Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-06
SYNDICATE BASE BALL
NN.L., ECHARGE MADE
Same Capitalists Reported Control
ling Giants and Braves and
After the Cardinals.

NEW YORK. February 6.-Just as
long as We have professional base ball
there always will be more or less mys-
terry regarding the ownership of di-
yers major league clubs. Just now
the big mystery involves the Boston
Nationals. which recently were sold to
George Washington Grant of this city.
There are some who say that Grant is
naught but the representative of
Stoneham, who long has been friend
of Grants. Also it is added that
Stoneham has in view the purchase of
the ST. Louis Nationals
From st. Louis comes the informa-
tion that last season John McGraw
made inquiry into the financial state
of the Cardinals. the clubs indebted
ness to Mrs. Robinson and other de-
tails. At that time McGraw laughed
down suggestions that he might be in
the market for the outfit. Be all that
as il may. the fact remains that Stone-
ham issued no denial that he was in
VOWED in Grants acquisition of the
Braves, although McGraw has done so.
Cardinal Sin.
Syndicate base ball is regarded as
a cardinal sin in the major leagues.
There is no doubt that the new own
ership of the Braves. whoever the
buyer be, will help that club and
the National League. There is little
question that change of ownership
of the St Louis Nationals would help
that team and the league, too. But
the question arises whether it would
be polite and in the long run not I'M
healthful for the league to have one
syndicate control two or three clubs.
There might be even greater zest
in the competition and a greater
evenness in the distribution of the
better players under such system.
but the public soon would doubt the
genuineness of the competition.
Base ball cannot AFFORD to have any
such suspicion attached to it IL
behooves the National League to see
that no man controls more than one
club. And il might be good idea
to investigate whether certain man
who once was forced out of the
league has not bought himself in
again somewhere.
Story Is Doubted.
The story that Stoneham is the real
owner OF the Braves is doubted. He
may have put some money into the
pool TO help his friend Grant. but we
do not think that he has controlling
share. At that it is Questionable TO
see even minor nnanclai interest
acquired by one owner in rival club.
Charles p. Taft once had such varied
interests In the National League, but
he sold out in Chicago and later cut
loose in Philadelphia. Barney ORGY
fuss at one time was accused of hay-
ing AN interest in two clubs other
than the Pirates. The late Commo-
dore Morton +. Plant had money in
several major league clubs, but in
none did he have anything approach
ing controlling share. He liked
base ball and he liked TO help club
owners in distress. with the result
that he bought small blocks of stock
and held various owners notes.
Several National League club presi-
dents became aroused over the re-
port regarding the Stoneham trust,
and IL is reported that Grant aud
another club owner had quite a de-
bate In the National League Offices
That there will be an investigation
there is no question How deep it
will be remains to be seen.