South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-10
FEDERAL LEAGUE
THE LIVE TOPIC
IN BALL CENTER
Pres. EbbettS Offers Jersey
City Chance to Play in
Brooklyn But Offer is Turned
Down by SkeeterS.
RN w j Maximum

NEW YORK, Feb. 1O.-Organfzed
base pail as represented by the sturdy
arm of Charles II. Ebbetts. president
OF the Brooklyn Nationals. launched
its first bolt against the Federal
league invasion Monday when he Of
fered Ebbetts' field to the Jersey City
club OF the International league. Pres.
Tom Fogarty of the "Skeeters" re-
fused however, 10 accept the boon.
Whether his reluctance arose from
loyalty 70 his patrons or from differ
enCe OF opinion as TO the correct rem
tai could not be determined. Neither
side was willing to talk, but both par
ties were closeted with Pres. Barrow
of the international league until well
after midnight They intimated some
startling statements awaited the RAor.
row.
Never in the annals OF the national
pastime has such an air OF mystery
perVaded a gathering as that evidenced
in the various headquarters OF the
three leagues involved. Nearly all thu
major league magnates were on hand.
They could be found IN little clusters
talking in whispers.
During the afternoon these club
owners were thrown into a furry OF
excitement upon receipt OF tele-
gram from Ban johnson, president OF
the American league, saying that the
Chicago Federal league forces had set
the same train. Whether he IS bring
ing his foeman captive here or wheth-
er he has promised that some compro-
mise would be reached no one would
hazard guess.
SOmers a Busy Man.
Charles Somers of Cleveland. who
backed Ban Johnson in the attempt to
bribe Pres. Weeghman OF the Chicago
Federals with the Toledo American as
ISOLATION franchise transferred 70 Chi
cago was one Of the most active agents
Of the big car. With the aid OF sew
eral other American league club own
ers he succeeded in rounding up
Charles W. Murphy of the Chicago Ma
tionals. These men were closeted all
afternoon.
81 will not discuss the Federal
league" said Murphy after the con-
ference Il have lumbago and that Is
more annoying to me than any out
This you may say for me, though.
absolutely Will not stand for any third
team In Chicago. No city is big
enough for three leagues"
Most Of the magnates refused 10 dis
cuss the Federal situation. They said
they would wait until the joint confer
ence OF the National and American
leagues before expressing any opinion
on the other hand. Charles SOmers
and two or three National league men
believe the scheme OF launching a
third major league under the auspices
of the National commission might be
the proper solution OF the difficulty.
This will be proposed in the joint con-
ference by one of the most active men
of the National league.
DreyfuS Not Worried.
Barney Dreyfus OF Pittsburgh pooh
pOOhed the Federals. II rented them
their grounds" said he They did
not pay salaries after last July. ''Dea-
con- Phillip cannot collect a nickel.
They played TO &C. 900 persons in So
games last year. Phillip told me az
the end of the season he carried five
men and Il uniforms. He had 70 re-
cruit off the sand lots 20 get a nine In
each foreign town. They had to bor-
row money to get out OF Kansas City
for they were stranded with only
s15."
The International league in its meet
ing Monday adopted without change
the schedule prepared by Pres. Bar
row. This will be made public on
Feb. Il.
a re-convened session Of the annual
meeting OF the National league Will
begin Tuesday in the Waldorf-Astoria.
The leagues board OF directors will
meet prior to the regular meeting.