Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-12


American League magnates boarded the |
steamer Lustana far down the bay
while the Federal leaguers were forced
to wait for several hours at the pier ,
before they could got in communication
with those among the returning players |
whom they desired to sign. Their con-
ISOLATION, if it might be SO termed, was !
the knowledge that they had forced the |
magnates of the two major leagues to |
pay to those who signed salaries which |
surpassed the players highest anticipa- |
tons.
SPEAKER GETS BONUS.
The climax of the days doings in the
realms Of high finance came when Presi- |
dent Joseph j. Lannin of the Boston
American League club announced that
he had secured the signature of Outtield- i
er iris Speaker to a two.year contract
at salary larger than any heretoforeI
paid a player in the ranks. In addi
ton he stated that he had given Speaker
a neat bonus for signing. Whit, he would
not say what the amount of the salary
was. IL was reported in bas .ball circles
tonight that it was to be $4,000 a year,
President Frank ]. Navin of the De-
troit Americans did not have to bid 50
high for Sam Crawford's services, or the
st. Louis Browns go 70 such extremes
for Pitcher Leverenz, but in each case
there was considerable increase in the
figures OF 1914 contracts ever those of
last season.
All these players had listened to the
Federal League offers bef IRE closing with
their former clubs. Dooar and Egan
their pockets, and white they had not
signed, Presidents Baker and Ebbets of
the Philadelphia and Brooklyn cuns, re-
spectively, stated emphatically that they
had the word of the players that they
would act fairly and lay the Federals'
| offers before them for comparison and
open bidding Tomorrow
TENER TO SETTLE EVERS CASE.
The National League as a whole was
not as successful in settling up the
Chica 60 Boston club deal for the serv-
ices of Johnny Evers, or in finding a
new owner of the Chicago club After
| two lengthy sessions the boat of direc-
tors announced that the final settlement
Of the Evers trade had been left to
President John X Tener. The National
| IL
THE question of the details of the
transfer of Evers from the Chicago
to the Boston club has been left en-
tirely in my hands to work out. | do
not expect to reach final decision in
the matter for n week or ten days. AS
the matter stands now Evers, Sweeney
and Purdue are all the property of the
Boston club but an equitable and sat
,,fn ha a
for the adjustment of the final trans
fer Of property rights"
James f. Gaffney, president of the
Boston club, confirmed Mr.. Tener's
statement relative to the present
status of the three players in question
and went even further stating that so
far as the Boston club was concerned
the details of the transfer had been
completed and were most satisfactory
to the officers and stockholders OF the
organization.
TAFT'S PRICE HIGH.
Charles p. Taft, the owner of the ma
iority stock of the Chicago club, was
present at the meeting hut would not
say what had been accomplished toward
the sale of his stock President Tener
, said that no arrangement had been made
for the sale of the club but minated
that Ny Taft was considering several
offers. He said:
MIR. Taft has named a price at which
his controlling stock can be purchased.
, 1t is a large figure and he has stipulated
that the minority stockholders have the
, option of disposing OF their shares at
the same figure at the time of such sale.
n Until sale Is effected Mr. Taft will re-
main in control of the club. That Is all
can say at his time will add, how
ever, that it is the desire OF the league
= as whole. that should the Chicago club
be sold Il be purchased by Chicagoan
= or a Chicago syndicate"
II was persistently rumored during
the day that the Chicago club would
t he purchased by John T. Connery, a
4 wealthy coal operator of Chicago who
came East with the party of Chicago
= fans to welcome the returning White
SoX and Giants Late tonight Mr.
Connery denied emphatically that he
y intended to buy controlling interest
: in the club either for himself or a
n Chicago syndicate. Il do not know
n how the story originated" ne said
{ but there Is absolutely no truth in
!, the report | am baseball ran, but
{ do not intend to step across the line
} and become maSnate."