Evening star., 1914-01-25

Of these clauses. 1t is. therefore. very
plain that the newcomer Is not in the
field for the purpose OF lifting the play
ers out of the bondage they have been
forced to endure for 10 these many years.
If the contract of organized base ball
does not hold good in court, neither will
that of the Federals meet with legal ap-
proval. for there is really little difference
in them.
1t is absurd for the promoters of the
Federal League to claim that their object
is to improve the condition of the play
standard. 1t is merely a case of lot
of individuals trying to break into a
business which they have been led to
believe is profitable. But base balls sue
cess has been entirely due to the organi-
zation under which it has been operated.
and if the Federal League should sue
ceed in disrupting this organization 1t
would be doing the sport great injury.
Cupid has been busy in the ranks of
the Nationals during the past winter.
Four members of the team have Joined
the ranks of the benedicts since the sea-
son closed. and rumors are to the erect
that several others are to follow. Milan.
Moeller, Ainsmith and Gedeon are those
wha have left the bachelor ranks.
Rules governing the players purchased
by any major league are such that be-
fore the player can be sent back to the
minors he must be given trial by the
big league club purchasing him. For
this reason Allen. the outfielder Grif-
fifth secured from Montreal. will not join
the Los Angeles club, to which he has
been transferred, until he has had a
trial with the locals at Charlottesville.
There are several other palyers on the
Nationals list who will have a similar
experience over a year ago this rule
was established for the purpose of pre-
venting the big league clubs from OBJ
tanning players from one minor league
club to strengthen another. 1t is figured
that this rule will give the young player
a chance to show what he can do in fast
company, of which many have been de-
prived simply because they were slated
to go from one minor league team to an
other.
The more one reads of the figures the
Federal League is handing to the play
ers it is signing the more convincing be-
comes the contention that there is not
much hope for the outlaws to last long,
if, in fact, they ever get their venture
under way. When a player like Rolla
Zeider can demand $1,000 the salaries
are going beyond the limit Zeider is
but an ordinary performer at his best,
and If his salary is that high the real
stars of the game are sure to insist upon
getting more money than even club in
organized base ball could afford to pay.
Il would seem that that the Federal
League is placing burdens on itself
which seem sure to bring about its early
demise.
When the American League started out
IL did not make any effort to put up ex-
pensiye plants in any of its cities. 1t
went along conservatively in this respect
and did not invest its money for the pur-
pose of beautifyig its parks and stands
until peace had been declared and its
future assured. From all that can be
learned the Federal League Is not going
TO take such precautions. 1t is tying it
self up with expensive leases and pro-
poses to rush up lot Of stands which are
going to cost lot Of money.
Even II the new league succeeds in
breaking into the field it is by no means
assured that it will be a success. 1t will
have strong opposition, because with Two
and as many as three teams IN some or
the cities Of its circuit it will be impossi-
HE to avoid conflicting dates. and the at
tendance is sure to suffer.
That the next race in the American
League will be even more interesting
than the one last year when Philadel-
mia. washington and Cleveland were
| fairly well punched near the top al
| most the entire distance, seems to be
the consensus of opinion around the
circuit.
It is figured that the Athletics cannot
hone to be as strong as in the last
campaign. This because it seems to be
believed that Mack's pitchers will not
hold up as well as they did. Then it
is certain that Boston will be added to
the contenders. and both Cleveland and
Washington are expected to be stronger
than they were. 1t Is needless to say.
however, that the Mackmen will again
be the favorites in the struggle. The
team is SO much stronger extensively
than its rivals and being conducted on
i rain af