New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-03-16
BASEBALL WAR ON
AT HARTFORD Today
sClaTkin and Carey arc in Charge
Of the insurgents.

sected that there is hardly a league
at all In fact, some say there is
no league All clubs in the associa-
ton were supposed to have filed by
yesterday their bond Of $4,000 as evil
dence of good faith that they intend
ed not only to start the playing sea-
son but to continue right through to
1.-THE finish. Springfield refused to put
up a bond. Hartford also refused
and there was no bond coming from
the New Haven club. A few days
ago Pittsfield and Bridgeport made
good on the bond business and of
course Morton F. Plant must have
produced for the New London club.
H. President James H. O'Rourke of
the Eastern association declares that
all those who have not their bonds
siZ will lose their franchises by forfeit.
That means, If he keeps his word,
that Springfield, Hartford and New
Haven have automatically chucked
themselves out of the back door Of
1 the league. Today's meeting in Hart
ford Is supposed to be "show down"
affair. Mr.. O'Rourke purposely set
the meeting date for. the day after
bond day. SO that the intentions of
those opposed to the present six-club
1lan of the league could be deter
named. There has been talk that
Hartford would not start the season
with six clubs and that Springfield and
I New Haven were also opposed to the
fmake-up of the circuit. All this
O'Rourke knows and so he threat
ened everybody Who did not have
their guarantee posted by March Is.
Vhe situation is not only serious but
necessarily alarming, as far as the
Eastern association is concerned,
though not hopeless as far as baseball
Is concerned. The league appears to
have collapsed and at today's meeting
In Hartford it may give it's death roar
IN Can't See Amy Receipts.
! s4All three clubs mentioned above
are not filing their bonds for practic-
ally the same reason, though .circum-
stances slightly alter individual
cases. Jim Clarkin, owner of the
Hartford club, has repeatedly de-
clared he could not afford to start in
the proposed six-club circuit of the
Eastern association this season. Gen.
eral business conditions are gloomy
t., him and Eastern association six
club business in particular is rather
clared he would not start the season
with six clubs. Now William E.
Carey, owner Of the Springfield base
ball club, refuses to file his bond
because he wants to- know first what
he is filing it for. With Hartford
out, that leaves but five clubs He
argues that he does not see why he
Should be forced to deposit a $4,000
bond for such a flinsy proposition as
a five-club league. when the league
Is more helpless than ever and is
hardly league at all. The views Of
George Cameron, owner Of the New
Haven club. correspond exactly with
Mr.. Carey's.e They do not see
league in sight with Hartford gone.
Mr.. Carey argues that President
O'Rourke cannot declare the fran
chise forfeited under the circum-
stances and that if O'Rourke does do
SO .there will be a lively fight for
higher baseball authorities than
O'Rpurke to referee. The Spring
field, Hartford and New Haven clubs,
according to Carey, represent a total
investment of 100000 or so. The
New London and Pittsfield clubs each
bought their way into the league for
$780, The Bridgeport club wants
$4,000 for its franchise Carey says
fans can see for themselves which
half of the league represents the real
business end, the real investment, and
ne thinks this argume nt will cut some
ice before higher baseball courts If
the row ever reaches there IF Sem
ski could be allowed to hold his fran
chise for a year, why can't they al
low Clarkin, Cameron or myself the
same thing?'' asks Carey. But it
must be remembe that the fran
chRe" Scinski is holding is not fran
chise at ALL He simply is sporting u
\title. Scinskt is holding nothing for
"a year. He was handed a lemon.
Prospects Are Dull.
Carey says prospects are extreme
" dull for Eastern association base
ball this season. He would have the
league rest for a year. Business is
bad. he says. And such clubs as
Springfield Hartford and New Haven,
representing the large investments of
the league, would be hit hard were
bthey to play this season. He does not
See any justice in forcing these clubs
Into losing proposition. The other
/ three clubs, he continued, nave little
Yin proportion to risk. Carey says
higher baseball auth orities'' would
allow the league to suspend opera
lions for a year. He certainly can
! see no prosperity for the Eastern as
sociation the coming season
The league officials feel that the
league has been torpedoed and this
| afternoons meeting certainly was not
| expected to develop any more har-
monA In fact war was looked for.
Tim Clarkin, owner of the Hartford
club, is dismantling his ball club. He
anticipates action that will dispossess
aim of his baseball franchise, so he
AAs been handing over his best play