The Washington times., 1914-06-20
FederaIs Have Again Applied
Torch to Baseball Fuse,
This Time to Fight.
BY SID c. KEENER.

ST LOUIS, June 0.-The Federal
League has applied the torch TO the
fuse of organized baseball once more.
The Junior organization. led by Fight
ing Jim Gilmore has discovered, after
two months play, that II is not of major
league class. The result-another rebel
lion and the war is on in earnest again.
This time it is going to be a real
fight-dolIars VS.. dollars. player VS..
pIayer-and the magnate who bids the
highest will be the winner.
The Feds are going after the ten
day clause-kidnap. pilfer and steal
every available player within the fold
of organized baseball TO bolster their
league in the attempt to apply the toe
hold count on the National and Amer
lean Leagues.
St. Louis is the club affected more
than any other city in the Federal
League. The daily slim crowds, the
joke baseball viewed at Grand and
Laclede avenues reached the ears of
Prexy Gilmore last week. He came to
St. Louis last Saturday, investigated
conditions. and, before departing for
Chicago. informed Stifel. Steininger &
Co. to go get the enemy"
We have the information that during
a secret meeting held here last Satur-
day Prexy Gilmore wasted no words
in calling" the officials of the st.
Louis Federals. 1t is known that too
many fingers have been in the pic;
there have been too many bosses on the
inside and the outside. and that Gil
more discovered the leak. Also that
Gilmore appointed one official the say
so man, and informed the others to
keep their hands off.
The St. Louis magnstes, too. obeyed.
Not only that, but they accepted Gil
more's advice to go out and station
some major league ball players in st.
Louis. to produce a winner immediate
ly. and promised TO get the patronage
from the fans.
Gilmore Is credited with making these
remarks: Brown. ] want you to show
more fight. | Just dare YOU to get put
cH the field. YoI have 10 show more
interest and get the players to show
some real baseball. And ] want you to
get real first bGseran. No more OF
having catcher on first base. How do
Won expect to win gamcS?"
II Is said that the local Officials plead
ed in ? way: asked how to secure this
first baSeElan, and Gilmore showed the
path
The path has been opened during the
information We have received, Joe Ag-
ler. ~ the Buffalo Fcderals. will be a
member OF ire st. louis Federals In
tCw-Very few-dlys.
Th" w.r is on tris me for good. Ac-
cordinS to the tip received. Hal Chase.
star 81 the American League. who is
re3orted to have given Comiskey a ten
day notice. is going to Jump" 10 the
buffalo Feds. and 10" Agler will be
turned over to St. Louis.
Following the news that Arler IS com
ing 20 St Louis We have il that within
a short time a second haseman and
third haEoman viii he kidnapped from
the major league to bolster UP the weak
aggregation out at Grand and Lacledc
.,Vc""eS.
Gilmore. in his meeting with the ST.
Louis magnates. insisted upon cutting
the strings that had preventeS the
Federal Ieaguers from securing GER
tain players III the American League.
According to those on the inside, an
important meeting was held recently
and all the maSnates agreed to come
out with another war fund tn get
the baseball stars and create the need
ed interest in the movement of the
Federal League.
The Fedcrals have been working
quietly for the past three weeks. They
opened this spring with players who
were unkuown-that is. many Of them.
A few real stars were annexed from
the big arena. but the majority consisted
Of players passed up by the hiSh-up
magnates.
The Feds believed they owned major
league class last April. In June they
have discovered that they haven't
major league and that they cannot af-
ford to quit at this stage OF the game.
II is: Dig for some more money and go
out and get the needed players.
And the FedeTals ar" gong TO dig
they're going to raid the two big
leagues from top TO bottom and secure
the necessary stars to get back the
money at the turnstiles.
The St Louis club probably Is the
weakest member In the entire Fed
eraI League circuit Where II opened
to a gathering of almost 5000 fans. the
attendancc at Grand and I.acIede
avenues since the team returned home
has been very minor leaGUsh. 4 500
count has been crowd. and 800 daily
will not make both ends meet. consider
ing the salary list and daily expenses.
On the other hand. the Browns have
heen outdrawinG the Federals. Il has
hccn between I3coO and 400 daily at
n. NTH IN 0nO