it.
Eddie Sweeney. who is suspected OF
flirting with the Federal League, ap-
peared at the Weeghman offices today
and denied that he had been to Bunalo.
as reported tne pfeslous uss-
the New York catcher said he had been
out of town attending the funeral OF an
uncle. He said he had signed no base
bali contract Before leaving for Texas.
to make plans for the New York Yam
KEGS training trip, Arthur Irwin, secre-
tarv of the Yanks, called upon President
Johnson of the American League. He
reported he had not found Sweeney at all
and thought Zeder had deserted for the
Federal League.
The lease signed by Weeghman for the
Fedora, park on the North Side runs for
ninetv-nine years. 1t provides for an an
nual rent of $4,000 for the first ten years
of the term; $4,000 for the second period
mainder of the term. The average an
nual rent Is Sl9.33:. which. capitalized on
a per cent basis. gives a leasing value
of 1887 $50. 1t will be used as base
ball park for the Federal League club.
and it is stated work on a grandstand
viii, sea ting capacitY of 5.000 and to