New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-02
FEDS BLUFFTNG,
SAYS SUPPORTER
OF OLD LEAGUES
Predicts They Will Never
Build Stadium on the
LenOx AV. Site.
GILMORE MEANTIME
GOES STRAIGHT AHEAD
John McGraW Back in Town
After Sojourn at the
Bowie Track.

The Federal League is bluffng 1t
will never go through with its plans
20 build a stadium on its famous. II
somewhat mythical. million dollar tract
on Lenox Avenue" This was the state
ment Of a man who is closely identified
with organized baseball in this city
yesterday afternoon. And this same
man embarked upon lengthy discourse
TO prove just why the Federal League
could not build, and how it would fail
if it did.
1t may be just as the critic says bat
somehow or other James A. Gilmore.
the president of the Federal League, IS
going about his work in most pains
taking manner. 1t was learned yester-
day that the new club had asked for
permission 10 close l43d and l44th
Streets east from Lenox Avenue to the
Harlem River, and that the request had
been brought before Borough President
Marks. MIR, Marks took no action IN
the matter, and it is probable that
week, or perhaps two, will elapse before
he makes a decision. IN the meanwhile
the Feds can only mark time and wait
From all indications there is little
doubt that the plan will be carried
through in every detail. Mr.. Gilmore
was emphatic in his statements that
the New York Club would be playing
on its field when the schedule calls
FOR il to play there, and he insists
moreover that there will be no shifting
of dates.
Jesse T. Meeker. the real estate
broker who arranged the deal. was
mute as the Sphinx YESTERDAY wnen
seen. He dscredited the printed state
ment attributed to him, and came out
with a fiat denial that Re had given
an interview to any newspaper men.
Certain it is that he could not be
coaxed into utter. a syllable yester-
day. go TO Gilmore" he said. Gill
more was mild and meek in his treat
ment of the boys. but the real estate
broker was meeker.
AR. Gilmore gave his opinion of the
suit instituted by Chief Bender. lie
repeated the statement published in
This column yesterday morning, and
said that if the Federal League owed
Bender anything, it would meet the OBJ
legation. I'VE carried a lot OF men
last wear who were of little value 20
Us. Sdl0 OllUlOIts SAmPAN DNNoNSS 49,
we're under contract. These men Kept
in condition. Had Bender obeyed he
training rules Of the club and toed the
mark ne would not have been cast
adrift."
John ]. McGraw. manager of the New
"ork Giants. returned TO this city yes
terday. McGraw has been at the race
meeting at Bowie, where he had a
profitable season. His first port of call
was the Offices Of the Giants. McGraw
you'd make a cracking good reporter;
Ills first question when he greeted
John b. Foster, the secretary OF the
club. was: as there any news. John :"
Upon receiving a negative reply he
said: Haven't any Of the boys jumped
to the Feds?" There was a tone Of
anxiety in his voice. Again Foster
said "No." McGraw sighed, well.
what do you think of that?" His tone
was one of disappointment. but then he
braced back his shoulders and pre-
pared TO make the best Of it.
The little Napoleon said that he had
given little thought to baseball mat
ters, but was about ready 70 buckle
down to the work of getting his team
names, but intimated that several
changes would be made in the per-
sonnet of the Giants, and said that the
task of building up winning team
would begin at once.
Jim Thorpe Is still a major Lacquer
on the gridiron. He won the profess
sional football championship Of Ohio
for the Canton Athletic Club against
the Massillon Athletic Club by kicking
two goals from the field. One was q
dropkick from the 35-yard line, and
the other a goal from placement from
the 3O-yard line. Jim ran the ball with
his customary speed and skill, and was
The same old bear cat on the defence
Now, IL Jim could only hit slow curve
Hughie Jennings, manager Of the De-
troit Tigers, also is in town. tie Is
his usual smiling self, fun or ginger
and willing TO admit that so long as
Ty Cobb keeps getting on the lines
Sam Crawford will be the man 20 drive
him around the remainder OF the way
Dick Carroll wishes 10 correct q
sta.ement made about him. Dick says
that II any one hit him with ham
mer they couldn't knock him out.
They'd break the hammer Billy Muir
ray agrees with him.
Billy Murray and Hi Brewer were
tanning about old baseball parks and
comparing them with the modern
grounds. ats pretty soft for these
fellows" said Murray. 81 remember
game played up in Portsmouth once
lust after a rainstorm. The outfield
was a quagraire. and the felders wore
rubber boots. One Of our boys chased
a AZ, and his boots came of, but he
splashed on in his stocking feet and
caugh. the ball"
"Yes," said III Brewer, at was in
that same ball game that man hit a
ball down in front Of the plate, and