New Britain herald., 1916-01-06
70
 
CLARKIN LANDS JOLT
 AND BLOCKS HELLER
Hartford Magnatc Reported as Hav- ing Captured Stoddard and
 Plant for Mcrgeritcs.

Springfield, Mass, Jan. 6.-Gen. James H. ClarlIin of Hartford, who may be styled for the benefit of this story, anyway, the merger league manager, clashed with Gen. Teller, king of all the Eastern associations, yesterday, and it is reported in high class circles that the merger man won a victory" Gen. Clarkin smashed right through the Eastern association front and probably seized New Haven. It is stated by one source in New Haven and somewhat feared at the Ieller camp that New London has also been dazed or captured by Gen. Clarkln. All this is important and so much so that when Hartford was reached last night by the victorious general he felt suror than ever that the merger league would be playing the little game of ball the coming sea- son, while the Eastern association would exist only in the records of those that once performed.
 This is a war and in war there is often strategy. And, as part of the merger strategy, it befell Gen. Clarkin to break up, if possible, the campaign of Gen. Zeller to line up six cities for the Eastern association by the 17th You will sec right away that the war cannot end, anyway until the 17th, if it ends then. Gen. Clarkin, smarting under the sting of the taking of Hampden park in a one-sided battle by Gen. Zeller, the other day, marched upon New London and then and there induced Morton F. Plant to Hay off, the Eastern association, or anyway re- main neutral.
 MT Plant wants New London to be in a league, and so he is not particular what the league is. Therefore Gen. Clarkin, it is felt, soon won him over, and that reduces the number of pos sible cities for the Zeller league by one. Next Gen. Clarkin tripped to New Haven, and 1t was claimed in New Haven last night that Maj. Louis Stoddard, who had promised to build a park in the heart of the city for the Eastern association, had fallen in with the Clarkin forces. That to the Clarkin and merger people means the loss of New Haven for the Eastern association. They also feel that Worcester cannot be counted, accord ing to baseball law, as an Eastern as- sociation possibility. The merger peo- pie think they have or will soon block Gen. Zeller's effort to build league. Maj. .Stoddard was not in New Haven yesterday when Gen. Clarkin called, but his secretary, zeke Bronson, was. On the other fist, Gen. Zeller replies that even should Maj. Stoddard de- sert the Eastern association standard he still has two more applications for those who would operate an Eastern association baseball club in New Haven. New London, he claims, is only lon the fence.'' Summing up everything and looking to the worst for the days losses, Gen. Zeller feels that he still has six clubs lined up for the association as per the order of that investigation committee, the six 1 being Pittsfield, Springfield, Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and Water bury. Hartford may be entered right away as doubtful because the only | available park there is owned by Gen. Clarkin and the best Gen. Zeller can state on the Hartford case is he has a man who would build a new ball park.