The Washington times., 1915-06-28
THE LINE-UP
MACKMEN.
ByLOUIS A. DOUGHER.

Lets fight it out at the gate"
was what Ban Johnson told the Fed
eral League heads before the 1914
campaign started, and Bans tactics
seem to be winning. Already there
are signs in the heavens portendiug
trouble for the Independents.
Jimmy Gilmore, Charlie Weegh-
man and Robert B. Ward, the work.
ing forces in the Federal League,
are in New York today, and though
all three issue strong denials, the
tip is out that they are about ready
to consider an abject surrender to
organized baseball. Denials mean
little or nothing in baseball. They
merely act as "cover ups" until such
time as the official news is ready.
Last week Gilmore visited Boston
There he Is believed to have met L.
Cowes Page. a wealthy publisher, once
associated in the ownership OF the Ma
tional Leaguers in the HUB befoTe ball
ney shouldered the burden. Hughey
Duffy, the old outfelder. Is also men men
toned as having conferred with Gil
more Those who know Page peleVe
that he will contribute a dollar or so,
II some one else Will come through
with 500. 900. Duffy's reputation as
snendthrift has never extended beyond
the corner of his porch In dorchester.
In the light Of all these things, IT Is not
strange that Gilmore made no nam
boyant announcement on MS return TO
New York from Boston.
Kansas City alone has supported the
Federal League this year, and the STOCK
holders there had to obtain a court IN
fhni FRS
Gilmore sought to transfer 1t to Har,-
rison, n j. Today the Wards opened
their gates to all who would enter. hop
ing to entice a few paying fans later
by the experiment.
The Feds have tired of paying ex-
orbitant salaries to some of their near
stars, and recently have been releasing
them right and left. Tom Seaton. for
who obtained in his contract the r---
to have the Brooklyn club pay all his
wife's expenses on the road, Is under
suspension for not keeping in condition.
The iron hand under the velvet glove is
appearing sure sign Of trouble.
Buffalo, Newark. and Baltihore have
quit on the Feds absolutely. Chicago
has gone insane over the Cubs ana
White SoX, almost forgetting the very
existence of the Feds on the North
Side. The rush Of the Pirates occu-
pies Pittsburgh fans at the expense OF
the Rebels The Cards have the -.
Louis fans with them Hnd the Will
ming Feds under Fielder Jor"s can t
pay eNnensos, Rrooklvn hIS sonrcd ~
the Feds witness today's FREQ ga.
Kansas City alone supports Gilmor )
league
Ban .Johnson's wisdom was never
shown in bette llGh{s HtS vs. mHnarGni haarSni
would fail utterly were it not tor his
nerve and back bone, allied with hN
wisdom. The fans at the ga'es hay"
come close to deciding the right of the
Feds TO disrupt the national game. The
end is almost In sight.
As another sign of the approaching
demise of the Feds. the Yankees are
said to he contemplating moving from
the Polo Grounds TO Long Island City,
three minutes walk from Greensboro
bridge. The park Is now being used
by the Degnan Grays, a semi-profes-
siOnal team with MANY former big leag-
ucrs in its ranks. Degnan, the owner,
is closely associated with Colonel Rup-
and the experiment this season is said
to be as Il test of the popularity of the
location.
OF course, permission from the Brook
lyn National League club will have 10
be obtained before the Yankees can en-
Croach within the fve-mile limit, but
It IL claimed that the Long Island City
park lies just outside the limit. The
Polo Grounds are about as far from
downtown New York as the Long Island
City location. and no more convenient.
If organized baseball expected much
further opposition from the Feds, 1t is
safe to say that the American League
would not consider building ? costly
Ft0nd on ground costing as much as
Il docs in New York.
But two games romain 10 he PLAYED
Rt Georgia avenue before the Ma
tiORals depart for another months
performances on the high road To-
day and tomorrow GTiffs lads are 20
play here and then they open one OF