The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-27
MINORS WILL MEET
TO MAKE WAR PLAN
National Association COnclave
I'm Omaha Next Month Looms
Up Unusually Important.
GILMORE GOES LAUGHING

meetings OF a decade will be held in
Omaha the middle Of next month. This is
the occasion Of the annual conference OF
the National Association. the governing
head OF the various minor leagues. All
OF the lesser circuits Of organized baseball
have representation on this board, which /
makes the yearly gatherings important /
But matters Of unusual moment have
cropped ont for this particular session.
The minor leagues have been hit I'M /
usually hard since the advent Of the Fed /
erai League They suffered more from
the actiyitius Of the independents than 7
did the majors Comb with the in /
vasion Of q rival enterprise was a bust +
ness depression. the direct result OF the
Mexican war scare and the European i'm 7
hroglio The minor lcaEues are not 40
well fortified for fight as are the mai ors. /
They have not the money to begin with /
and many OF their common channels for |
gain were shut Off ny Federal cncrOach-s
ments The little fellows always have
depended largely on the sale ~ players to |
help them out Last year there were few
sales The majors would buy nothing but /
guarantees. The draft--held in secret
wea very light
Now the minor leagues have just about
como to the conclusion that there is little
business method IN conducting operations
salaries have continued TO Increase In
spite OF the added burdens of mainte-
nance. In some instances the big fellows
already have extended n helping hand TO
their more humble brethren. but from
the two major leagues the great rank
and file of minors realize that not suffi-
cient succor can he expected. The Ma
tional and American leagues have quite
enough TO do to guard their own defences
Serious indeed is the proposition which
coufrouts the minor leagues. So desperate
IL the case that IL has been suggested
20 go 40 far even as to suspend opera
lions In 1915 or until tho close OF the
European war. Such a drastic move will
lie suggested officially to the Omaha gath
ering. 1t is not likely that the class IA
leagues. IN territorial opposition TO the
Federal will quit under fire That would
be playing into the independents hands.
Inc most seri01 menace 10 the Fed
eral League lies In its effect upon the
small leagues Of organized baseball These
form the groundwork upon which such a
successful structure had been erected he
fore the outlaws laid siege. And in the
oppression Of these little ones comes the
real menace of the sport. So hard pressed
are many OF these little magnates that
they would he glad TO suspend business
operations for the time II IL said There
would be hesitancv over this action
but for the possible effect u might have
upon the playing end OF the game
The obscure minor leagues are the
ldndergartens of the major stars. The
diamond athletes work up through the
various grades 10 the big class and are
pretty well schoolcd as n rule when they
arrive at the top Destroy the primary
classes and after the present talent shall
have passed its usefulness there would
be no more major ball, for there would
I've no major players
1t is not sent.men alone which keep,
the minor leagues spurred 80 resent
nen' against the Es1"rll enterprise some
of the little fellows, IL IL said. were
willing 10 break away from tho greater
organization hut me Federal League
wishes no aidit .onal burdens It has
quite trouble enough on its own hands and
Ia content TO pirate what material 1t
needs without obligations
james \. Gilmore. president Of the
Federal League. admitted as much while
mere last wees
I'VE have hit organized baseball the
most telling blow through the minor
leagues he said I'VE could get all the
,nnOr leagues We wished to trail with NJ
but We do not want them. They serve
our purpose better ~ they are. ! do not
believe the minor leagues will suspend
operations. but " tAcy - 50. mucn the
better for US. 1t would affect the majors
moro than us because OF their affiliations.
THE Federal League" fillmore con-
tinucd, Seeks nothing unrcasonlo'r II
does not court unnecessary war. But It
believes there is plenty of room for three
major leagues that could work in har-
mony, without conflicting dates, and pro-
vide continuous baseball TO a number of
major league cities represented II w by
only one big league club.
That Is the Federal Leagues sole
aim, and i intends TO win its point no
matter what the. cost or consequences.
The National and American leagues are
not inclined TO talk peace just now.
Well. maybe they viii be In different
frame Of mind before auo.hor twelve
month ] think they will change their
ideas before their annual meetings.
War is expensive and foolish, hut in
some cases necessary. Ours IL one 81
these. The American League had to wade
through just such strife 10 force It's point
The Federal League is better prepared for
a fight than was Ban Johnson's circuit at
the time.
point out TO me any such a band Of
sound business men as my associates In
any organized league, In six OF the eight
cities the combined Interests behind the
clubs represent an earning capacity Of
from $1,000 to $500 900 year. Take
the Ward brothers OF Brooklyn. Their
finances need not he discussed William
y. Robertson OF Buffalo is as formula
BILE financially as any man IN organized
baseball Tho same goes for Edward w.
Gwinuer and e Is, C1mstock OF Pitts
burg Philip d. G. Ball OF So Louis
has a business income of over 5000 600,
WHO ''tlo SllItl Gun hHtfI 20 10" VITA
about $4,000 year. Besides he has
great interest IN an eight million dol
lar estate. Tho financial strength Of the
Chicago club never has been quest one I.
might mention other names, but that
establishes the point.
"Name me the men In the National
and American leagues whose business IN
terests outside of baseball are such that
they can afford TO look on the game from
D purely advertising standpoint Most Of
them depend upon. the profits of their
parks for livelihood The majority Of
my supporters can afford to lose AZ much
money next year Ms this, and the same
the year after, without feeling the pinch
That Is why the Federal League will win
IN the end. 1t has the more resources -
Gilmore expects better business the
pecond year. He claims mos, OF his col
leagues because of added experience will
be able to throttle direct running cx.
penses 80 per cent. In spite of the cam,
palgn for high class talent he de.
o,nree. the salary list will he lighter thar
thRt which prevails among major loagu,
yluhs. lie said that, outside of Brooltlyr
last season, every club kept under SIS,
poo, aud that one club did not quite touch
100000, The suavo Jim ntimates fur
ther that proposed territorial changes vii