Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18
BAN NOT WORRIED
American League Chief Re-
fuses to Take Federal
League Seriously.
FEDS ARE NOT REAL RIVALS
New League Will Not Have Classy
Material Because Players
Are Too Wise.
Special pispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
! ST. LOUIS. January 11.-Byron Ban
I. croft Johnson, big chief of the American
| League. is here. This was the big item
exploded in base ball circles Thursday.
There's scare every day and the ar
rival of Johnson Ia the latest big ex-
element
Mr.. Johnson refused to attack the In
vasion of the Federal League. He re-
fused to divulge any plans being mapped
out by his associates to bury the Feds
| In ashes of ruin and in general the boss
of the American League evaded any
questions concerning the new organlza-
ton.
II gave out one Interview concerning
the Federal League" he said. That was
that / thought the duel would be flgnt
at the gate. with the best base ball VIM
ming out l still hold that opinion"
viii you call upon he " IT fund to
save the American Lacquer" was query
put TO johnson. will the American
League attempt to get back any players
who have jumped to the tederais? vas
another. But MIR. Johnson on.y smiled
Inc American League will arrange It's
schedule pretty soon and We will play
our games responded MIR. Johnson.
AND you can say that We have no war
fund. That is a silly report l. read
about the American League having a war
fund. We don heed any.
There Is q fund in the American
League, but 1t never was started with
an idea to win any base ball war. II ls
TO aid any clubs which may unfortunate
~ become financially embarrassed.
When the stands at Washington
burned several years ago just prior to
the open.ne oi the season the CUB had
to secure $2JUOOO hurrled!y to erect new
stands Nov where could the magnates
rush forth and secure S25v,UUv in few
moments?
There was the American League fund
to aid the Washington owners. Don t
call II war fund. 1t Is Tor the q, D.
lection of the league In such circum-
stances as befen the Washington club"
Feds No Real Rivals.
We'll, Mr. johnson, don't you think
the FederaIs will be real rival for or
ganized base ball?" was put to the A. L.
chef.
Not bit"' quickly answered B. B.
]. III the Federal League hopes to be
a major league 1t will have to secure a
better lot of players than those that
have been announced as being signed
Further. the bail player Of Today Is
certainty for certainty. When player
signs in our league he knows that he
Viii receive every penny. He knows, too
that he can be raised If his playing
calls for an increase.
Just look over the salaries of today in
our league. and what they were ten
years ago. Who wins? The player
Il don't know how many players have
been signed by the American League
nagnates but | have not received a sin
1Ixav linz tor h.,1f of
our owners. l believe Mr. Hedges has
signed several of his players who wei e
claimed as nav ng jumped to the Federal
League. This is a good indication of the
reported jumping OF our players.
Mr.. Johnson continued that his visit
here was nothing of business Importance
but instead merely WAS a SOCIAL visit
to c. c. Sphinx. owner of the Sporting
News, a personal friend. and to Magnale
Hedges. His stay was to be a brief one.