Evening star., 1914-02-11
BY j. ED GRILLo.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, February 1l.-Organized
base ball. and the National League in
particular, was dealt a singing blow
yesterday when the announcement was
made that Johnny Evers had been de-
posed from the management of the Chi
cago National League Club. 1t was like
pouring oil on the Federal League fire.
sympathy went out to the independent
body the country over, and the feeling
in Chicago. the hotbed of the Federal
League. must have been such as to
throw a scare into the men Identified
with organized base ball, If the effect
the announcement had on those present
at the present gathering can be taken
as a criterion.
1t was at the close of the first session
of the National League that James Gaff-
ney, president Of the Boston club, came
down into the lobby of the Waldorf
Astoria. He sought Johnny Evers. and,
calling him to one side. informed him
that the Chicago Cubs had announced
at the meeting that he had been deposed
Erers was dumfounded. He could
hardly believe what was told him, and
he at once launched tho following state.
mcnt:
If am not longer the manager Of
the Cubs 1 have been discharged. and
l did not resign. On December 27
Murphy called me to his office and
asked me if ! would object to work
Tor more experienced manager.
told him that l would want a couple of
days to think it over. He said that the
directors of the club would meet in a.
few days and that the matter would
come up In q. few days the Federals
got active and Murphy sent for me. He
said that the directors had decided to
retain me, and then made arrangements
for me to &C out on the road and sign
the members of the team. l went out
and signed six players. all of them
for less than Murphy expected to pay.
Murphy regarding my contract
signed two contracts for FIVE years
each. One was as manager of the team
and the other as a player.
Murphy drew them up and my law
yer informed ME that to break one
contract meant to break them both.
will not play for Murphy under any
circumstances now. What Frank
Chance said about him is absolutely
true. l shall take my case up with
President Tener and find out where l
stand"
Evers had a conference with Tener
little later. Tener said that Evers'
case is like that of any other player
d
ply to the national commission.
There is not a member of the National
League willing to express an opinion on
of Evers means feathers in the cap of
the Federals, and a serious blow to Or
SaniZed base ball.
National League club owners were dunn
founded by the developments. Murphy
Is being scored, and 1t would not be at
opments resulted. There is talk of or
ganized base ball opening it's arms to
Weeghman and placing him in Chicago
to oppose Murphy's club. Weeghman and
City, would, it is believed. drive Murphy
to the wall. The National League, while
not making any statement, realizes that
it is Carrying a serious handicap in Muir
ply and figures that 1t must now look to
its own protection.
Hank O'Day. it seems. was signed by
Murphy weeks ago. The dropping of
Evers was evidently not done on the spur
of the moment. 1t was a premeditated
action and would have gone into effect
long ago had it not been for the fact
that Evers was needed to line up his play
ers, so as to thwart the Federal League.
O'Day managed the Cincinnati team year
before last The team was a failure and
last season O'Day returned to his former
profession that of umpire on the National
League staff
When President. Ban Johnson reached
the city last night he went into confer
ence with several of his club owners and
managers. among them Clark Griffith. 1t
is understood that the effect of Evers'
release was discussed, and it is hinted
that the American League is likely to
let the National League know that 1t Is
not satisfied with it's position under exist
ing circumstances.
The appointment by the National
League of what Is known as a war com
mittee composed of Garry Hermann and
President Tener is apt to be turned down
by the American. This committee Is to
consult with the American League and
the National Association of Minor
Leagues to- learn what these two other
parties to the national agreement want
to do with reference to the Federal
League. This committee has no power
to act, but must report back to the
league. 1t is limited that the American
League may refuse to meet this commit-
tee because it lacks the power to do
anything.
Just what the outcome of the present
crisis may be no one seems in position
to say, but it is generally admitted that
organized base ball has never been in a
more precarious position than the pres
ent With the Federal League not only
threatening the ma 1Or leagues. but aDSo-
lutely certain to annihilate the class
minors if 1t survives the first season of
it's career, the future of base ball cannot
be predicted Matters seem in fair
way to be solved during the present con-
ference, but the action of Murphy in re-
leasing Evers, and thus aiding sentiment
in favor of the Federals is serious blow.
t.vers refused to say what his future
plans are. He Is firm in the belief that
the Chicago club will have to pay him
salary for the next four years as Il
PLAYER The Bresnahan case is prece
dent he claims. and he refused to say
whether he would consider any PROPOSE
ton from the Federal League.
Federal League adherents here insist
that the Evers matte: makes the new
league a certainty, for Chicago will be SO
enthusiastic that the promoters will re-
ceive encouragement enough to make
them go the route.
August Hermann, chairman of the ma
tional commission, made rather strong
statement this morning, which would in
dicate that he is for any system that will
mean fight.
1.-THE Federals can't last" said he I'VE
do not need to go to the courts. but just
allow the new league to run its own race.
The contracts which the players signed
last year contained the reserve clause.
Whether this clause holds good In law
matters not SO far as base ball is con-
cerned. The players when signing
agreed to give the club an option on their
b. foil Inns