Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-13
NATIONALS FATE
NOW IN BALANCE
Charles Webb Murphy's Dras-
tic Action May Break Up Old
Major League.
WOULD FORM NEW LEAGUE
Cub Boss Has Ousted Chance, Tinker,
Brown, Killing and EVers-Fed-
erals May Benefit.

! Whether or not Charles w. Murphy
and others-remain in organized
baseball depends on the attitude of the
| New York National league club to-
ward plan that has been formulated
to eliminate several factors which the
/ forces OF organized baseball consider
inimical TO the good of the game" and
/ to terminate the present warfare with
/ out the shedding of 4 drop of blood
The ultimate plan does not contem-
plase forcing Murphy, or anybody else,
out of the National league, as has been
enormously reported. That would be.
as he says. a difficult thing to do. and
might tanGle up the old leagues affairs
I indefinitely in the courts.
The scheme is simply TO give Murphy
chance to dispose of the Cubs at a
fair price and. if he refuses. to spring
an amalgamation OF FIVE OF the present
National league club owners with three
of the embryonic Federal league clubs,
| leaving the Chicago, st. Louis and
Brooklyn clubs in the National league
with the privilege of taking five other
clubs into partnership before the open
ing of the next championship season,
to form an independent circuit.
Local Syndicate Makes Offer.
The first step was taken yesterday
when the wires carried to President
Murphy in New York a cash offer for
the Chicago ball club from a syndicate
OF wei known Chicago sportsmen rep
resented by Commodore James A.
Pugh OF the Columbia Yacht club,
Charles \. Mccullough. general mana
ger of the Parmelee Transfer COM
pany. and William Hale Thompson.
The actual figures required to repre-
sent the bid of this syndicate for the
ownership of the west side club, and
whether it was intended TO purchase
merely the stock controlled by c. w.
Murphy CT the entire issue of stock.
could not be ascertained.
The attitude of the Cub boss toward
the opportunity thus given him 10 re-
tire from baseball will be belligerent
refusal to accept it, Judging by inter
views purporting to emanate from him
in New York yesterday The attitude
is subject TO change without notice,
just like a railroad time table, as soon
as Murphy gains an inkling of the plan
that has been framed up against him.
May Wipe Out National.
II the Cub magnate proves willing to
sell and TO withdraw himself from the
game, an effort will be made to 90
along with the present National league. I
If Murphy declines absolutely to quit 1
under fire. the plan which contemplates !
the practical wiping out of the old Ma .
tional league. which has existed in .
spite of itself for nearly 40 years. will i
be put in force.
In that case the fate OF the league I.
and several of its present club owners
will depend on the stand taken by the /
New York club owners-and the con-
trolling interest in the stock of that
club is owned by a woman.
The scheme is a simple one. even if
drastic Five clubs in the National
Pittsburgh, Phila-
ielphia. New York and Boston-are TO
resign their membership in the veteran
league and combine with the Chicago,
ST. Louis and Baltimore clubs of the
league to form a new organ
zation. which may be known as the
or the United States, or
any other name that meets approval.
The eight American league cities are
% remain a unit as now.
Formation Of New League.
The dissolution of the present ma
ional agreement, under which all clubs
n organized baseball have been OPP
rated. will be the next step to be fol-
owed Immediately by the formation of
new national agreement with what
S left OF the National league-Chicago.
Il. Louis and Brooklyn-outside the
,reastworks.
The plan would remove from organ
zed baseball two of its chief trouble
makers. the owners OF the Chicago and
Brooklyn National league clubs. and
source of some worry in st. Louis. II
would take care OF the promoters OF
he three Federal league clubs which
ave shown the greatest amount OF
,epper and enterprise up to date-the
chicago. ST. Louis and Baltimore clubs
4 the independents organization.
The promoters OF the remaining Ave
league clubs in Kansas City,
Pittsburgh. Toronto and
Suffalo could be reimbursed in cash
y the new coalition for all the coin
expended by them UP TO date. The
otal cost OF such decentralization of
he discarded Federal clubs would be
less than what would be
onsidered fair price for the Chicago
sague ball club.