Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-20
MAY Be BIG LEAGUE
International Is Pressing for
Major Standing.
MIGHT SOLVE PROBLEM
Organized Base Ball Can Thus De-
feat Federals, Is General
Opinion.

NEW YORK, June 20.-Major classi-
f1cation for the International League ap-
pears the price of harmony in organized
base ball. President Jack Dunn OF
Baltimore has issued an ultimatum to
the powers. He threatens to dispose
Of his franchise and players. or to
transfer the Orioles to Richmond. Va,
unless the Barrow organization is
freed from the fealty of draft by the
National and American leagues. The
question Of exempting the international
from draft and thereby elevating it to
equal rank with the two present major
bodies is being considered at a special
meeting of the national commission at
the Waldorf-Astoria today
This latest scheme resolves back, OF
course, to a plan of war against the
independents. If the triumvirate will
consent to exalt the International. Presi-
dent Barrow no doubt will make sew
is understood that the Jersey City
club will be transferred to Brooklyn
and the Montreal club will be placed in
either Pittsburgh or Washington
preferably the first-named city. The
idea, of course, is to furnish the out
laws with killing competition in each
of the recognized major league towns
Of the circuit.
Dunn, of course, is not standing alone in
his fight for a betterment of existing con.
ditions. Judge Stein of Buffalo and Tom
F'ogarty Of Jersey City are on hand to
lend moral support. The move is no f1y
by night idea. 1t has been carefully
thought out and duly deliberated not only
by the magnates of the International
League. but by the club owners of the
major leagues as well. 1t was put square
ly up to the National League meeting
yesterday by Gov. Tener. who is said to
be in favor OF such a step.
National League opposition could no,
kill the strategy, as the national COM
mission, which is a law unto itself, has
absolute power to act And 1t is known
that Ban johnson, the American League
president. is an ardent advocate of main
tanning harmony even at the expense OF
another league of equal rank to his own
Base ball men who have been through
several thrilling fights declare that the
International League will be exalted be-
tore shutdown.
OF course. the international League
would not Immediately step out in its
new colors it exempted from the draft
Dunn and his colleagues, who feel this
burden unjust in the light of present
difficulties. would be quite pleased to con-
tfnue to the END OF the season as a big
minor league. They would be willing to
travel the rest Of the way on minor
league scale of prices if assured thai
their star players would not be lost to
them next year. They argue that major
distinction. the claims Of which alone
have attracted attention to the independ-
ents. would attract paying patronage
even with Decent gate.
Stands Ready to Quit.
Jack Dunn's talk was at first regarded
more or less in the nature OF a blum,
However. he soon convinced the lobby
lists that he was in dead earnest,
II have lost 10000 already" said
Dunn. land do not propose to throw
away what little money I have left. NV
players have assured me they will 90 to
Richmond If the club is transferred, I can
get $4,000 for 40 per cent Of the Balti-
more stock. Now wouldn't be a fool to
stick where I am just to be a game fell
low?
There Is no better team in base ball
| than the Orioles, but the fans of Balti-
more have gone daft on the subject of
major league ball. won thirteen games
In a row and then played to a crowd of
$50. l do not care one rap what the ma
tional commission does. I'm not going
to buck any further against such condi-
tons. II my club is not made a major
I'll simply have to move"
From very reliable source it was
learned yesterday that the national com
mission has raised the black flag against
the Lederal League. AS late as a week
ago, according to this story, two of the
most important hackers Of the indepen-
dents tried to make terms with organized
base ball. The solons of the established
game are set against compromise in any
form. They argue that compromise would
only invite future trouble: that adven,
j turers would promote new outlaw leagues
from time to time 1t Is believed that II
the Gilmore promotion IL driven to the
wall through general bankruptcy the
peace Of the game will have been estab-
u'h'd for twenty '''t' 70 game