The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-14

New York. Dec. 1.-THE National
League il more concerned in policies
Of economy than in any propaganda
for peace. If the assertion of August
Hermann, chairman of the national
commission. is to he weighed at full
measure. Mr. Hermann. who Is
president of the Cincinnati National
League club, arrived yesterday at the
Waldorf Astoria TO discuss Informal
ly certain proposed reforms before
the annual meeting tomorrow of tho
Tener circuit,
There was = time not so many
when certain clubowners of the Ma
tionai League would have favored a
plan to dispose of certain franchises to
the financial powers Of the independ-
ent promoters. That time. 7 think. has
passed. The Federal League IS not
now the menace that it was.
1.-THE Federal Tn a olIeman league,
Mr.. Hermann continued. There liz
no doubt that Harry r. Sinclair is a
rich-a very, very rich-~man He
has made millions In the last few
months, No one Is undertaking his
wealth nor his gameness. Perhaps he
could carry the whole league il so In
clined But that is hardly probable.
In the late Robert r Ward the Fed
eral League has lost great asset in
the fight from both the moral and
financial sides.
In Fed Contracts, Too.
THE Federal League has realized il
made one most serious mistake. II
was very wrong in the point Of law II
tried to establish in It's suit against
organized baseball, now being consid-
cred by Judge lands. of Chicago,
against the operations of the reserve
clause and the ten-day option clause
in organized baseball contracts. Those
very principles are incorporated IN
the Federal League contracts, too.
Now the suit before Judge lands
has become a dead issue to a degree.
Hermann continued. IA decision for
either side would he neither a moral
victory nor a moral defeat. 1t would
be an easy matter, indeed, to organize
right over again on kindred principles
that would comply with the law.
Il am not a man of war, | am not
antagonistic to Federal League opera
tons and craftsmanship, Nor would
/ oppose, If l could, the sale of g
major league franchise to Fedora
League operator. In this matter
may not reflect the views OF Bar
Johnson.
II am of the opinion that so Ions
as the baseball war continues the
game cannot possibly be benefited
and I am for the game before all else
| think, too, the Federal League Is
far more worried than we are. They
certainly have done the two major
leagues all the harm they possibly car
do, There will be no more jumping
on tho part OF our stars. The inde'
pendents by arbitrarily breaking so
called ironcIad contracts with sucf
men as Chief Bender and Russell
Ford, pricked the bubbles of Illusion
that had attracted would-be contrac'
violators.
IT have met certain Federal League
men from time to time this season lr
fact, I have known Harry Sinclair
for many years. l am betraying nc
condolences when I say that the Fed
eral League Is quite tired OF saddlins
itself with lot OF contracts at double
the salary figures the holders should
get. James A. Gilmore himself has
exploited that doctrine more thar
once That is one circumstance thai
prompts men to say that the Federal
League il not so meracing as II APP
peared . year ago
And that brings in the most In
teresting point Of reform. Baseball
In the most prosperous days was al
best a very grave business risk.
man of wealth nay realize 8 or pei
cent in municipal bonds. Baseball