New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-13
Literary Gem from Ward
on the Baseball War
Owner of Tip Tops Pays
His Respects to john
sons in Sport World.
FIGHTING" BAN AND
NEGRO JACK SIZED UP
Former Has Lost His Punch and
Latter Has Lost His Wind,
Says Breadmaker.

Glanclng at the page of newspaper
IN which Fighting" Ban Johnson and
Jack Johnson were portrayed, Robert
b. Ward, vice-president of the Federal
League, yesterday contributed his first
gem 70 the literary and verbal adorn-
ment OF the baseball war. "As near as
can understand" said Mr.. Ward
slowly, "a Johnson always will be
champion. Between these two there is
the making of perpetual marvel. Jack
has lost his wind, but retains his
punch, and Ban mas completely lost
his punch, but his wind Is great"
Commenting on what he terms a
plain business deal, in which the Wash
ington Baseball Club was deprived of
the services OF the American Leagues
greatest pitcher because the presi-
dent of that club, in his final letter
to Walter Johnson, offered only sl2,500
a season, because that was call the club
could afford to pay" Mr.. Ward said
that the threats made by Ban would
not detract from the drawing and
pitching powers of Walter as a Fed
eral Lacquer.
Mr.. Ward will start tonight for Chi
cago, stopping at Pittsburg TO attend
a meeting of the executive committee
of the Federal League, which will be
held on Wednesday. James A. Gill
more, president of the Independents,
and William E. Robertson, Of Buffalo,
are the other committeeman. and a
decision will be reached on the policy
to be pursued in adding other players
to a list that includes poll" Perritt,
Ed. Konetchy, Ivy Wingo. Mike Berg
hammer. Zip" Hagerman, Bill Fischer,
Lee Msgee, Paddy O'Connor, Chief"
Bender, Eddie Plank and Walter John
son, who have been signed since the
close Of the playing season.
Among the lessons OF one year OF
fighting organized baseball is that
gained by the recent action Of the Ma
tional League in reducing the player
limit to twenty-one," said Mr.. Ward.
After the last meeting Of the Federal
League in Chicago, from some unknown
source there was sent broadcast ref
erence to the Federals' reduction Of
player lists and the eagerness of men
under contract TO the Federal League 70
be restored to organized baseball. That
was part Of the gigantic system which
has permitted monopolized baseball and
organized bluff to deftly turn their own
weaknesses to the opposition.
There will be no reduction or fixed
rule regarding the number OF players
to be carried by Federal League clubs.
Such a policy was never considered by
the Federal League, and it would be
against the general building process If
we countenanced the curtailment Of ex-
penses because Of an of season. such
as the last was admitted to be.
Every man under contract in the
Federal League will be retained on the
payroll to the expiration OF the agree
ment entered into at the time these
men showed faith in the Federal League
by leaving so-called organized baseball.
In the building Of the various teams it
may be necessary to have high salaried
talent in bench and coaching roles, but
we consider that a necessary expense
and one which the baseball public is
entitled to, because of the support
which has made possible the considera-
ton Of the national game as business