Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-12
W HAT EvERS IS
NOBODY KNOWS
Belongs to Cubs, Says Murphy
Is His Own Boss, Guesses
Johnny.
TINKER ALSO ON HIS TRAIL
Federals Are Ready to Pay
Much Cash for Contract
and Fight Hard in
Courts.
TINKER ALSO ON HIS TRAIL


New York, Feb. 1.-THE baseball status
OF Johnny Evers. successor to Frank
Chance as manager of the Chicago Ma
tional League club, is one of the mysteries
of organized baseball tonight. EVers Is
inclined to believe that he is free agent;
Charles w. Murphy of the Cubs declares
that he is the property of the Boston
Nationals and that the National League Is
on record as acting in the capacity of
guardian to the peppery second baseman
This complicated situation developed as
the result of Murphy's action In hiring
Henry O'Day as manager OF the Cubs be-
fore he legally released Evers from the
same position.
At a special meeting of the board of
directors and the National league as
whole that body of magnates de-
cided that Fvers had not resigned, as
contcnded by Murphy, and that his
five year contract as manager and
player was valid and binding. The
league further agreed to take over all
rights and responsibilities under the
contract thus helping Murphy out of
an embarrassing position.
The Boston club Immediately entered
into a contract with Murphy to trade
lnfielder w. J. Sweeney and Pitcher
Hub" Purdue for Evers, but Evers
declared he would not be party to
the contract. He insisted that unless
arrangements acceptable to him were
made he would sign with the Federal
league, which. he stated, had made
him a liberal proposition for three
of ,nro
to be delivered upon the signing of Il
contract
HAS NO BONE TO PICK.
Evers stated cmphatlcally that he had
no grievance against the Boston club or
the National League as a whole, and in
fact told President James L. Gaffney OF
the Bostons that he would rather play
with that team than the Federals. His
refusal to be a party to the deal. he
declared, was because of the fact that If
the trade were effected Murphy, against
whom he is extremely bitter, would Sc
cure two valuable players, thus prontlng
| by the move, something that Evers is
| determined he should not do.
The Boston club expressed its wiling
ness to assume the fun provisions Of
|
total payment Of $1,000 a year with four
years yet to run. AS player he received
5000 from the Chicago club and $1,000
| additional as manager.
To further complicate matters, Joseph
| Tinker, manager of the Chicago Federals
and former team mate of Evers, is speed
| ing to this city at the order of President
| Gilmore of the new league to try and
! induce Evers to sign with the rederals
| Baseball lawyers contend that Evers is
not a free agent and cannot sign any
! further contracts. whereupon the Fed
eral magnates state that they stand will
| ing to pay big money for Evers' signature
to contract and supply much more
cash if needed to fight the case through
all of the courts of the country.
In addition, the officers of the Brook
| lyn club state that Murphy tried to Sc
cure an offer from that club after he
| had agreed to turn Evers over to Bos-
ton with the sanction OF the league as a
whole.
| Evers stated that he had never received
either verbal or written announcement
from Murphy that he was no longer man
ager Of the Cubs, and Murphy admitted at
the meeting that he had overlooked the
necessary formality of giving Evers his
ten-day notice of release before signing
To-Day as his new, or second, manager.
| After the meeting OF the magnatcs had
adjourned, Evers was surrounded by the
Heading club owners, who congratulated
him upon the fact that he had been up
held and guaranteed his salary by the
league and urged him to be reaSona ole
and accept the position under Manager
| Stallings of the Boston club. EVers re-
mained firm and stated just before leav-
ing the hotel that he would not agree to
anything until he had consulted the best
legal authorities. His parting shot was
that the magnates had agreed not to force
him into any deal or position which was
disagreeable to him and that the idea OF
| Murphy benefittng in any way was
enough to make him jump to the Federals
AMERICANS HIDE HAND.
In the midst Of all this hubbub, the
American League held its schedule
meeting a few blocks away and com
pleted its work with the usual dis
patch The 1914 schedule was adopted
and 1t was agreed that while the re-
quest of the class A A clubs for the
elimination of the draft could not he
granted the players purchased this
year from these clubs should be per
mitted to finish the entire season with
their present clubs The Fedora
League was discussed and a definite
plan of action evolved against inroads
on the American League. No eXUlaua-
tion was made regarding ths piar
which will be laid before the national
commission by President Ban johnson
tomorrow.
At this meeting some concerted cam
paign is expected to be evolved, as wei
as other matters, including the signnl
Of the final agreement with the Base
bah Players fraternity. The fraternity
5 will be represented by President DaviC
= /. Fultz, who took occasion to-day tt
! deny that either the fraternity or he, a,
' Its representative, was taking sides OF
r lending influence to either organized
baseball or the Federal League in tn,
lstruggle now in progress.