New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-20
Tener Giuen Full Power of
League in Damage Action
p,uored Plan of Settlement
Would End Troubles OF
American Circuit
By w. ]. Macbeth

,..,;dent John X. Tener of the
x.,,or.l League has been vested with
I'm authority 10 represent the eight
~ his circuit in the matter of the
I, for 100000 damages revived by
=. ,,ockholders OF the Baltimore club
: ~. defunct Federal League. This
',r Tor perhaps better. burden) was
tired on Mr.. Tener at special
: flag OF the National League held
.,..-6av az its headquarters at west
rortie,h Street, this city. Seven OF the
.,,ht club presidents attended. Branch
p;,..v OF St. Louis, alone being absent.
An sir Of mystery pervades this Bal
.-ore situation. which neither the Ma
.;,,,l League nor the American League
m discuss. The suit was once brought
=. trial in a Philadelphia court a few
-.,ths ago. but withdrawn after sew
al DAYS BY the Baltimore people. Now,
.,,.ip has 1t. organized baseball is
=. onIy threatened with this entsn-
-,,,r alliance in the courts, but may also
-. 70 sustsin a counter buffet from
.,o.h,r element Of the defunct outlaw
crgsnizstion.
Indemnities Promised
When peace with the Federal League
rx arranged in the winter Of 1915
..yain indemnities were promised the
Ward brothers. of Brooklyn; Harry +.
Sinclair. Of Harrison. n. J.. and Edward
cyinner. OF Pittsburgh. who has fur
,;.h,d Jim Gilmore with most Of the
-unitions of war. The Wards were TO
,,rs received for Washington Park a
,,n Of $500 900 in twenty annual pay
cents. Sinclair and Gwinner were
- have received less pretentious
,rs.ss. Sinclair, in ADDITION, was given
,i.ls 70 a great majority of the promi-
r,nt outlaw players, 70 be sold back into
Organized baseball.
Sinclair was about the only operator
~ the independent circuit who secured
a. slightest reimbursement LOT ms
i..,,s as most Of his indemnities were
70 have come from player channels.
"a, those who subscribed 20 the peace
terms CT organized baseball pledgeo
.s.r.,lves 20 deliver the third circuit
free from all legal litigation. 1t was
~, prounise which developed the pres
ont suit for damages from the BAIL
more quarter.
Didn't Authorize Peace
The stockholders of the Baltimore
,lnh declared that they had not au-
,bsrirsd the Federal League peace com
r1ittes 10 act for them. In their origl-
nal suit Gilmore, the Wards, Sinclair
and Cvinner were named as code
fendants with the various heads Of or
saui,ed baseball. But when the suit
came ID for trial in Philadelphia this
pesce committee OF the Federal League,
which was expected to rush TO the de-
fence of organized BASEBALL, could not
be located by the National Commission.
Whether or not that circumstance
ku any significance in the status of
the resurrected suit the fact remains
that none of the former heads of the
Federal League now outside organized
BASEBALL has been named in the new
sat. Furthermore, vague rumors are
,soa. that the Sinclair-W Ward Gwinner
indicate intends to go to law with or
gsnized baseball for the recovery Of in
IDENTITIES still unpaid. IL takes the
sand that when the former suit Of the
B,ltimoresns was quashed 1t fulfilled
It's original obligations.
Organized baseball is not honing for
legal fight Conditions are too I'M
certain. Some Of the belligerency Of a
year ago has vanished even in the war
amp OF the mighty Ban Johnson. The
bet that the National League within
he last week has held two special
meetings. and that the American
League is soon to convene for like pur-
POSE, would indicate disposition on
the part Of baseball to clean up once
and for all the Federal League situation.
50 far as the National League is con-
srn.d, its case is in the hands OF Mr..
l.ner and counsel.
Washington white Elephant
Il has been suggested in certain quar-
srs-particulsrly one Of National
lssgue source-thst fine way out TO all
ne Federal League trouble presents
i.sslf In present American League cir
cult difficulties. This suggestion is the
transfer OF the Washington circuit TO
Baltimore as q sop TO the indignant
citizens Of the Oriole city. Washing
ION for several years has been a white
elephant on the hands of the American
League. Since the United States en-
tered war the Capital City has been
particularly indifferent to baseball. The
various government employees, who
supported the game formerly, are too
busy 70 think Of entertainment.
The writer was discussing the situs-
ton with stakeholder of the Balti-
more Federal League club the other
uening.
"we would be satisfied" said he, ITO
b declared in on an American League
innchise. The old arguments against
Baltimore as a major league city are
obsolete. The local team was one OF
Ne best pstronized in the Federal
League. The town has developed won
dtrfully since American League days:
u Baltimore is given a chance 1t Will