Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-02-19
Mrrrhys Action starts Trouble

Instead Of being strengthened
against the invasion of the Federal
league, the ranks Of organized base
nall are weaker today than they were
one week ago The break in the near
harmony in the National league caus-
ed by the foolish move on the part
of Charles W. Murphy Of Chicago,
when he signed Umpire Hank O'Day
90 manage the cubs before he had
given Johnny Evers notice of his re-
lease, the action of the league direc-
tors in awarding Eyers to Boston
without giving Murphy anything in re-
turn, and the threats to kick the Chi
cago president out Of baseball, stirred
mp muss that win not do the game
and organized baseball any good. At
this time it simply plays right into
the hands of the Federals, who took
advantage Of the opening by making
the finest kind of a grand stand play
in securing ball grounds in Brooklyn
and launching a club in the most ad-
yantageous spots in the circuit outside
of Chicago.
1t was a wise move on the part Of
the Federal league promoters to visit
New York while the major leagues
were IN session. They gained a whole
lot of publicity by keeping their
movements secret and then hurting
the bomb at the proper time. Not un-
iii the National league trouble had
broken out in fun blast did the Fed
erals announce their purpose in COM
ing to New York during baseball
week. and, after doing this. they, like
the Arabs, packed up their tents and
silently stole away, leaving their en-
envy stunned and weakened.
When organized baseball permitted
the Federals to get into New York
under such advantageous conditions III
pulled n bone that made Fred Mer-
kes best effort look Ike a klndergar-
ten play. This could have been avoid
ed. In fact had organized baseball
taken advantage Of an offer made
some time ago by Ned Hanlon and
John w. Ward, there might not have
been Federal league i'm the east to-
day; certainly it would not have
gained so much headRay. HanlOn and
Ward wanted an International league
franchise for Brooklyn and planned
to play there when the Brooklyn team
was out OF town. Their request was
refused and Hanlon joined hands with
the Federals and helped to place a
team in Baltimore. But he still holds
the Brooklyn idea in his mind and
talked the Federal league promoters
into looking with favor on the propo- /
sition. The magnates Of organized
baseball knew It and planned to trans
fer the jersey city franchise to Brook !
lyn, but the plan was cried down and /
It left an opening for the Federals, /
who grabbed at the chance. II was a
mistake that is liable 10 prove very /
costly. even if the Federal league /
movement is not the success its pro-
moters predict.
Fedcrals Have Battle Ahead.
The Federal league has not won It's
fight. however. II has a terrific bat /
tle ahead and has suffered one re-
verse already This was in its EFFORT I
10 secure enough players from the
major leagues to place teams in the
field strong enough to produce an ar
tlcle of ban that would compare IA 7
yorably with that Of the major
leagues. Their failure in this is going
10 be hard TO overcome. They made I
a grievous mistake in announcing the f
names of the players they would have +
for their clubs, for It gave the club |
owners Of organized baseball good /
chance TO go after the PLAYERS with /
offers of increased salaries, which I
saved many good men from jumping /
TO the Federals. This mistake was dis
covered by Hanlon who put a check +
on the publicity promoters. but IT.
was too late and players who might T
have been obtained were gathered in
by the big leagues. Had the Federals +
gone about their work quietly in ;
stead of showing their hand early I
the magnates of organized baseball
would not have taken them seriously
ana beaten fhar, M their own game.