DEVOTED TO BASE BALL AND TRAP SHOOTING VOL. 64. No. 1O PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER 7, 1914 PRICE 5 CENTS MOVES FOR BASE BALL PEACE A Beginning Made in the Matter of a Possible Peace Settlement By Way of a Conference Between a Representative of Organized Ball and a Magnate of the Independent Federal League war were discussed, Mr. Hermann Mid very little. He remarked: "Before the subject of Chairman Herrmann, of the Na peace was broached in New York, we all tional Commission a born diplo swore ourselves to secrecy regarding the nego mat and natural pacificator has tiations. It was agreed that publicity prob ably would wreck our plans and we will say opened the way for future confer nothing until we have reached a decision. ences on the subject of peace be None of those interested can talk for publica tween the warring major league tion at this time. There may ba something elements, by a preliminary confer to give out before the meeting of the minor ence with a representative of the leagues or directly thereafter, but any state independent Federal League. It will ment now would be mere guesswork:" Mr. Herrmann would say no more except that the be an easy or short matter to reach club owners of the National and American a basis of settlement if Organised Leagues will be consulted before any steps Ball is willing to accept the Federal are taken, even in the negotiations. The plan league into felloivship as a major being considered is believed, to include the ab league; and it will be just the sorption of the Federal League, so as to leave only the American and National Le©agnes in reverse if the plan is predicated the major class. In other words, it is be upon absorption, or relegation to lieved that the formerly-broached scheme of minor league .status, of the new taking the Wards and Weeghman and assign league, as that organization has ing the other Federal League promoters to made too many sacrifices for its minor league status, is the basis of the nego third major league theory to lightly tiations between Herrmann and Weeghman. or quickly abandon it. There is little doubt of an honorable settle Desertion or Treachery Improbable BROOKLYN, N. Y., November 4. Walter ment, if settlement be made at all, S. Ward, secretary of the Brooklyn Federal as Base Ball has advanced beyond League Club, said yesterday that recent meet the stage of "throwdowns" and ings in which Charles Weeghman, owner of "sell-outs," and such other perfidies the Chicago Federal League Club, conferred as were once regarded as a le with Chairman Herrmann and other repre gitimate part of the war game; sentatives of Organized Ball, did not indicate a desertion of the Federal League by Weegh moreover, anything but a mutually man, even if the purchase of the Cubs could fair settlement would not bring last be brought about. "The Federal League is ing peace and it is lasting peace solidly lined up for the future, whether there the sport needs in view of the many is peace or not, 1 © he said, "and there is no ills, besides war, afflicting the pro chance of disrupting our ranks through tempt ing any of the promoters." Mr. Ward ap- fessional game. parently is not worried a bit about the Chi cago reports that Weeghman has virtually admitted that Mr. Herrmann practically was Peace Negotiations Started Mr. taft©s agent and there was a possibility of Mr. Weeghman getting the West Side fran CHICAGO, Ills., November 2. Peace nego chise. tiations have been waging for several days, with President Weeghman, of this city, acting Talks Like Old-Lin« Magnate for the Federal League, and Chairman Herr CHICAGO, Ills., November 3. Representa mann, acting for the National Commission. tives of Organized Ball and the Federal On Saturday and yesterday, these two gentle League have reached one mind on the subject of the players© inflated salaries, even though men had a number of conferences which they are not yet ready for a general peace- were at various times participated in by proclamation, according to a statement last by President Johnson, of the American night by President Weeghman, of the local League, and President Gilmore, of the Federal BENJAMIN KAUFF Federal League Club. Said he: "Club owners League. Late last night, Mr. Weeghman said Outfielder of the Indianapolis Federal League Club have tired of putting up outlandish contracts that peace was in sight, but it would be in order to hold their stars. Take, for in Benny Kauff, the young outflelder of the Indianapolis Federal league Club, is probably stance, Walter Johnson©s latest demand that necessary to hold three or four more meetings tlie most sensational ball player who has broken into the big leagues since the entry of Eddie he be paid $20,000 for a signature on a Fed before the terms of peace could be decided Collins and Ty Cobb. Kauff was born January 5, 18-90. at Middleport, 0., ajid his rise to eral contract. That means $700 a game, as upon. Said he: fame has been meteoric, to say the least. Kauff was picked up by the New York Americans suming that he would appear im 30 full games. a few months after he joined the Parkerarburg, W. Va,, Club, in 191-0, but was so green "Yes, we discussed ways and means of ending the that lie was turned over to the Bridgeport Club, of the Connecticut League, for the balance The base ball men I have conferred with are basa ball war. It©s going to be a big job, but I am of the season. The following year he was recalled by the New Yorks, but was passed up again unalterably opposed to the-se fancy salaries. happy to say that peace is in sight. Everything will without a thorough trial. This time lie was shipped to the Hartford, Coiinec©ticut League, Not only will the new contracts of the stars be amicably settled before the clubs make ready for Club. H« remained with thai club until thin Spring, when he signed with the Federal contain lower figures, but the clubs will cease, , the 1915 season. It will take several more meetings, League. Kauff, like Cobb, was considered an ordinary ball piayer until to suddenly found to number as many players as last year." however, before the details of the peace plan can ©be himself this Spring. Ho led the Federal League in batting, made more hits than any man threshed out." in the country, stole 63 bases and had a great extra-base hit column. In runs scored, he Weeghman Acting in Good Faith. Further than to make the above statement, has been equaled oi>ly by Eddie Collins, who played more games. It is indeed a most won CHICAGO, Ills., November 4. President Mr. Weeghman had nothing to say relative to derful record and there is erery reason to believe that he will continue to bo a marvel. He Weeghman, of the Tinx, took occasion yes the matters discussed. Several times during is a, right-handed thrower and left-handed hitter; and stands only nvs feet, live and one-half terday to spike ugly rumors that have been the conferences, Mr. Weeghman held private inch**, in height, but weighs 1T5 pounds. gaining circulation since his first conference conversations with President James A. Gil- with Garry Herrmann at New York that a ^more, of the Federal League. Why Mr. Gil- purchase of the Cubs would mean his de more did not take part in the conference was sertion of the Federal League. The scandal not made known. The absence of the Fed mongers have held that Weeghman was wait eral League president from the confab gave to his North Side park. Mr. Weeghman denied Herrmann, of the National Commission, re ing a chance to jump into organized base ball, rise to the report that Messrs. Herrmann and this after the conference. turned from Chicago yesterday, bringing with leaving the Federal League without a club Johnson were trying to entice Mr. Weeghman him, it is said, definite proposals for settle here, which would practically mean the dis away from the Federal League by fixing up a ruption of the independent organization. © ©I deal whereby he could grab off the Chicago Chairman Herrmann Confirms Report ment of the war. Except to admit that pre Rational League franchise and move tlie team CINCINNATI, 0., November 3. Chairman liminary negotiations lor ending the base ball Continued on nineteenth page News of the Fraternity News of the Pacific Coast **^Pffl?TTN(r fined> ctc-" These words, lost to the Na- Cleveland claimed him (Jrifflth appeared to be greatly DAVID FULTZ SUES *** VJXAUlM tional League," are very significant and show THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE pretty conclusively the reason for the rule- The writer is not thoroughly familiar with LIFE" FOR LIBEL The Waiver Rule, when rightly administered, this case, but it is safe to say Columbus, fol PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE is of some benefit to the players, but under lowing the usual custom, was not going to the present, practice, in many cases, it is ab pay Drohan as much as Washington had been solutely worthless, as it is not lived up to. paying him. or as much as Cleveland is now- We say unhesitatingly that it is an easy mat paying. The The Leader of, the Players© Frater ter for some magnates to get waivers on their Results in Retrenchment Rules and players. It is the etiquette of the profession; INJUSTICE NARROWLY AVERTED nity Takes Umbrage at a Mere a few nudges, a few sly winks, promises of by thi? player is, therefore, apparent.