Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-28
Will Raise $4,000 to War on
Organized Base Ball.
NEGLECTED. IN PEACE PACT
Baltimore Federal League Plans to
Obtain Redress Through
Legal Action.

League. stockholders of the Terrapins
about fifty of whom met yesterday aft
ernoon in the state tax commission
| office In the Union Trust building.
cleared the decks for action by CIV
ing the board of directors full author
ity to carry the fight for Baltimore
protection into the courts. The stock
holders gave the directors permission
to raise $4,000 to defray the expenses
of the war.
/ The official statement in behalf of the
directors, read to the stockholders of
the Terrapins by President Carroll W.
Rasin, and which was unanimously
adopted. follows:
The ofacial Statement.
|. Owing to the unprecedented condi-
ton existing in base ball at present,
and to the fact that many conflicting
statements and reports have been pub
lished in the press concerning this con-
dition, and concerning the part the
officers Of this club have taken there
in. and the policy that this club will
pursue because of it, the board has
thought it wise to call you together in
order that your president might &C
quaint you with actual conditions and
that the management may be instructed
as to the proper course to pursue.
1T is necessary to summarize the
history of the organization in order to
discuss intelligently the present condi-
ton.
"A group of citizens of Baltimore,
most OF whom are represented on your
board Of directors, were offered a fran
chise in the Federal League of pro-
fessional base ball clubs in the fall of
1913 careful investigation showed
that while the league had been in ex-
istence during one playing season. it
had made little progress and its name
was hardly known to the public at
large, but that the nucleus thus form
ed in 1913 had attracted to the enter
prise.a large number of citizens of sub
stantial means who expressed the in
tehtion of establishing a league which
should ultimately become established
and-known to be Of the first rank, or
what Is ordinarily called major
league.
To Put Baltimore on Map.
THE franchise offered was ultimately
accepted: those who first Joined the
venture, as we'll as those who have
come in at later date. have always
felt that the city of Baltimore should
have the opportunity to compete in the
national sport with cities Of equal size
and importance. and that the public of
this city would give to a good team.
furnishing high-class exhibitions, suf-
ncient support to make the venture
commercially .expedient
The stock Of the corporation was Of
feTed to the public. and about 500 citi-
gems of Baltimore availeh themselves
,of. tina opportuuity and purchased the
shares that were offered. The clubs or
ganized in the other cities constituting
the circuit reported themselves to be
BILE players were acquired by all of the
club owners and the playing season
OF 1914 was inaugurated under pecu-
liar1y happy auspices.
During the playing season of 1914
the total attendance at Federal League
games in Baltimore was second only to
that of Chicago. snd--the conclusion
from the figures is irresistible that
with real major league playing
strength and with the prospect of pos
sible world series contests Baltimore
would patronize major league base ball
as well as any city of equal population.
Wards Death Fatal Blow.
In all their efforts and aspirations
this club had the heartiest support Of
Mr.. r. B. Ward. the owner Of the
Brooklyn club, a man of large means
and most unquestioned courage and
honor. Unfortunately. Mr.. Wards
death. occurring. on October IS, 1915.
removed from the league its most cour-
ageous and determined spirit in the
most critical period of its history.
November Q. 1915, a meeting. OF the
board of the Federal League was held
in Indianapolis Your president and
counsel attended. and while no report
was made to the board. it was quite
evident that some members Of the
league were in independent negotia-
tons with the representatives Of or
ganized base ball Messrs. Gilmore.
had talked with representatives of the
American and National leagues, but
stated that there was nothing to re-
port and the talks had been to no pur-
pose and of no effect
AT previous meeting of the Fed
eral League q committee, consisting Of
Weeghman. Ball, Gilmore, Sinclair and
R. B. Ward. had been appointed to con-
atives for the purpose of proposing
| some readjustment Of the base ball sit
uation. but with no power to act This
committee did not report. The meeting
after transacting routine business ad-
5ourned.
December 1s, 1916, your president
received word to meet in New York the
following day to discuss peace and to
protect Baltimore's interests A num-
Der Of your directors accompanied him
to New York, where a conferences was
held between Messrs. Gilmore, Sinclair,
William Ward. Weeshman, a represent
alive of Pittsburgh and Of ST. Louis
and your own representatives.
Baltimore Out in Cold.
| Your president was shocked at that
time to be told by Mr. Gilmore that a
number Of the club owners of the Fed
eral League had already agreed upon
terms. by which they were to cease CD.
Grating Federal League clubs. Thit
information was impaired, toEethe,
with the statement that the further
! continuation Of the Federal League wal
impossible. We were told that thi.
agreement. which was called tentative
had been reached some time before
that the Federal League was not to &c
on: that all would assist Baltimore tc
get what Baltimore wanted, but that
| Baltimore was not mentioned in the
SO called tentative agreement for the
clearly expressed reason that no one
felt he had any authority to act fol
this club. No satisfactory explanation
was given of the failure to keep Baiti.
more informed and to invite participa
ton" .
Club Owes Only $4,000.
After the statement was read severa
questions were asked the president
| Non .tockholdar