The sun., 1916-11-18
BALTIMORE READY
FOR A. L. TEAM
Pacifists Argue Shift Of Wash
ington Club Would Set
tie Big Suit.
DEAL UP TO JOHNSON
ny @. LIED.


The remarks of Gov. Tener. president
Of the National League, in philadelphia
last Thursday that "he considers Balti-
more now ripe for big league BALI
strengthens the report which has been
current In baseball circles for the past
week that the National League would be
immensely pleased II the Washington
American League franchise were shifted
to Baltimore.
1t has been even limited that Tener
and Garry Hermann would broach the
subject to Ran johnson. presenting the
argument that such a shift would quash
the suit which the directors OF the for
mer Baltimore Federal League club
have filed against the various major
league club owners and their former
Fed henchmen. This case Is to come up
for trial shortly after the first of next
year.
This Baltimore Federal League club
refuses to die n natural death, and In
the past month It has been particularly
active. Several mysterious agents said
to be In the service Of this CLUB have re-
Gently approached prominent players
whose contracts have expired and have
asked pertinent questions about their
treatment In the past and their future
plans.
Looking for Spells.
In the meantime Sinclair. Gwinner n
the Ward estate are becoming very in
sistent in their demands for peace money
which organized baseball agreed to pay
them a year ago for laying down their
arms. on the advice Of their attorneys
the National Commission has held up
these payments pending the outcome OF
the Baltimore Federal League suit.
Whether or not the directors of this
defunct club have m case. a lot OF
baseball men, particularly in the Ma
tional League. are most DESTROYS OF
keeping the game out OF he courts.
Legal baseball not only Is an expensive
luxury but II has done the game little
good.
Awarding Baltimore an American
League franchise would seemingly be a
splendid way out OF the difficulty. as the
baltimore people started suit primarily
because of their bitterness when they
discovered the baseball! peace had left
them without a major league franchise.
The suit would Immediately be dropped
were Baltimore granted "A major league
franchise.
Up to Johnson.
Many baseball mon believe such a
'f'Ah "NehH W - y shON' ~ VIZ
American League. II is true Baltimore
may not be the best baseball city In the
country. but ii should be an improve
ment over Washington. which has
drawn poorly during the last two sea-
sons. Washington. with its limited pop
u~lation. finds 1t hard to keep abreast
with the other fast growing cities ON
posing the American League. Bal,i-
more has a wide margin on Washington
In the matter OF population, and has
been whetting It's appetite for big league
baseball for the last ten years.
The American League. however. may
not welcome the suggestion coming
from the National League. Johnson
may point out that at the time Of the
peace settlement the stockholders Of
the Baltimore F'ederals begged 10 Buy
the 81. Louis National League franchise,
but the National League would not hear
of the proposition. such "A switch was
geographically out of the question. as
II would nave left the National League
with five Eastern clubs and only three
In the West.