Evening journal., 1915-06-24
Baltimore FEDERALS
TO keep FRANCHISE
So President Gilmore En-
phatically Declares in
Public Statement
WILL ENTER THE
NEW YORK FIELD

"There is absolutely no truth in any
report that Baltimore is to lose its
Federal League franchise. II will stick
here as long as Baltimore wants high
class baseball, and in fact, this city
is one of the strongest in the cir
cult" President Gilmore thus declar-
ed in Baltimore. the other day. With
bis usual emphasis, Fighting jim,
spiked the rumor that disappointing
attendance had influenced the Balti-
more officials to consider transfer
ring the club TO Boston, where rep
resentation in the independent organ
ization is being clamored for.
Instead of thinking OF the retrench-
plent policy, as has been repeatedly
stated, the Federal League is mapping
out plans to go forward. So that they
will be better able to compete with
the enemy, the independents are go
ing right into their strongholds in
1915. Boston and New York city
proper will surely be invaded next
year. In fact, plans for this big re-
vision in the circuit are now going
forward with leaps and bounds. Capt.
talists to finance the team in the Hub
have been secured. and prospective
sites for a park are being inspected.
Mr. Gilmore was strongly pressed
for an inkling as to what cities prob
ably would be dropped. but to this he
said: There will undoubtedly be a
big change in the league next year,
but / am not at liberty to say just
what cities will lose their franchises
at the present time"
That the Federal League will have
a club in New York city in 1916 is
assured. The hackers of the New
York Feds, whose name will not be
announced for some time, is reputed
to be a millionaire several times over
The playing field already mas been
procured. II is $50 feet long and $40
feet wide. is in the heart of the city,
90 blocks nearer TO the downtown
section than is the Polo grounds, and
sizes up as the largest playing field
in the country.
Plans already have been drawn fOI
the stands. They will be of concrete
and steel and will seat 4200O-more
than any ball park in the country.
new plan cf construction will be fol
lowed out in building these stands
There will not be any posts support
TX lub upper TIER OF Jit Eiduu0lditur
The plans have been drawn by
Architect Comstock OF New York cit,
who designed the Chicago and Brook
yn Federal League stands
The purpose of President Gilmores
visit in New York has been to approvi
the plans for the stands and tC
straighten out most OF the final de
tails relative to placing club il
New York.
The field that the Federals will usi
IN Manhattan in 1916 is the same fell
upon which they obtained an option
nearly a year ago, and which was eX
ercised just recently when The neces
sary backing for the cluD was Sc
cured
Finley J. Shepard, who married Hell
sr Gould and Henry c. Frick. multi
millionaire. have been reported as tn
men behind the New York Federals
but the Federal League leaders viii
lot make any statement at this time
The Federals are not working wit
he idea of a settlement with organ
lied baseball, Gilmore says. and as h
has often stated. peace will come onl
al the terms of his league. The Fe
chief agrees that the declaration of
truce would be fine thing for tn
great pastime. but says, as organize
baseball insists upon taking in hi
circuit without comforting upon it
major league rating. this cannot b
expected very soon.