The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-18

New York. Oct. 1.-THE general SEN
timent of organised baseball men Is
against peace negotiations with the
Federal League. Ban Johnson and his
American League colleagues stand as
one against any form Of compromise
with the independents.
1t 10 true that Johnson and Colonel
Jacob Rupert of the New York Ameri-
cans met a delegation Of Federal
Leasuers in Philadelphia last week. but
not with the least amicable intention.
johnson insisted that James A. Gilmore.
president OF the outlaw circuit, should
not be among those present at the in
formal powwow.
Ran Johnson's Den.
The American League never will
consent to meet the Federal League on
equal terms" Johnson told the inde-
pendent representatives, according to
the assertions of an American League
stockholder who was present.
1.-THE American League Ia strong
enough to stand on Its own feet, indie
pendent OF any one II need be-" he
continued. THE public, by Its cold
reception Of the independent cause, has
proved our contention that there was
neither room nor demand for a third
major circuit. Neither will the Ameri-
can Leag countenance any expa rsion
of its operations. A ten-club circuit
would be impractical A twelve club
circuit Is too unweildly. as has been
proved in the past.
The American League Is content to
mind its own affairs. The National
League has every right to shape Its
own destiny. The American League
never has tried to dictate who should
operate National League clubs. IL the
National League should ceuntenanee
any merger with the Federal by selling
certain clubs to certain Federal oper-
ators that, too. would be Its own affair.
The American League never has and
never will try to bargain with the en-
envy. 1t interposed no objection when
certain National League interests tried
20 dispose of the Chicago Cubs TO
,Charles Weeghman. OF the Chicago Fed
eral club. But my colleagues are quite
positive in their sentiments. They viii
not harbor in their RANKS any of the
opposition which. willful J or not. has
done much to discredit the game"
Fraternal Factor.
That conference In Philadelphia.
which had been interposed at first as
the first general indication of a peace
move, was arranged by certain ele-
ment OF the National League which
favors a speedy ending of the baseball
war On excellent authority it has been
learned that the peace propaganda was
Launched through fraternal influences
Many OF the leading powers OF both
organized and independent baseball are
brother Elks OF high standing Presi-
dent John X. Tener, Of tho National
League. Cha irman August Hermann. Of
the National Commission and Pat Pow
ers. OF the Newark Federais. are all
past grand exalted rulers OF the b. P
20. r.
Hermann from the FIRST has favored
dignihed peace. II was he who tried
to engineer the deal that might have
given the Cubs to Weeghman. Herr
mann has won over to his ways oil
thinking quite a National League fol
lowing william +, Baker and James
f. Garney now champion the idea OF
merger, 1t Ia said. Ganney. II will
be remem bered, took the trouble "a
show the Federal general stan his new
park before II was opened formally
According to the board OF strategy OF
the Gilmore ring Gaffney Is TO receive
preference in the awarding or the
contract FOR the proposed new Federal
League plant In New York.
Another faction of the National
League Is as strongly opposed to all
idea Of compromise. This Is headed by
Charles H. Ebbets, Barney Dreyfuss and
Harry n. Hampstead,
II would dynamite Forbes Field and
get out OF the game before ! would