Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-13
FEDS START WAR
]. On Big LEAGUES
Gilmore Orders Clubs to Sign
Players Wanted, Regard
Tess Of Contract
Invaders, With Wit Plenty o.
Money Have Chance Of
Leading Stars

Baltimore, Md, March 1".-War
has been declared on organized base
ball by the Federal league.
President James A. Gilmore, before
leaving Chicago, with Joe Tinker's
Chicago club, now on its way TO the
training grounds, sent a telegram to
the president of each club in his cir
cult which read, in part as follows,
"Killifer failed to report for train
ing, consequently our policy Of fair
dealings Is Withdrawn. Sign any ball
player YOU need, whether under con.
tract OF not, and let it be the surviv.
al of the fittest." - :
Tho Feds also will carry the fight
into the courts. President Gilmore
announced, according to a Chicago
dispatch, that Attorney Gates, gener-
al counsel for the league, will insti-
tute proceedings in, the federal courts
at indianapolis at once against Kill.
fer. The catcher will be sued for
breach of contract, and an injunction
will be asked restraining him from
playing With the Philadelphia Ma
tiOnals. Killifer is now training with
The Phillies at Wilmington. N. c., and
has announced his intention of play
ing with that club this season.
Previous to today the Feds have
worked with the idea of not tamper-
'ng with any player who had signed
m organized ball contract for 1914,
but O there will be a scramble for
the very best talent in the country
and money will do all the talking.
&' Lobert May Jump.
The Federals, with the bank rolls
If the Ward brothers, Charles WEIGH
nan. William NJ. Walker, Otto Stife
and Edward Gwinner, may now go
,fter any star in the country, and
many of them will listen to tAcir in
1ucements the independents are able
o offer. This is shown by the atti-
tude OF Hans LobeNt, n Of the
very best players in organized ball.
He was in New York Friday and Sat
,rday with Manager Otto Knabe and
Mike Doolan. Both of these Terra
pins are warm friends Of his and
ate reports from Philadelphia intt-
nate that Lobert stands willing to
disregard his contract with the
Philadelphia team and jump to Bal
.,imore. a} f.
There is no doubt that Lobert
would rather play Here than in Phil.
adelphia. for he realizes the Quaker
team. has been shot to pieces by the
Terrapins' manager. ihen, too. Lo-
,ert formerly played under Ned Han
ON and has a high opinion OF the
3altimorean's ability.
But Lobert is not the only star in
he organized ranks who is willing
to quit the American and National
f proper inducements are offered, for
W this time all the players know
something about the men who are be
hind the invaders and e that they
have just as much chance Of collect
ing their salaries from Federal lea
sue clubs as from those operating
lnder the national agreement.
Speaker Regrets Haste.
iris Speaker, Sam Crawford and a
Few of the other players who re-
turned Friday from their tour OF the
world did not know the financial
strength of the Feds when they got
IF the Lusitania, but they have learn
I'd since. While Speaker locked at a
great pile of Federal money and turn
ID it down to sign with the Boston
Red Sox. the club which claimed
him by the reserve clause. it is said
he regretted his hasty action later.
Crawford never gave the Feds a
umbele. Not stopping to give their
coin even the cnce over, he hurriedly
signed with Detroit. 1t is reported that