davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
NATIONAL LEAGUE HAS SURVIVED
 BIC TRIALS

Born 42 years ago Saturday, Feb. 2, 1876, the National League has sur yived a multitude of troubles trials and tribulations, and despite ups and downs, it finds itself established to- day more firmly than ever. Gambling threatened to kill the league, and the game as well, in the early days, and it was not until four Louisville play CTS had been expelled from the game forever, in 1877, that the athletes be- ban to see that throwing games was not profitable. The New York and Philadelphia cubs were expelled after the leagues first year, Hartford and St. Louis dropped out at the end of the second season. Louisville soon followed, and Cincinnati was fired in 1880. Chicago and Boston are the only cities in the league that have had continuous representation. In 1884 the Union Association began it's short lived ''war" on the pioneer major. The Brotherhood movement of 1890 almost wrecked the National, and it was followed by a conflict with the American Association.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05

Philadelphia, Feb. 5.-Although the least one major league club hasn't a player signed for 1918. Moreover not one contract has been put in the mails. This is the situation with the Athletics which Connie Mack has off cially announced.' Mack said he eX- pected to get some contracts out this week, but declared that he would make public nothing con erning them and would not. even assert that any particular player was sent a contract until the latter had signed.
 Mack said if he had any trouble or holdouts he would not make the mat ter public. He said he didn't believe he would be able to announce the names of the g players he intends to take to Jacksonville until March at the earliest.
 Of the holdovers, Pitcher Myers, Catchers McAvoy and Picinich, Inf1eld- CT Dugan, Pitcher Schauer and Out fielder Bodie and Jamieson have es- capped the draft so far They are eli gible to play next season. but the chary Mack would not admit that any of them would be with him. In ad- dition there IS Pitcher Gregg, Catcher Thomas and Outfielder Kopp, who figured in the Schang -Strunk, Bush swap. Connie had nothing to. say about them, either.
 The situation is this: Connie will not admit that any of them will play for him next season for they may balk ot ho lor of ie. 1 that Connie will not attempt to ne- goiate with any players who refuse | to accept his terms and that he will quickly take them off his list. That's the reason ne is so reluctant to say that this player or that player will be with him.
 War has nit the Athletics harder | than any other team in the American League. Mack lost the fruits of three years work when wholesale drafting took away most of the players he was banking on U: next season.
 Mack does not think that Second
 Baseman Grover will play ball next season. Grover is employed at a ship building yard :n Seattle and is exempt from military service as long as he
 works there. For that reason Mack 
 thinks Grover will decide to build
 ships instead of playing baseball with
 a chance of being sent to the trenches.
 Little that is new is developing in
 the camp of the Phillies. No deals
 have been announced for the five
 players whom President Baker an-
 nounced a week ago would be releas-
 ed unless they could be placed. They ! l. zI,,, T
 Jimmy Lavender, who probably will
 get their unconditional releases, since
 no major club seems willing to claim them. The others of the five are like
 ly to go to minor league clubs, though ir would seem that in view of the
 shortage of second basemen Oscar
 Dugey might find a berth with some club in one of the majors.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
Here it is Second
 Month of Year and
 Mack Has No Team
Philadelphia Fans Worrying at Delay But Connie Is Standing Pat, Without Any Contracts to Indicate He'll Have Nine for 1918+Has Plans of Own

All the Phillies' contracts have been sent out. President Baker did not T. ake any material changes in the figures. One or two players will draw less money next season, but there was no wholesale slashing of salaries.
 It is said that the biggest sufferer was Erskine Mayer, whose 1918 docu- rent called for S2,500 less money than it did last year. Mayer had a war contract that expired last fall. The general opinion among officers of the club was that Mayer did not earn the fancy salary that had been paid to him since 1915 and that a big cut was inevitable. There is also a report that Bert Niehoff's contract called for 8 revision downward in salary.
 One player to have his salary in creased is Jack Adams, who may pos sibly be first string catcher next sea- son, now that Killifer has departed. Adams salary was hunched $1,OO0.
 Pat Moran, who has Outfielders Schulte, Cooper and Weiser, Pitcher Lavender and Utility Infielder J. Os- car Dugey to sell or trade, is trying hard to close ad cal that will bring one or two competent pitchers to Philadelphia, but as stated above, nothing has been closed as a result of his negotiations.
 It is reported in a telegram from Chicago that Alexander the Great has come to an understanding with Char ley Weeghman of the Cubs, and that he will report to MitcheII's men next March unless he is drafted into the
 A l--r, T. trump card in this controversy. By failing to report to the Cubs one month before the opening of the sea- son he could smash the deal a1togeth- CT and report to the Phils, his con- tract having aIother year to run. He knew that Baker wanted the money; and that Weeghman wanted him, so there was no chance for his demands going unheedad.
 Those on the inside do not expect Eddie Plank to report to the Tanks next season. Plank is not trying to hcld Colonel Ruppert up, but he is simply tired of baseball. Plank and his brother have opened a great gar age on the much-traversed Lincoln Highway at Gettysburg, and it is proving a most successful venture. Thousands of motorists visit Gettys- burg every summer and besides there is a constant procession of motor trucks rolling over the highway in all seasons of the year.
 These motorists need gasoline, oil and accessories and when they spot a great sign reading Eddie and Ira Plank" the motorist knows that Eddie iS tho famous SoIIthnaw and e,nne-aI IIv stops to see Jim. If he needs any thing he will buy from Eddie just for tke sake of having personal contact with the 49-year-oId baseball star whose name ; household word all over the country. The enterprise iA bringing in Eddie so much money that he does not care to risk it by staying away from Gettysburg for six months
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
Holdout Epidemic Gaining
 Ground in Major Leagues

The major league players do not take much stock in the talk of the club owners that they can sign all the minor league players they want. If few of the clubs are able to re- tain most of their regular players, the other clubs cannot afford to let their players go and substitute for the minor league players and still hope to keep up any sort of a pace in the league races. If one club is will ing to pay the players the salaries theny received last season, other clubs will be forced to keep their best players to make the competition keen. The players realize that base ball fans do not want to go to see a game between clubs which are not evenly matched. And it is certain that a major league club with a num- Der of minor leaguers in the ranks could not hope to compete with clubs like the Giants and the Chicago White Sox, who from present indications will be just as strong as last season. There are no holdouts on these two clubs, for the signed contracts have been coming into the headquarters of both of last years pennant winners without interruption.
 One major league player, who is spending the winter in New York, stated yesterday that he had received a cut in salary, and that he was not going to sign. He will demand just as much as he got last year. He pre- dicted that the club owners could not afford to lose their players because of salary differences when a few of the clubs would hold their playing strength by paying the normal sal aries.
 There is the feature of the holdout situation this season, however, which may work to the disadvantage Of the baseball players. On account of war conditions. and because of the fact that many players have volunteered their services to the government, the public will have little sympathy for a player who holds out for more money under such unsettled condi- 1 tions. The players, however, do not give the sentiment of the fans any l consideration when it comes to mat l ters of this kind. The ball player is a. fckle individual-he accepts the plaudits of the public when he does l good work. but he hotly resents any l criticism when he deserves it.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05

When the club owners of the ma jor leagues decided to cut salaries this year they argued that because of the war conditions and because of the big supply of available minor league players the holdout would be a thing of the past. The baseball players have taken the salary cuts in just the opposite way, and from indications there are going to be just as many holdouts as ever this spring and per- haps more.
 It cost President Weeghman just $5,000 in cold cash last week to soothe the dissatisfied Alexander, who in addition to this bonus has a salary of s12,O00 a year. Al Mamaux al- ready refuses to play with Brooklyn unless he gets more money. Jack Smith and Rogers Hornsby are hold ing up President Branch Hickey of St. Louis for more money, and Frs kline Mayer of the Phillies refuses to accept the cut in salary which he has received. These are only a few of the holdouts who have already bobbed up to add to the club owners worries.
 Except for a few of the prosperous clubs there was a general reduction in salaries throug ghout both leagues. While some of the club owners an- nounced that the salary reductions would be small, nevertheless the tar diness of the\ return of signed con- tracts shows that there are going to be many more baIky ball players this spring than the club owners bar gained for.
 The Giants. the Chicago White Sox, the Cubs and the Boston Red Sox have not adopted any wholesale plan of reducing salaries; in fact, some of the players on these clubs have had | an increase for their good work last season. The other clubs, however, are not in a position to boost\ salaries and they have been forced to re- | trench.
 A few of the Brooklyn players have ] signed, and there are few in stances throughout both leagues where players are bound by contracts holding over from last year. The Yankees sent out their contracts seV- 1 eral weeks ago, but 1one of the reg ulars have yet signed, and Manager Miller Huggins will commence this week to round up his players and find out why the contracts have not been coming in.
 The major league players figure that they can hold out for more sal ary or at least hold out on demand to get as much as last season, be- cause they believe that the major leagues will need every one or their regulars who are not taken by the draft, in order to keep up the high standard of play. Last season some
 one in authority passed the wore among the ball players not to enlist
 and to wait until they were called
 This impressed the players with theil
 importance and made them realize
 that the club owners were anxious tc | keep them.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
PECKINPAUGH IS 27
 YEARS OLD TODAY

Most ball players branded with such a monacker as Peckinpaugh would have grabbed off a new label when entering on their career, but Roger of that ilk has gamely stuck to the name of his fathers, to the disgust of the scorekeepers. The Yankee shortstop and ex-pilot is twenty-seven years old today, as he was born in Wooster, Ohio, Feb. 5, 1891. His youth was spent in Cleveland, and he was bought by the Maps in 1910 shortly after he had started his career with New Ha- ven. In 1911 he was sent to Port land, in the Pacific Coast League, but was recalled by Cleveland the follow ing season. He didn't make much of a success in his home town, but when he landed with the New Yorks he soon showed sensational improve ment and gained a prominent place among the American League short stops.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
NORWEGIAN STAR
 WINS AT TENNIS

New York, Feb. 5-Playing her ini- tial game in this country Mrs. Johan Rogge, of Norway. triumphed over Miss M. Vanderhoof in the opening days play of the women's invitation tennis tournament for the benefit of the Red Cross at the Heights Casino in Brooklyn yesterday. The unex- pected defeat of Miss Vanderhc-f came as a great surprise to the fol- lowers of women tennis. as the latter was runner-up to Miss Molla Bur- stedt in the national outdoor cham pionship last summer.
 Mrs. Rogge played exceptionally fine tennis and scored a clean cut victory over her rival in straight sets, winning by 6-4, 6-4. The new net star, who promises to be Miss Bjurstedt's greatest rival in this country, employed a powerful stroke in eliminating Miss Vanderhoef and was as quick as a flash on recovering shots. She clearly outplayed and outmanouvered Miss Vandehoef and was loudly applauded by the gallery when the match was over.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
Talk Of Sports
YES, WE WONDEI;

YES, WE WONDER We wonder if-- - When he for the minors set sail, still delighted the crowd With song cheery and loud, Or if his songs turned to a vail.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05

Tributes in the form of telegrams, letters and personal calls poured in all day. Perhaps the most impress sive of all was the large number of little boys and girls who came yester- terday afternoon to view the remains. Fully 400 visited the home.
 Nor did it diminish in the evening. Until late hour last night steady stream of men, women and children filed past the bier, for the sister would not deny the world it's opportunity to pay this last honor to the gladiator who was their hero.
 Two of John Us oldest friends yes terday told his sister a new story about the champion, and they vouch for its accuracy. They are Mace" Finnerty and Ben Simmons of Rox- bury.
 In the spring of 1889, the year in which he fought Jake Kilrain, Sulli- van was stricken with typhoid fever and lay in his bed at Revere fourteen weeks. While in this condition the , demand came for the bout with Kill rain. John L. went to Canada on a cane to sign articles. After victory in the 75-round bout, Sullivan de- clared he had fought while hardly above to move his legs.
 When John L.'s nephew passed the cigars yesterday at the continuation of the wake, one souvenir hunter , and there were many-captured the : silken band and placed it tender1y in his pocket
 Plans for a memorial for the dead champion were being consideded, but 1 no decision as to its nature was reached.
 Arthur w. Covert of New York came here yesterday with view of having the body of Sullivan lie in state at Madison Square Garden or Carnegie Hall, but this was opposed by SuIlivans sister as well as by C. NV. Powley, attorney and confidential adviser of Sullivan, who has charge of the funeral arrangements.
 Friends of the dead pugilist SUE ,gested that memorial services should ibe held in this city, either in Faneui Hall or in the Mechanics Building A memorial service also may be held in New York.
 Contrary to popular impression, Sul- livan did not leave much of an es- tate. Although he had made a for tune in the ring and later in thearri' cal ventures, his friends said yester day that the veterans estate. consisted only of his farm at Abingdon and 2 few securities.
 Sporting men from many Easter States are reported on the way hert to view the remains or to attend th' funeral on Wednesday morning at | o'clock Many of nationwide prom nence visited the Lennon home yes terday, and many were the intimate personal stories these former com panions of John L. told his bereavet sister-every story a new proof of tn goodness of the champions heart.
 The body is laid out in a mahogan coffin, lined with white satin and wit a simple solid silver nameplate bear ing the name JOHN l.. SULLIVAN.
 The coffin was specially ordered an
 arrived from New York yesterday
 this city being unable to supply on of sufficient size. The champion
 attired in full dress.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
TODAY IN PUGILIsTIC ANNALS

18S7-Jack Dempsey defeated Den nv Killian in four rounds at Philadel- phia.
 1903-Jack Johnson defeated Den yer Ed Martin in 20 rounds at Los Angeles.
 1904-Battling Nelson defeated Jack O'Nei1 in four rounds at Mill waukee.
 19O8-Johnny Summers and Bert Reyes fought six rounds, no decision, at New York.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
LOSES TO
 DEMPSEY ON FOUL

Buffalo, Feb. 5-Carl Morris of Oklahoma. was disouahfied in the sixth round bout with Jack Dempsey of Utah here last nigbt- Dempsey wetgned 19S pounds acS Ec3ris 226- Dempsey had the best of the fight all the way and had his opponent groggy when the referee stopped the bout. Morris had been repeatedly cautioned for hitting low.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
JAKE KILRAIN PAYS
 TRIBUTE TO JOHN L.
Man Who Was Knocked Out by One Time Champion in Famous Seventy five Round Battle Views Body of His Conqueror- Hundreds Passed by Coffin at Con- tinuation of the Wake.

 Sullivan that famous bareknucle fight at Rchburg Miss which  70 lew of is o
  L
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05

Jack Crooks, second baseman of the St. Louis National League team in 1880 and 1890, died in the Mound City yesterday.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-05
FoRDHAM BOOKS MUTEs

New York, Feb. 5-The deaf mute eleven from Gallaudet College of Washington will meet the Fordham football team next season
The Washington herald., 1918-03-08
CHILD'S Tongue
BECOMES coated
IF CONSTPATED
When Cross. Feverish and Sick
Give California Syrup
of Figs"

children love this fruit laxative, -
and nothing ei-e cleanses the tender
stomach, liver and bowels so nicely.
A child simply will not stop playing
to empty the bowels, and the result
is, they become tightly clogged with
waste, Evei gets sluggish, stomach
sours, Ihen your little one becomes
cross, half-sick, feyerish, don't eat,
sleep or act naturally. breath is bad,
system fun Of cold, has sore throat,
stomachache or diarrhoea. Listen,
Mother! See IL tongue Is coated then
give a teaspoonful Of California
syrup Of Figs" and In a few hours
all the constipated waste, sour bile,
and Qndigested food passes out Ct
the system anC You have a well. play
full child again
Millions OF mothers give California
Syrup of Figs" because it is perfectly
harmless; children love It. and It
never fails to act on the stomach
liver and bowels.
Ask your druggist for a bottle
of California Syrup of Figs" which
has full directions for babies, chill
dren Of all ages and for grown
ups plainly psInted on the bottle. Be
ware OF co1Dterfeits sold here. Ger
the genuine. made by California Fig
Syrup Con.pany." Refuse any otha
kind with contempt.-Adv.
The Washington herald., 1918-03-08
LORD READING
PRAISES U. S.
PREPARATIONS
Says Tremendous Effort and
Sacrifice Only viii
Shorten War.

New York, March THE duration
Of the war can be shortened only by
tremendous preparations and 1t is
manifest that the United States is do
ing this very thing. That is what
Lord Reading. British high commits
sioner and Ambassador to the United
States told the largest audience ever
gathered at a luncheon of the Mer-
chants Association here today. He
also said that he would send a mes
sage to the people of England. telling
them that America will never falter
in the battle for freedom and democ-
racy until victory is achieved. He
said in part:
Your President has voiced on more
than one occasion, the high ideals for
which you have entered the war. We
in Europe have learned to look to
those words of his and TO cherish
them, as representing to us the unal-
terable determination of America,
once 1t has commenced to war in
vindication OF right, never to sheathe
the sword until 1t has conquered. We
know that words spoken by the head
of the administration of this country,
are words which we can take and up
on which we can build. We do. They
are messages Of hope and comfort to
US. They cheer US in the task that
We have undertaken.
You will, of course. have to suffer
as we have suffered. You will not
shrink from 1t. pray that your
sacrifices never will be as great as
oars, but if they are. know that
you will bear them as we have had
TO bear ours.
Il say to myself that have a mes
sage to send home to my people. 1t
is that you. like us, will never fall
ter. You will never hesitate in the
course that you are striving for.
I'VE realize that this war may not
be. even from now on. a short war.
/ am not venturing to prophesy. 1
am speaking. after all. with the same
judgment which you can form when
you read the news of the day. But
am convinced Of this, that the way
to make a short war is to prepare
for a long war. and that nothing
will be nearer to bringing the war
to a conclusion than the knowledge
Of the preparations which you are ac-
tually making and which you will
continue to make"
The Washington herald., 1918-03-08
DISCUSS
NEW LIBERTY LOAN

A patriotic good-fellowship meet
ing of Washington Chapter, Ameri-
can Institute of Banking. was held
last evening in the rooms Of the or
ganization.
The speaker of the evening was
George Z. Allen. educational direc-
tor. American Institute Of Banking.
Mr.. Allen described the character
of the appeal essential to urge the
purchase of war bonds by the pub
lie. Lurid pictures would not pro-
duce results; but the sales should
be made with the object of getting
the other man to do what you want
him to do Mr.. Allen explained. He
continued: That the masses, not
the classes. must be depended upon
to absorb war loans: that the funds
Of the Morgans. Rockefellers. GouIds
and Vanderbilts would not be suf-
ficient to pay for more than one
months expenses for Americas part
in the war"
NJ. w. Harrison, of the National
War Savings Committee, gave a
short talk on the work of the Amer
lean Institute of Banking through
out the country. He stated that
there were eighty-one chapters Of
the institute, with about $4,000
members well organized for action
in aid of the government; that from
1000 to 1900 of members were now
in France or in training.
The Washington herald., 1918-03-08
OFFER Arguments
AGAINST AMENDMENTS
Federal Employees Declare Overtime
Should Come with Changes.

Congress should increase the pay Of
government employees and provide for
overtime pay at the rate of time and
a half for overtime work, II the pend
ing Borland amendment providing for
a minimum work day for Federal en-
ployes be enacted into law, the Ma
tional Federation of Federal Employees
and the advisory committee of the
Washington Federal Employees Union
declare.
Federal employees are desirous of
rendering their full measure of pa
triotic service in the present war
emergency" says their statement.
They have no objection to working.
number of hours considered necessary
by the President and the heads of the
executive departments without COM
pensation for overtime.
Should Congress deem it necessary
to enact a law requiring a minimum OF
eight hours of labor each day for Fed
eral employees, the same measure
should provide for an increase in pay
proportionate to the increase in hours
and pay for work in excess OF eight
hours day at a rate of not less than
time and one-half."
Navy yards and arsenals are now
paying overtime for work in excess OF
seven and one-half hours work per
day at the rate of time and one-half,
the statement concludes.