New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-12-11
INTERNATIONAL IS
LIKELY TO BLOW UP
Peace or Sunday Ball Appear to
Be Only Salvation

New York, Dec. 1.-THE suspen-
sion of the International league at
one time the most prosperous minor
league in the country, for the dura-
ton of the war is inevitable. Only a
sudden peace or Sunday baseball In
New York will restore the waning
confidence of I number of Ed Bar
rows club owners. If the sport 10
legalized on Sundays in this state
Rochester might be induced to stick
another year, and strong efforts will
be made to get into Syracuse, and
probably Troy. With these three
cities the magnates might decide to
hold out another year.
The league met for only a few min
utes at the Hotel Imperial yesterday.
just long enough to award the 1917
layed trains neither President James
McCafferty of Toronto nor James
Dunn, president of Baltimore, was
present. and it was deemed inadvis-
able to go ahead without them. The
league will reconvene at o'clock this
afternoon, but it is likely that no
drastic action will be taken until the
February meeting.
Barrow Stands Pat. aa
Barrow still stands pat on his for
mer remarks. He Is willing to etoer
| the league through another season
If his club owners desire 1t, but that
| Is as far as he will discuss the SIT
uation. However, the views of the IN
dividual owners show how the wind
is blowing. -
| Four clubs-Baltimore, Newark,
Toronto and Buffalo-want to make
another start, while Providence II on
the fence. Should the league vote TO
continue. Providence will probably
trail. along. Lchtenheim Of Mon
treal also might be induced to go
through another season, but he IL not
at all anxious for It. The only condi-
ton under which he will continue il
that league shave down its salary limit
and make it such as prevailed In the
past in Class B leagues. Lichtenhoim
would carry his economy plan through
the entire league, cutting salaries
right and left, even in the executive
department.
However the real weakness Of the
International ia in the Rochester a4d
! Richmond clubs. Both Of these CiUAe
are unwilling to tackle another CAN
paign. Chaplin, of Rochester. MS
been AQuealing for four yeafA. bt1t h
time he appears to be in earneNks b
| says he is willing to sell his club TO
any purchaser and that he has grown
| tired Of sinking money into losing
proposition. III
Richmond Fears More IoeseM
Wilson, Of Richmond, also says NO
does not see how his club can start
another season. 1t was heavy loser
last season. and, to start in 1913,
would be tempting fate. he says.
1T would mean that the club would
face more heavy losses before a ball
was pitched" n
The situation, therefore, leaves only
? five clubs-Newark, Baltimore, Tor
! onto, Buffalo and Providence-in I
! position to continue and furnish any
! thing like first-class ball. The league
might be filled in by putting a club
back in Jersey City and placing fran
! chises in Syracuse and Troy, but in a
| war year 1t is a difficult matter TO In
| terest persons with money in n base
ball proposition.
In all probability Ed Barrow, the
president Of the league, will become
connected with the Red Sox, either as
president or vicc-president. Barrow
would not comment on the report
that he WIS to become president OF
the Boston Americans, saying his,
future depended entirely on the ac-
ton his club owners would take with.
in the next few days
According to Boston men, the prop
osition of Barrow heading the Red Sox
has been in the air for some time.
President Frazee. OF the club, has 70
many outside interests that 1t Is said
President johnson, Of the American
league, and other club owners would
like to see a baseball man at the head
of the club-one who would give his
entire time to the clubs interests
That Barrow would be entirely salts
factory to Johnson, Comiskey, Rup-
pert and Dunn goes without saying.
The American league has also felt
that man like Barrow at the head
of the club would make 1t more pop
ular with the Boston fans.
The club owners attending yester-
days brief meeting were as follows:
Samuel Lichtenheim, Montreal: James
r. Price. Newark; Charles Chopin.
Rochester: Patrick Donovan, Buffalo,
B. w. Wilson, Richmond; Michael
Lynch and James Gammons. Provi-