The Detroit times., 1914-12-23
Navin Says Rupert Won't
Meet Price Asked--Huston
is Willing
DONOVAN HAS SHOW,
BUT NOT FAVORlTE
Minor League Unknown May
Be Manager-Prospective
Buyers Popular
BY HAROLD '. WILCOX.

Col. Jacob Rupert and Capt. Hus
ton have not yet bought the Yankees,
and American league magnates would
not be greatly surprised If Frank Far
rell continued TO be president OF the
New York American league club
i throughout the season OF 1915. wild
1 Bill" Donovan has not been definitely
/ decided upon as manager of the Van.
/ KEGS, even IL Rupert and Huston do
I buy the club. Hughey Jennings will
remain with Detroit.
A minor league manager, other than
| Donovan, Il being sought by the pros.
3 pective owners OF the Yanks. but he is
so tied up that there is little chance
OF securing him His name will not
be made public until more can be
learned OF the chances to land him.
Jack Dunn, of Rochester, Is also be.
ing considered, but Donovan seems 10
have the call over Dunn.
Farrell and his interests are hold.
ing out for even 100000 for the New
York club, and Capt. Huston, who has
not the money that Rupert possesses,
81 willing 10 close the deal at that fig.
ure. Rupert, however, Is not willing
20 pay that much, although the two
( parties In the deal did make some con.
cessions az Chicago this week. II is
probable that the deal will hang FIRE
ot least week longer.
Ban Johnson is very anxious TO sell
to Rupert, while Farrell is anxious
TO stick In baseball IL he cannot get
his price. The meeting OF the Amer
lean league magnates at Chicago was
as much for the purpose OF becoming
acquainted with Messrs. Rupert and
Huston as for anything else. Both
the prospective purchasers are splen.
Old fellows and will be popular In New
York. Rupert Is very wealthy and
- anxious TO get into baseball. al.
though the same cannot be said OF
some OF the other persons holding
stock In the Yankees. High and
Pipp. of the Tigers, have been men
toned as players who may go TO helm
strengthen the American league In
New York, although the 'Goodfellow"
movement In the league for the sake
OF the circuit in Manhattan Is as vet
merely suggested.
The whole deal for the Yankees is
one or the most complicated, bewflder.
Ing things In the history of baseball
Managers. players and all sorts of
things are being selected and done for
the club which at present really be-
longs TO nobody. so far as plans for
the season are concerned. Detroit ala
not figure In any prospective PLAYER
purchases or trades at Chicago this
eek. and no change in the personnel
Of the Tigers. except the cutting down
OF the squad when the season begins.
are contemplated.
These are the principal points
broughtout today in an interview with
Frank J. Nayin, president of the De
troit baseball club, who has inst 70.
turned from a conference of American
magnates at Chicago. The interview
would Indicate that much was taken
Tor granted in the reports OF the sea.
sion which werc sent out from the an
5propriately dubbed Windy CITY" Mon.
DAY and yesterday.
In these days or Mysteries and
sQuawky squabbling over the title TO
Dali players particularly the rights 20
possess and hold I'm princely bondage
one Walter Johnson high-brow
opinion OF the merits OF the claims OF
organized ball and the outlaws TO the
possession OF the great twirler is In
teresting. A neutral lawyer OF more
than ordinary standing In the legal
profession has this 10 say OF the con-
tentions Of Uncle Ben Minor, OF Wash
1ngton, and Battling Jim Gilmore, OF
Chicago:
The federal claim, OF course,
sets forth that Johnson has sign
ed . contract with them, a con-
tract decided legal and binding
by their attorneys. They main
tain that the option clause In the
American league contract, pre-
viously signed by Johnson, Is ille-
gal. on advice OF the same attor-
neys. II Is impossible. therefore,
to get around this selfevident po-
sition OF the Federal league: That
the word or signature of q ball
player is worthless when signed
TO any contract wherein their at
torneys can find a technical loop
hole. but II sacred when signed to
any contract drawn up by these
same counselors. Even IL the OPP
ton clause first signed by John =
SON should be found invalid his
desire to live up TO the terms OF
any contract first signed by him,
In good faith, must take prece.
dence over any subsequent agree
ment. In other words: While you
may not compel a man 10 observe
the terms OF the option clause,
you can not compel him to violate