The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-12

NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE base
ball status of Johnny Eyers, successor
10 Frank Chance as manager OF the
Chicago National League club. Is one
OF the mysteries of organized base
ball tonight. Evers is inclined to be
neve that he Is free agent: Charles
w. Murphy. OF the Cubs. declares that
he Is the property of he Boston Ma
tionals and the National League IL on
record as acting in the capacity OF
guardian to the peppery second base
man.
This complicated situation develop
ed as the result OF Murphys action
In hiring Henry O'Day as manager of
the Cubs before he legally released
Evers from the same position.
AT a special meeting of the board
of directors of the National League
as whole that body OF magnates de
cided that Evers had not resigned. as
contended by Murphy and that his
hve year contract as manager and
player vas valid and binding. The
league further agreed to take over all
rights and responsibilities under the
contract, thus helping Murphy out OF
an embarrassing position.
The Boston club Immediately en-.
tered into a contract with Murphy 10
trade infelder W. J. Sweeney and
Pitcher Hub" Perdue. for Evers. but
he later declared that he would not
be party to he contract He insist
ed that unless arrangements, accepta-
bic to him. were made. he would sign
with the Federal League. which he
stated had made him n liberal propo-
sition for three years to play including
cash bonus to oe delivered upon the
signing of a contract.
Evers stated emphatically that he
had no grievance against the Boston
club or the National league as a
whole. and in fact told President
James r. Gaffney OF the Bostons that
he would rather play with that team
than the Federals. His refusal to be
a party to the deal. he declared, was
because OF the fact that IL the trade
were ehected Murphy, against whom
he Is extremely bitter, would secure
two valuable players. thus profiting
bf the move, something that Evers
is determined he should not do.
Boston Wants Evers.
The Boston club expressed its
Willingness to assume the full provi-
call for n total payment of $4,000
year. with four years yet TO run.
As player he received $4,000 from
the Chicago club and $4,000 addi-
tional as manager.
To further complicate matters. Jo-
seph Tinker, manager of the Chicago
Federals and former teammate OF
Evers, is speeding to this. city at the
order OF President Gilmore OF the
new league TO try and induce Evers
10 sign with the Federals. Baseball
lawyers contend that Evers Is not n
Tree agent and cannot sign any fur
Their contracts, whereupon the Fed
eral magnates state that they stand
willing TO pay big money for Evers'
signature TO contract and supply
much more cash IL needed to fight
the case through all the courts OF
the country
In addition. the officers Of the Brook
lyn club state that Murphy tried TO Sc
cure an offer from that club after he
had agreed TO turn Evers over 10 Boston
whole
Evers stated that he had never re-
ment from Murphy that he was no long
or manager Of the Cubs. and Murphy adj
imiiutsdd az the meeting that he had over
ing Evers his ten days notice Of" release
before appointing O'bay as his new man
After the meeting OF the magnates had
adJourned, Evers was surrounded by the
MIN upon the fact that he had been up
held and guaranteed his salary by the
league. and urged him TO he reasonable
and accept the position under Manager
StallinEs or the Boston club.
VIII Take Time.
Evers remained firm and stated fuef
before leaving the hotel that ne would
not agree 20 anything until he had CON
suited the best legal authorities. His
had agreed not 10 force him into apv
deal or position which was disagreed q
20 him and that the idea Of Murphy bene-
tting In any way was enough 20 make
him jump 10 tn Federalg
In the midst OF all this hubbub the
American League held its schedule
meeting y few blocks away and com
uleted its work with usual disuatch
The 1919 schedule was adopted ana b.
was agreed that while the request az
the class A clubs for the elimination
~ the draft could no. pe granted the
PLAYERS purchased this year from those
clubs shall be permitted 70 finish tho
entire season with their present clubs
The Federal LEAGUE was discussed and