The Washington herald., 1915-12-29
Fate of Charley Somers
To Be Made Known Today
American League Owes Cleveland Magnae Big Debt and 1t
Up to Ban johnson to Straghten Things Out
Gossip and Comment.
By WILLIAM PEET.

President Ban johnson. of the Ameri
can League. has a tough job on his hands
today, and it is hoped that he car
e straighten out a bad tangle which in
wolves one OF the clubs in his circuit.
Big Ban is in Cleveland. and will at
tempt to pave the way for Owner Charley
Somers to continue as head of the In
dians.
1t will he remembered that during the
season which closed last October the
ClevCland Baseb Club was handled ty
q committee of bankers. as Owner
Somers financial affairs were in such
shape that it was impossible for him to
raise the necessary cash in order TO
handle his ball club
Somers was caugnt in a financial jam
when the European war broke out. He
has plenty of re:ources. but has been
unable to realize on them. and his affairs
We're put in the hands of a bankers COM
mittee.
During the 1915 season. the Cleveland
club lost heavily and the bankers. 1t is
claimed. want 10 unload the burden
which they have carried. In other words.
this committee would like to sell the
Cleveland franchise, grounds. players,
etc.
Just what will he done today is mat
ter OF conjecture. but Ban johnson and
other American League leaders will at
Tempt 10 SolNG the pToblein
With a good ball club. there is no bet
ter city in the American League than
Cleveland. hut the fIGs of that city de-
maEd Il frst-diviSon combination.
Two years ago Joe Birmingham had his
team right UP in tn" running until the
last three weeks of the season. and
Charley Somers cleaned up $4,000
This season the Cleveland club finished
in the ruck. did not draw either at home
+1H-l nil nf
money.
Those who are familiar with American
League history know that Charley SOM
ers was the man who financed the Amer
iIan League when il waged war against
the National League. That war Incl
IDENTIFY did much to build up baseball, as
did the war with the Federals to tear
down the national game.
The national game owes Charley
Somers big debt and now is the time
when some of that debt can be repaid.
There never was a finer type of sports
man connected with baseball than Char
ley Somers.
Clark Griffith. of the Nationals. and
President Ben Minor had long talk last
night anent the Cleveland situation. Both
Griff and Minor are warm personal
friends of Somers and stand ready to-
DO anything within their power to clear
the situation. In fact Grif has previous
ly expressed a willingness to sell some
Of his surplus talent to Cleveland II by
so doing he can help matters.
The Old Fox is of the opinion that
the American League should come to the
front and keep Charley Somers at the
head Of the Cleveland club. President
Ban johnson thinks the same way and
every effort will be made today to
straighten out the muddle in the Ohio
city.
1t is believed that somehow or other
Ban Johnson will be able to adjust the
Cleveland matter satisfactorily.
Lots of baseball men believe that the
best thing that can happen to Balti-
more Is to be without league ball for
a couple of years. 1t wasn't satisfied
with minor league ball, and its major
league dream was shattered by its eX-
rerience in the Federals Under such