The Washington herald., 1914-12-08

Magnates Must Take
Fed League Seriously
Recent Signing Of Major Stars
Has Awakened Organized
Baseball Leaders.
OUTLAWS NOT A FLASH

New York, Dee. 7.-Organized baseball
has finally arrived at the conclusion that
the Federal League must be taken seri-
oGsly. Tomorrow the magnates OF the
National League. and the members Of the
National Commission will begin their ses-
sions at the Waldorf with one thought
uppermost-how to put the crusher on the
Federals and stop further depredations
from the fold wherein are kept the
brightest stars in the baseball armament.
The recent signing OF Walter johnson,
Chief Bender, Eddie Plank, Rube Mar
guard and some more of the first flight
players. has awakened the o. B. Mag
mates, and at tomorrow's meetings all
trades, schedules, changes in rules. etc,
will be sidetracked until the question Of
successfully fighting the Federals have
been solved.
The o. b. Magnates are not at all
alarmed. Any Of them will tell you that.
They know the Feds are a flash in the
pan. They will tell you that, also. But
just the same they are going to fight the
Federals Just as hard as IL they were
really scared, and they are going to give
the best imitation Of scared baseball mag
mates that ever has been given in the
annals OF the game.
Gov. John X. Tcner, president OF the
poA NAA Va bdlll1dNiOH OTedHlZtn
rived here tonight and will be a COM
manding figure in all the conferences
meeting and informal discussion OF the
msgnates.' Gov. Tener arrived with 4
satchel full OF denials and after he had
them on the reporters who met
him he discounted all OF them by hasten
ing into a secret conclave with some OF
his fellows
Gov. Tener denied. first. that any
existed in the situation. He
denied that any star chamber sessions
were planned He denied that any re-
taliatory measures were planned He
almost denied that there was such a
league as the Federal League, but he
didn't quite deny this
The maEnates here seem to be of
one opinion, viz: that the recent ac-
tivity of the Federal League has had
only one real aim. and that is to
organized baseball. by a sud
den show of affiuence. in the recogni-
tion of the Federal League. And when
they say that the Feds are trying to
frighteR them these blum and hearty
laugh.
Brighten US? Ha. ha, hs, har" There
IS something about that laugh that is
iimly reminiscent of a small boy trudG-
Ing past cemetery in the dark with his
hands deep in his pockets and a CHEEKY
whistle issuing from his tightly pursed
lips.
II further evidence Is needed to prove
that the magnates are not frightened by
the Feds, one only has to mention the
salary question. They are planning 10
raise the salaries of those stars OF the
first magnitude who have not Jumped to
he Federals. Everybody knows that
when a man is frightened he doesn't
figure on spending a lot of money.
II Is in the corridors OF the Waldorf
and up at the Imperial. where the Inter
nationals are holding forth, that all
these early conferences are held. Out of
one of these close confabs tonight there
issued the information that the court
lights against players who ha1 violated
heir contract obligations will be fol-
Owed by even more vigorous actions
against the Federal magnates who have
persuaded them into such violations. One
instance, which the magnates say wifi
'orm the basis for a>conspiracy charge
against the Federals was cited.
The player. the magnates alIege, was
hen invited by a Federal League team
'wner to call on him. This Federal
Lacquer was like the spider that invited
he fly to walk into his pretty little par
or. they say. for when the impecunious
yenius of the National League walked
nto the private office the first sight
hat met his startled eyes was a table
With several thousand dollars in gold
ipread on II.
Sign here" said the Federal League
pider. showing a contract and a foun-
ain pen into the hands OF the bewilder-
d National League fly. and the poor
" signed then and there. The conspir-
cy angle is not plainly pointed out. !
he o. B. magnates, II is understood, do /.
lot allege that the Federal mas gnate /.
onsipred with the National League |
tar's boss to get him to refuse the SEQ /
dvance. 1t is hinted that the conspir- 1
cy rested in a plot to prove to the man /
Tho wanted 500 that . the National
,ea que didn't own all the money In the /
Torld. II this can be proved, it prob !
bly, will so hard with the Federal J
eague.
There are plenty OF baseball magnates !
ere, as has been hinted, and promi- |
ent among them are Schuyler Britton /
nd Miller Higgins, of the Cardinals; |
iarney Dreyfus. OF the Pirates; Garry .
Eermann, OF the Reds: James Gaffney, /
the Braves: John B, Foster, Of the |
iants; Charles Thomas, of the Cubs; /
rank ]. Navin. of the American League |
igers. and a score of well-known play
rs. Others are expected tomorrow. and |
is possible that after they have dis
osed of the external menace of the Fed
rails the magnates will turn to interior
Omplaints and endeavor to find some
-ay to settle the case of one Charles
Webb Murphy. once. sand still. of the
hicago Cubs.
Boston Withdrew Suit.
The Boston National League Baseball Club with