Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-27
MUCH DEPENDS
ON WHAT FEDS
Do THIS YEAR
Should Coming Season Prove a
Success, Organized Baseball
May Recognize Outlaws,
BY Frank G. Menke.

NEW YORK. Jan. 27.-"B. John
~ son personally told me that II
we went through another year
we would force them TO take us into
organized baseball"
This Is an extract from a letter
that has Just come to the writer from
one OF the men largely interested in
the Federal League, a man high In its
councils and one whose statements
always have been found to be truth
full in every detail.
Ban Johnson, president or the
American League, and the head of
organized baseball. was asked IF he
had made any promise to anyone con
nected with the Federal League that
II would be taken into organized base
ball Here is johnson's reply:
There IS absolutely no truth in The
statement that 7 promised anyone
connected with the Federal League to
take them into organized baseball II
81 survived he 1914 season. Nor is II
true that ] promised anyone to use
my influence. ! am on the other side
of the fence. ! am fighting the Fed
eral League, both in 1914 and in ~
ture years"
THE statements conflict, and both
come from men who have estab-
llshed regulations for truthfulness,
Ban Johnson's word always has been
regarded as good as his bond; the
writer Of the letter has q record for
veracity.
However. whether Ban Johnson
approves the plan or not, II looks
from this distance that organized
baseball will make the wisest move
possible II IL makes the Federal
\ Hsae tns.l1 In
1915 If the 1914 Federal season Is a
success
A baseball war Is disastrous TO
every magnate involved It mean that
they must pay top-notch salaries 10
the players paying many OF them
from 1000 TO $1,000 year more than
they would pay them in times Ct
peace. It means that they must d.
vice the patronage TO great extent,
and II means thousands of dollars IN
expense in carrying on the fight
g HOULD the Federals have a sue
- cessful season in 1914, II ce~-
tainly will mean that their 1915 sea-
son will be greater success BY
this time Il viii be established The
fans viii be patronizing its parks. 1t
will have the confidence of the play
ers And having this confidence IL
will not have a very hard job ntlu
encing organized players to Join It's
ranks, provided larger salaries are Of
fered The succg Of the Federals In
1914 will mean that many men who
have idle money will invest II in Fed
eral League stock with increased
capital. the Federal Leaguers can in
wade territory so far untouched, an
invasion that will mean hard shedding
for the major leagues already estab-
llshed there.
pUT taking the Federal Leaguers
- into organized ball will change
the aspect Of things-and get the or
gani1ed baseball crowd out Of tight
hole. Merging with the organized
baseball people, the Federal crowd
naturally would become part Of that
body and would not do anything ruin
Gus to its own interests.
The Federal League as Il is now
constituted ~ Pittsburg, Baltimore,
Buffalo. Toronto, Indianapolis, kan
sas City. St Louis and Chicago
would NJ pretty well into the organ
lied baseball's idea of places whore
third league should be located. II its
location was absolutely necessary In
only three cities does II conflict with
American or National League clubs,
and IN these cities II is felt there Is
room for another major league team.