The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-11
C. w. Murphy of Chicago Ma
tf0nals DepOses Manager.
Report of the Event DemOral-
ICES Baseball Meeting.
HANK O'DAY TAKES HIS PLACE
National Commission to Con.
slider Murphy's Action.
Federals Make Overtures-
Won't Play With Chicago.

WON'T RAY WlC4 C0lC8SOs
New York, Feb. 1.-THE disposal Of
Johnny Evers as manager of the Chi
cago Nationals by c. w. Murphy own
er of the club, for the moment has side
tracked the important consideration
that has brought SO many baseball men
to the city. the menace of the Federal
League. The national commission men,
bers-Ban johnson, August Hermann
and John X. Tener-were apparently
SO much perturbed at the news coming
as it does, at so critical time in base
ball affairs. that they met and infor-
mally discussed the matter late last
night. No public statement was made
after the meeting but it is known
Evers will go before the commission in
the next day or two with his con-
tracts.
Governor Tener. president of the Ma
tiOnal League, said he would study the
contracts held by Evers and that the
player-manager would get justice.
President Murphy of the Chicago club.
said that he had nothing to add to his
statement given out in Chicago con-
corning his deposal Of Evers and sign
ing of Hank O'Day. one time manager
of the Cincinnati club, to take Evers'
place. The mission Of President Gill
more and his associates of the Federal
League today remained as much OF a
mystery as when they left Chicago on
Monday President Gilmore says it is
a pleasure trip. The Federal Leaguers
are keeping to themselves and mean
while the ruling officers of the major
league are planning a campaign to
prevent invasion of their territory by
the new organization.
Aemrican League Schedule.
The American League officers met to-
day to adopt playing schedule for
dot xr,;11 1,1v
coincide very nearly with those an
nounced yesterday by the National
League. which call for initial contests
on April IA, with the closing of the
season on October Z.
Dismissal a Great Surprise.
Chicago, Feb. 1.-THE discharge
of Johnny Evers yesterday as manager
of the Chicago National League team
and the appointment of Henry O'Day
to succeed him, while almost as great
a surprise as the dismissal of Frank
Chance in 1912. had been planned for
some time. This became known today
when baseball writer's recalled an in
terview with President C. Murphy last
week in which Evers was criticised.
The interview was not published,
although Murphy still had grievance
against Evers because he thought him
personally responsible for the loss of
the city series last fall, none suspected
NAOk|OSONs A~~~'~
Friday Murphy asserted Evers bad
judgment had enabled the White Sox
to defeat the Cubs in the series of
1913.
1t is known by those who were in
touch with Cub affairs last season
that Murphy had several controver-
sizes with his manager and it was be-
lieved that only the success of the
Cubs for the last six weeks or two
months of the season prevented the
discharge of Evers at the end or even
before the close of the season. Long
before the season was over. Evers
confided to some of his friends that he
was manager in name only because
he dared make no move OF any con-
sequence without the sanction of Muir
ply.
During the fall Evers lived in Chi
cago and gave most of his time to the
Cubs Then the Federal League be-
came active in December and was sue
cessful in signing Vaughn, Leach.
Phelan, Pierce and perhaps two or
three others. While he was on Trips;
O'Day the new manager was employed
by Murphy to go to Chattanooga to
sign Johnny Johnstone, the young
outfielder. Two of his former team
mates who now manage Federal
League teams. Joe Tinker. OF chicago.
and Mordecai Brown of st. Louis will
bid for Evers if he becomes free
agent.
Brown already has made him an
offer. Evers has expressed desire
to play again with Frank Chance his
old manager. but the latter Is bound
situation. like this. Tinker last night
received message from Charles
Weeghman, owner of the Chicago
Federals. who is in New York with
President ]. A. Gilmore to hold him.
self in readiness to start east today.
c,r. that EVQTA' con.
tract has been violated these three
will be on the ground to negotiate
with the deposed manager.
Evers in Interview.
New York. Feb. Ill will never
play for Murphy again under any con-
ditions," John ]. Evers, deposed man
ager OF the Chicago National League
team. declared when the news that he
had been dropped as manager to be
succeeded by Henry O'Day. became
known at the uptown hotel where the
National Leagues scheduled meeting
was in progress.
Il have been approached by the Fed
erals and have held conferences with
some of them, but I would rather be
with the old boys" he added.
This was accepted by everyone as a
reference to Frank Chance and lmme-
diately there were rumors OF Evers
coming over to the New York Ameri-
cans. who are much in need of a second
baseman. Rollie Zeider. groomed by
Chance for that position, having de-
serted to the Federals.
The Chicago clubs announcement OF
its change of management came as a
startling close to a day devoted chiefly
to speculation as to what the National
League club owners would do In ref
erence to the invasion of organized
baseball by the Federals and threw all
the other developments of the meeting
into the shadow.
Before any announcement regarding
the change reached the leagues
temporary headquarters from Cnl-
cago, the big crowd of expectant
followers of the game. who thronged
tho oorrjdorc IF the hotel was thrown