The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-11
Exclusive Statements by John
X. Tener and Ban B. John
son, Made to the United
Press.
OPENING is TOMORROW
Harmony in Ranks of the Big
Leagues, State High Mo-
guls-Thrills and Sur
prises Promised.

banner year in baseball is pre-
dicted by President Tener of the
National league and President John
son of the American league in state
ments prepared exclusively for the
United Press today.
On the eve of the opening of the
baseball season tomorrow the heads Of
the two leagues predicted close races
for the pennant and great revival
of interest in the game. The state
ments follow:
Teners Statement
by John K Tener, President Of the
National League.J
NEW YORK, April lit is far
from an unusual or new prediction
for me to state that / believe base
ball will enjoy an exceptionally pros
porous and successful year this sea-
son.
This is the opinion of all baseball
men, generally and freely made.
The reasons for baseball men
thinking it will be great year for
the national game are found in the
tire country and the ideal condi.
lions existing in the baseball world.
1t is only natural to expect that such
conditions will produce extremely
gratifying results in baseball. What
is more natural that the average
American citizen, with plenty of
money in his pocket should patronize
the national sport at every possible
opportunity, especially when there is
nothing in it's management to which
he can take exceptions?
From my own personal contact
with business men everywhere / am
led to believe that interest in base
ball has been greatly stimulated by
recent developments and conferences.
am willing to take the judgment Of
the average business man as / think
his Judgment In most everything that
interests US as Americans is good
barometer on which to base a judg-
ment. / believe the public antici-
pates with more genuine interest and
fervor the opening of the professional
baseball season this spring than it
has eyinced for years.
Conditions Settled.
And there Is reason for this ad-
vanced interest. Conditions are
settled, there are no diyerting agen-
cies in the field, harmony exists
among the professional ranks and
the public is assured that more good
baseball will be seen on the diamond
this year than it has obtained for
several seasons. / am very much
pleased with the existing conditions
in the National league. Naturally we
expect a big year. Most of the clubs
have been strengthened in playing
material and a strong fight for the
pennant is sure to ensue from the
playing Of the first to the last game
Personally l expect to see a spirited,
10 nj
at teams as they lined in the streets
it is believed beyond the keen OF
prophesy to say which club will win.
An unusual amount OF interest has
been injected into the senior league
by reason of the amaigamation which
took place between the Chicago Ma
tional and Federal league clubs. The
public is quite alive to the situation
as presented in the Windy City and
many conjectures are expressed as to
whether the injection of the Federal
league talent into the Chicago Ma
tional club will make the consoli-
dated team strong contender for
the championship. Several other Ma
tionai league clubs have added to
their personnel, players with the ex-
pectation that the acquisitions will
be of material benefit to them in
playing strength. Personally l have
no doubt that some of these players
will prove of value to the clubs which
acquired their services.
Everything considered ] cannot help
feeling exceptionally optimistic over
the prospects of the baseball season
of 1916. If nothing unforeseen hap
pens to complicate the otherwise
rose ate outlook, the stage is set for
the banner year in baseball