The Washington times., 1914-06-21
COMMISSION
AT LAST WAKES UP TO
DEFEND THE MAGNATES
Federal Leagues Are Allowed to Get Flying Start on Organized
Forces, Despite Repeated Warnings From Every Section
Of Both Major league Circuits
By THOMAS KIRBY.

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apathy has caused the loss Of hun
dreds of thousands of dollars TO the
men whose interests they are supposed
to conserve. the members of the Ma
tional Commission have awakened to
the necessity of action to thwart the
Federal League in its avowed inten-
ton of stampeding organized baseball.
For days and weeks last month base
ball writer's in all sections fairly
screached warnings to the highest
tribunal In the game to bestir itself
and adopt such methods as would make
1t impossible for interlopers to inject
themselves into baseball and wreck the
safeguards that it had taken years to
upbuild.
The length and breath OF these
columns were devoted to words OF
friendly advice and IL was repeatedly
asserted that II the Federals, with
their acknowledged financial strength.
were allowed to get flying start they
would be able to deliver blows to the
most vulnerable spots in the rules and
regulations that made the national
commission supreme In the national
sport.
Filters gave way to smiles which
the learned politicians Of baseball. who
contented themselves by answering
that the Feds were buffers who would
not build plants could not obtain
players. would not open the season and
could not possibly endure until July l.
Now. however. the self satisfied have
been rudely awakened. they have been
forcibly turned over OF their backs, and
they are face to face in a battle which
they must fight il they are to retain the
stars who have made the game possible.
From a sheer blum the Federals have
developed into a stern reality. They
have built their parks, they have opened
their season, they show no indications
OF closing before Independence day, they
have doubled the salaries OF some play
ers and they are today making bids that
will cause organized folks to dig deep
IL they are to retain the men so essen
tial from an artistic sense
While the National Commission has
slumbered the Feds have struggled.
They have not yet fulfilled their prom
tse Of giving every city on their circuit
explanation is that last season the play
ers were leary but this year they will
accept the fabulous salaries that are
offered and which are secured by large
deposits.
Ban Johnson's statement that he was
glad to rid his league OF players with
II ercenary ideas has brought forth q
storm Of criticism and ridicule. Even
Its sincerity has been questioned
OF all the statements that have come
to our observation, the following from
H g. Salsinger. in the Detroit News,
one OF the closest OF the various phases
of baseball. has strong appeal because
Of its logic:
The wild verbal assault that Ban
Johnson is reported to have made on
ball players is the unbridled and egotis-
teal utterance of man drunk with
power.
johnson says let them jump so We
lnay know who they are and rid the
SPORT of men who are in the game for
purely mercenary reasons
This statement coming from john
son. is not alone ridiculous, but asinine.
johnson becomes irritated because
some of the players wroking in the
American and National Leagues would
like to AN as much money as pos
sible. Hsr is more natural than that
ball players should want all the money
they can get?
The fact that ball players have any
mercenary ideas is repugnant to John
son. The world should really turn
against the poor player. Why cannot
he follow in the footsteps of such
noble, high-prncipled soul as Byron
Bancroft johnson? Why cannot the
ball player sacrifice his life Cor the high
ideals of the sport like Byron Bancroft
Johnson, VINO donates his prtSlouS uayS
to the welfare of the nstional pastlme
for only $4,000 a year?
Why cannot this poor unprincipled
ball player act like his employers VINO
have only the good OF the game al
heart? The owners prove THEIR love
for baseball for sports sake by open
ing the season in freezing weather and
compelling the ''mercenary' players to
risk their health that the magnates may
gather in the few additional dollars that
dribble in during the month of April.
''It is terrible to consider that the
ball player should think of himself
and his battle with the world and his
creditors. Why cannot he be like his
employers. who look at the gate re-
cefpts before they ask the result OF
the game, and whose chief interest IN
the clubs playing is the effect that
play will have on the amount of money
turned in at the gate?
johnson says the ball player Is serv-
ing notice on the public that he Is a
mere hireling and will do anything for
money when he says that he is in the
game merely for what he can get out
OF it
THE public may some day believe
that baseball Is shady. but 1t will not
be the player who will bring 'faI con-
viction about. He, mercenary soul,
money-grabbing fiend. has worked for
years keeping baseball above board. He
mas Kept the game TepuldliOl IIltdCl,
despite men like Charles Webb Muir
ply and several others who are in base
ball for the love of the game. IL IS
the PLAYER who caused the public to
keep it's faith in baseball.
Let us repeat that Johnson's assault
is the asinine utteranCe of one drunk
with power and suffering from ego
tism.'
c,sorrs sisIer. star pitcher Of the Uni
ycrsfty of Michigan. who was highly
touted to the Nationals and later signed
TO plav next season with Pittsburgh, is
out for good. According to a report
here. he has thrown out his arm ana
cannot be relied upon in the future.
Cobb and Crawford are the only
Tigers who are hitting above .1o: out
the team average. on the whole, IS so
cood that next TO the Athletics. De-
Trnit probably has the best punch.
Anent the discussion of the failure
of Walter Johnson to MAINTAIN his