The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-21

nghting dollar for dollar. shall come
peace. and once more the great old
national sport will be put back on
working basis that speaks well OF
regaining the lofty position is once
held. Millions--three, to be as exact
as Is possible-of dollars. not bullets,
have been fired by the Federal League
during the two years of warfare.
just how many shrapnel the Amer-
can and National forces fred in reply
II Is Impossible to estimate, but fair
TO assume that they gave dollar for
dollar. However, be that as II may,
expressing the now tangible situation
IN the vernacular of the military critic. /
1t would be summed up thusly; The !
Federal League hoisted the white flag
because 1t ran out of ammunition"
Peace. so far s any more conquests
are concerned, will most likely become
officially g.. reality on Tuesday, when :
the proverbial dove will f'utter its
wings at a meeting between the Ma !
fiona1 Commission. empowered to act
for organized baseball. and the Fed /
eral magnates at Cincinnati. i
Assuming that we have peace. which (
appears TO be a sure thing. Mr.. Or
ganized Baseball will throw out his
chest and shout: II beat him to
frazzle. Like the second man in the ,
fighting. for 1t always takes two 10
make bout, Mr. Federal League
will retort with: II put 1t ali over !
him" You will travel many miles be- /
fore crossing the path Of "A beaten ,
boxer. who will admit defeat Like (
wise. neither O. B. nor the Feds will /
admit being beaten. We don't care
II decisions were allowed in the {
State of Pennsylvania. the referee /
would raise the hand OF Organized /
Baseball as a signal OF triumph. Fight /
ing Jim" Gilmore and his collea CUES of
the Federal League would protest 10
this verdict They are like the beaten
hoxer--they would nor dare admit II,
However be that as 1t may. we rise
to point of order and insist that
neither Organized Baseball nor the
Federal League has gained any VIC
tory TO become chesty now. With the
declaration OF peace. the only persons
who have right to feel elated are
the fans. II there is any victory. and
We have every reason 10 believe there
is, hand II 10 the fans.
They can talk about President John
X. Tener Of the National League. res
treating and calling the Feds to his
side for peace Confah all they want.
but Mere going to blame the huryins
Of the Ratchet on another individual
You have met this person wherever the 20
game OF baseball has been played: he
is the life OF the great sport; without
him there would not I've baseball; he .
pays the salaries Of the players and
what he says In baseball f. absolute
law Shake hands with Mr. Fan. OF
course. you have met before.
We have heard II oft repeated that
Tener refused 70 tight the Federals
any longer and demanded that Organ
tied Baseball consider taking the bat
fling rivals into the fold. James fiaff-
x.n ed -
William r. Baker. boss of the Fhillies, :
and other National League rnagnates
have been fayei by Battling r. "A.
johnson, OF the American League.
Tor refusing 70 continue TO fight But
did you ever stop 70 think that Mr..
Tener was the baseball public's choice
for the presidency Of the National
League
Mr.. Fans wishes had reached that
point where he demanded reform in
baseball. He would no longer tolerate
the inharmonious working of ball clubs
which showed itself in competition on
the neld OF play for which he was pay
Ing his good money to be a spectator.
Mr.. Fan demanded better baseball or
he would withdraw his support For /
two years he had been made promises,
hut at the close of the 1915 season he
issued ultimatum that conditions
must change Immediately or he would
eliminate baseball. Incidentally, Mr..
Fan has this power. He could do 1t
In a season, II not less by refusing TO
support the game Fer those who
would accuse Mr.. Tener OF "uuittinE"
he would arise to remark he did hts
duty by Mr.. Fan In fghting, not the
Federals. hut for peace. Good sports
men are not those who would punch
a RAN when he is down. The Fed
srain were down ard organized base
ball s'ill on it's feet, but at that tot
tering under the fire OF Mr. Fan, when
peace proposals were made.
II Mr., Fan had neer satisfied with
the article Of baseball served him. then
the personal bout between O, 3. and
the Feds could have gone or for years
to come, but he Wasut Mr. Fan. ex-
ortinE an inluence even greater than
John X. Tener or Ban Is Johnson ever
dared to turn deaf ear 10. wanted
certain refn,tus, depand~6 them, and
II about to see them ~ allied.
Some Reform. to lie Made.
Mr.. Fan has been loser for two
years. but the American. National and
Federal Leagues. too have suffered.
For two years fighting II cost the
Federal League Just about three mil
lions OF dollars In prestige 1t cost
the American and National Leagues
Just as much. Ball PLAYERS may have {
realized considerable or the losses OF
Mr. Fan, Q. r. and the Federals, but I
even they were rot satisfied with con- I
ditions. Mssnetes ard players may
have been dissatisfied. but the dissatis
faction of Mr.. Fan was responsible for
the more important reforms outlined
rs follows;
Absorption OF the Federal League,
the National and American circuits re-
naming as the majors !
2-Better and more harmonious q
baseball for the fans as each ana
every team of the American and Ma
tional Leagues will benefit to some
extent by the distribution of twenty
Or more stars of the Federal League.
3--The famous antitrust baseball
suit. decision of which has been with (
held by Judge Kenesaw Lands for SO ,
long will be withdrawn. II
Merger of the Chicago Nationals {
md Federals, with Charles Weeghman I
and w. c. Walker becoming the new I
owners. and Joe Tinker manager,
Roger Bresnahan is to be released as !
manager OF the Cubs and assisted to s
purchase the Cleveland team. of the ,
American Association. and transfer it {
10 Toledo.
decentralization NJ the ST I.ouis I