The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-12-17
MAGNATES COMING
OUT Of TRENCHES
Federal League Leaders and Q. q.
Men on Truce After Two Years
Of Baseball
War.
N Leagues Merge. FIttest Pisyers
viii Survive, Federal Men
say-Must Deliver
Goods.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.l
NEW YORK. Dec. 17.-Organized
baseball and the Federal league will
come out of the trenches today for
the first time since the baseball war
began two years ago.
The magEates may only look
around and then go back to the dug
outs temporarily. depending on what
transpires in their armed truce but
the belief around headquarters at the
Waldorf today was that ultimate
peace is assured.
The American league delegation,
headed by President Ban Johnson.
was due to arrive this morning and
dash to the Waldorf for a meeting
with the National league magnates
and the Federals delegation. The
National leaguers were slated TO hold
meeting before the arrival of the
Johnson clan and name peace com
mittee. Each unit in the three-cor-
nered struggle was to be represented
not by Its club-owning membership
but by . committee authorized 10 az
prove or reject terms of peace. The
question of what will become of the
players was answered today by one
OF the Federal league powers. There
viii be general Showing down" In
baseball, the authority said, with the
fittest surviving. Many players in the
small minor leagues are slated to be
pushed out of the game entirely and
the inferior players In all leagues will
be degraded. Federal leaguers under
big salary contracts who fail to meas
ure up to the new standard Of talent
will be farmed to minor league clubs
at whatever price they can bring
their owners, who will pay the deficit
out OF their own money bags until the
contracts have expired. The redistri-
button ri players, considered fast
enough for the big time after the field
has been gifted, has not yet been dis
cussed In detail, 1t was said today,
but no difficulty is feared.
viii Not Surrender Property.
The Federal league magnates will
not surrender their property without
reimbursement even though they in
tend to get out OF the game. 1t was
reliably reported today. Those Fed
erals who are to link interests with
0. B. forces in today's dove-cote meet
ing will stake their business integ-
rtty on getting square deal for their
comrades in arms. One of the most
important reports today before the
American league owners arrived, con-
cerned the sale of the Cardinals to
Phil Ball, owner of the st. Louis Feds.
Balls representatives were said to
have tentatively accepted Britton's
demand for 100000 for the Cardinal
club. Should Ball buy the Cardinals,
however, 1T was learned, President
Hedges of the Browns also Will have
TO donate for the cause of peace on
the ground that his patronage is being
relieved of heavy drain in the re-
noyal Of the Feds.
To International.
In Pittsburgh, It is understood the
International league will take the
rebels franchise and operate club
in Forbes field to alternate with the
Pirates.
Charlie weegbman was the stron-
2est bidder for the Cubs today, but
Charlie Comiskey OF the White Sox
! was expected to do his part in caring
for the Whales war time contracts
/ and realizing the expense OF peace.
Trade talk diminished to whis-
per and then died out as peace re.
ports became more definite. 10 date,
no manager has admitted he is dicker.
! ing for another clubs men.
President Barney Dreyfuss. the
Henry Ford of the baseball war
dropped off his Oscar II at Pitts
b,rSh. returning here from chicago
Later continuing his journey.