The Washington herald., 1914-03-18
FEDERALS HAVE
PLENTY OF Coin
Matty Says Third Big League
Has Displayed Big
Bank Roll.
SALARIES ARE RAISED
Giants Star Cannot See New Or
ganization-Short Several
Ball Parks.
Nv cHRIsTY MATHEwsoN.

So far I have only seen the Fedora
League at long range, but the boys on the
Giants who passed through New Yori
ON their way to Marlin in returning from
the trip around the world arrived in
Marlin with startling tales. Larry
Doyle, in particular. was amazed at tho
amount Of money in evidence among the
Federal Leaguers in their efforts TO In
duce members Of the touring party tc
jump.
They put 5000 right in my hand and
told me they would deposit my salary for
1915 in a bank to my credit IL l would
Jump" declared Larry" 1T was the
softest looking money I ever saw, and
il felt good to the touch. Why, those
fellows around the Imperial Hotel, like
Knabe and Hanlon, had nothing but
dough, and il was all in cash, too"
Did you ever think of Jumping"
asked Doyle.
Not me-" replied Larry" 'I have
been with McGraw for seven years, and
he has taught me about all i know
about baseball. I would look good leav-
ing him now, especially since it looks as
If We ought to have the pennant in the
National League won by the Fourth OF
July this year and another big cut in on
the worlds series money coming TO us.
offered to put your 1915 salary in the
bank after they found you were signed
up for this year?' inquired from Doyle.
II said. You fellows would be taking
an awful chance. ! may fade away this
season and not hit .1Ol. Then where
would your money be-?
"'I'll take n chance laughed Knabe,
who made me the offer. and showed the
5000 in my hand again. Just sign up,
nd riS
Take that money away from me- l
told those guys. Dent be sticking it In
my hand all the time. 1t makes me
nervous
Money Looks Good.
j can see now why some of the big
lcaguers jumped. And it does not look
as if the Federals would have taken
much of a chance on Larry" fading.
McGraw tells me that he batted like a
iicnd on the trip around the world and
that he looks for a great season for
Doyle.
The salary which iris Speaker is to
get from the Boston Red SoX TO stick
With that club has come up for a good
cal of discussion.
What is Speaker to get?' 1 asked -one
the boys who was with the great out
lder of the Boston club on The world s
Up and who was in New York when he
signed. 'Ts it true he rs to take down
$1,000 for two years, as was stated in the
papers,
NO" replied this man. and he is an
intimate friend of Speakers. iris told
me that Mr.. Lannin approached him and
asked him how much would satisfy him.
The Feds have offered me good
money replied Speaker.
Would you be satisfied with the same
salary which Ty Cobb is to get?' asked
Mr.. Lannin.
Yes said Speaker. and he signed
l happen to know that Cobb is to get
about $4,000 next season. He held out
for this amount last spring and signed
a contract calling for some less. The
feeling between Cobb and Mr.. Navin. the
president of the Detroit club. was a little
drawn all season. After the worlds Sc
ries last fall Mr.. Navin asked Cobb to
call on him.
You played good ball this year for u.s."
said Mr.. Navin, but you didn't break a
leg or anything How much money would
you be satisfied with next season.
Just what l asked last spring." an
swered Cobb.
He signed shortly after that conversa-
ton. so it is not hard to determine what
Cobb will take down next year for play
ing ball 1t docs not require a mathe-
matician to approximate Speakers salary,
either.
1t is now a question where the Federals
are finally going to carry players salaries.
1t increased Speakers salary 5000 over
hast year; he received 5000 last season.
according to the information / get. But 1t
is wise for the players to insist on long
contracts while the big money is in evil
dence. because there is bound to be a re-
action. retrenchment. and sagginG in sal
aries as soon as the war is over no mat
ter how it ends. If the Federals are ad-
Initted to organized baseball, they will cut
their pay accordingly, and if the league
goes under. organized baseball will return
TO the same old scale. Therefore none
can blame the players for trying to get
1t while the getting is good. In the end.
they will pay the freight, as they do in
every baseball war.
My personal opinion is that the new
league is going to dissolve like the mist
before the classic monday sun as soon as
II is exposed to the sunlight of the OPEN
ing of the regular season. At this writ
ing the league is short several ball parks,
and nobody can play ball in the summer
without a park, and also il is shy on
talent. No team will have more than
four or five players of any reputation
and the hackers of the new league are
signing men at present who were ready
to pass out or who had passed out Of
organized baseball
Means More Money.
However, all the players are for the
Federal League now because they be-
heve it means a continued raise in sal
aries. But in my humble opinion the
salaTie3 will not hold up because the
magnates are not going to fight LONG
when they find they are losing money
by paying such top-notch prices for
players. A compromise is bound TO come
II the Feds don't go under There is
many sore player now who signed up
last year or the year before for three
years. Because they tied themselves to
contracts when they could see no chance
of war, they were not in a position to
take advantage of the soaring salaries of
war times. 1t has surely been a good
year for the men who were held by moth
Ing more substantial than the reserve
clause, because 1t was possible for them
{" demand and get good pay for one, two
or three seasons at least, according to
the length Of the contracts they could
demand. There is no telling what the
ptckings may be next winter. The Fed
eral League may be only a memory by
then.