The Washington times., 1914-10-09
CAPITAL CITY FANS
LEAVE FOR PH|LLY
Though Putting Their Money on
Mackmen, They Are Morally
Backing Braves.
By THOMAS KIRBY.

There was a wholesale exodus of base
ball fanatics from Washington today
on their way TO the battlefield in PhiIa-
dclphia
Comparatively few went over last
night and many turned back sorrowfully
when they read of the dire reports Of
the probability of rain causing a post
ponement of the opening clash in the
universal series. The crowds seemed
equal in numbers to those who have left
here for Shibe Park in past years and
would probably have been augmented
by many more but for the unfavorable
report of the weather chief
One of the peculiar features was the
fact that while the opinion appeared to
be unanimous that the Athletics would
win, the travellers were morally backing
Boston, even though whatever wagers
were made were against the Braves. The
betting here has been much lighter than
in past Octobers, as there was such a
scarcity of Boston money that most of
the Philadelphia coin went uncovered.
Comparatively few Washington people
will go to Fenway Park, the two games
at Philadelphia being the limit of their
enthusiasm. While 1t would be thought
that practically every major league ball
player would view the battles Of the
teams that proved their superiority in
their respective leagues, II is a peculiar
fact that but a small proportion Of the
athletes attend. Clark Griffith is over
there as guest of Jim Gaffney, president
of the Braves. but the other members
of the Washington team are at their
homes, satisfied they have seen enough
baseball for the year.
Note-The Federal League rounded
out its first season at Chicago yester-
day.
This is for the information of those
who swellinsly declared few months
ago that the Feds would not start
They not only started, but they caused
the greatest upheavals in the whole
history of the game. They got stars,
they built modern plants. they crashed
and fractured contracts that lawyers
had told organized baseball men would
stand the acid test in the courts. and
they brought about no end OF trouble,
financial and otherwise, to the men who
already had invested millions in the
game.
What the answer Is to be the next
few months will tell Ban johnson has
boastfully declared there will be no
compromise, but this has decidedly
press agency odor about ii. No one
knows better than johnson what havoc
has been raised through the fact that
the National Commission did not stran-
gle the Feds at their inception and
avert all the trouble that has followed
In their wake instead Of assuming a
seif-satisfied attitude and allowing the
outlaws to get away to flying start
We respectfully predict that befor 9
the ides of April the Feds will be COM
pletely wrecked or else their forces will
be weakened by reception into orga nized
baseball. SO the game may Cnce more be
rehabilitated to its proper position IN.
der the authority of the National Com
mission.
It would appear that through his ac-
ton in refusing to allow the Braves an
opportunity to practice At Shibe Park
yesterday afternoon, in order that thay
might get some idea Of the shadows and
other peculiarities of the grounds, Con-
ME Mack has added another link to the
chain of unpopularity that he has been
winding around him through diScourte-
sizes.
It will be recalled that when the Ath-
letics met Detroit the feeling of bitter
enmity was so intense that II was
feared that the players would meet In
T ersonal encounters, and Hughey Jen-
nings was actually charged with having
proved traitor to the American League
by going out and coaching the Giants
for the big series.
IT would be pretty hard to conceive
a worse spirit between two ball teams
than existed all season between Wash
ington and Philadelphia Following the
now famous forfeited game, Connie
Mack said Griffith was a disgrace to
baseball and should be run out. The
Nationals chief retorted that Mack was
the cheapest skate who had ever been
with the American League.
Now comes George Stallings with prac-
tiCallv the same words in expressing
his dsguest of Mack and incidentally
adds somewhat to il by declaring he
would like to take a punch at the Ath-
letiCs' director
Rube Oldring. of the Athletics. is
being sued by bis wife for non-support.
Walter johnson --'pht bring the same
acton against St # his comrades in
arms when one rejects upon the number
Of TO and 2 to / games which he
lost during his most disastrous season.
Joe Eneel has notified Griffith that he
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