DEVOTED TO BASE BALL AND TRAP SHOOTING VOL. 63. NO. 25 PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST 22, 1914 The President of the National League Gives His View of the Causes of Universal Base Ball Depression; Considers Third Major League Issue Virtually Settled; and Deprecates Contract-Breaking Tactics came the great European war, wltJi Its attendant re action, and enthusiasm waned train, except possibly President Tencr, of the National In Boston, thanks to Ahe Braves treat pennant-rusk." League, after the recent secret con THINKS NATIONAL, BATTLK WON ference of his club owners in New Governor Tener refused to discuss th« Fed York, was interviewed and was eral League or any National League or Na tional Commission policy that may have been quoted as attributing the base ball determined up»n in furtherance of organized depression to the ivars of the na base ball©s stand against the independents; tions rather than to the base ball but he did say: war; as expressing the belief that "I have maintained frwn th« first that there 1» not room for both of us. The success of either Is a ques the third major league issue had tion for the public t* decide. Certainly organized base been virtually decided by the public ball has no reason to complain of its treatment by the public. In my opinion the die has been cast in our against the new independent faror. I do not know h<wr far the Federal Leasuo league; and trs deprecating the an backerg are prepared to go. They have suffered far more heavily than we in the fight. Certainly organized tagonism of the modern Fraternity base ball will proceed irrespective of all opposition." members toward Organised Ball, Governor Tener has not been able to giva and their proncness to disregard more than perfunctory attention to base ball contractual obligations. It is not affairs this year, as his term of office does not expire until the end of this year. His guid likely that the views attributed to ing hand, however, has brought the league he Mr. Tener reveal all of his senti represents through one peril. It was upon ©his ments, as they hardly go deep advice that his colleagues early last Spring went after their players and signed them at enough into the causes and effects any cost. It was also by his advice that the that have produced the present ten days© clause was eliminated from the con deplorable conditions, and are so tract and that players were signed to straight vaguely worded as to give no clue contracts for a term of years. to his views upon the pressing THE LATEST PLAYER MENACE paramount questions upon which Governor Tener knew from experience that the average base ball player reasons by dol are based the alternatives of further lars and cents rather than through sentiment. war, or reconstruction and abiding This champion of organized base ball once fig ured prominently on the losing side of a war peace. against the old established promoters. That was in the days of the Brotherhood, in the in terests of which the present National League Governor Toner©s View of the Situation executive held a secretai-yship. Of that disas NEW YORK, N. Y., August 18. As the big trous period Mr. Tener said: European war thickens America©s little sham "Base ball players have absolutely no Interest In, battle in the realm of its popular sport dwarfs the gate receipts so long as their pay cheeks are hon into insignificance. The great struggle of the ored semi-monthly. I have often regretted that T, joined the Brotherhood. My brother, who is a gbrewcj Old World is likely to precipitate peace in and calculating business man and who had been .1 base ball. With the exception of those few father to me, told me I was making a mistake. ©You cities of the major and Federal leagues which ball players are getting far,©more than you earn,© said still have fine pennant prospects there seems he. ©If you go on holding up your employers sooner or comparatively little interest in the national later you will kill the goone that lays the golden eggs.© Summer game, certainly not enough to justify Ills logic was sound and 1 knew it. At the time I the present cut-throat policies of the rival thought I had retired from base ball. I had just fin factions. Governor John K. Tener, of Penn ished a trip around the world with A. G. Spaldlng©u sylvania, who heads the National League, ad teams. I had become- veiy friendly with Mr. Spald- mits that base ball in general has been dealt ing. He wished me to re-sign with Chicago. ©Anson,© ft telling blow by the European imbroglio. said he. ©is aging and soon he will have to give way to a younger man. You will be his successor if you THE QUESTION OF ATTENDANCE remain.© I appreciated the stability of this promisa The Governor discussed the situation at and realized it was a gieat chance for me. But at tha length while here several days ago for an in WILLIAM j. BRADLEY time I was determined to retire from the gam*. But formal meeting of National League club own what happened? The Brotherhood came with an offer Player-Manager of the Brooklyn Federal League Club of $4000 guaranteed, a big salary in those days, andi ers. He is quoted in the ©©Sun 1 © of this city, I cast my lot with them. Under these circumstances as saying: Despite the fact that this is William J. Bradley©s first year as a manager, the pace his 1 can appreciate the feelings of the present-day play "The attendances at base hall games are not half Brooklyn team Is setting in the Federal League proves him to be as great a leader as he was ers. J cannot blame them for trying to better them what they should be considering the closeness of the a third baseman, aud It will be remembered that he and Jimmy Collins were considered the selves financially, so lang as they do so in honorable races ii) the two major leagues. Of course, the Fed greatest the game has ever known. In building up his club, Bradley was placed at a great fashion. Contract jumping is not honorable. I do not eral league has cut in some upon the patronage of disadvantage inasmuch as Brooklyn was talien into ths Gilmore organization at tlie eleventh countenance it. Nor do I consider it honorable in organized base ball, but by no manner enough to hour and the manager was forced to sign players other leaders had passed up and accept those who after allying themselves to a new cause justify the general slump of enthusiasm. The whole some men whom the Federal League agents had signed. As soon as he was chosen manager. have tried to influence others to break their moral and world seems war mad. The fart is well illustrated by Bradley personally secured Hofnian, Jim Delahanty, Shaw, Holt, Laud, Anderson, Maxwell legal obligations." conditions which have prevailed to date this year. and ©Marion. Seaton was sent to the club at the earnest solicitation of President Gilmore., as Karly in the campaign the races in both t©1 ? .National were Kvans and Cooper. Westerzil was originally signed by Tinker, but donated to Brooklyn In conclusion, Governor Tener said that ©he when Zeider east his lot with the Chifeds. The former, under Bradley©s tutelage, has now and American Leagues were unusually close and j ^ i *.,* n.~ v. * ii.;...i ,._~i.-- *~ *!> i.-~._ \yas not long before Bradley succeeded had no doubt of the ultimate triumph of Or spirited. Practically evety club bad a fighting chance ganized Ball; that the public is deciding the for a championsliip. But at that time the relations issue; and that idle talk of peace or war will between the United States and Mexico were strained. avail nothing. The general public forgot its popular amusements in the excitement of prospective hostilities. When the COMPROMISE IN TH3 AIR atmosphere to the south hail cleared there was a per While neither side will admit it, the feeling ceptible return in devotion to America©s greateset sport grows daily that some sort of compromise In spite of the fact tfiat the races were not so close. Within a few weeks the public was as interested as Continued on third page It ever had been before the Federal League sprang Into existence. In short order the attendance, in our circuit &t letit, had swung hack to normal. Then See page 25 for Classified Ad». SPORTING LIFE AUGUST 22, 1914 THAN CIS C. KICHTER, EDITOR THOMAS D. BICHTBB, ASSISTANT BDITOB The Mack-Bancroft Tour the Federal League. The Governor would not dis played good ball all year, but let him make the o SIGNS OF PEACE CASTING THEIR cuss base ball politics from any angle. slightest slip and the critics bum him with fearful CALIFORNIA TO BE GIVEN A fury. You cannot blame J. H. W. for thinking of SHADOWS BEFORE life in the shade. VIEW OF CHAMPIONS PITTSBURGH PENNINGS MOWREY©5 MANLY ACT Henry Mowrey is a game man. Though Pittsburgh! Spurt of the Boston Band Drives Fag Away gave him a bob-tail discharge that is an uncondition Significant Conclusion Drawn From al release with an indifferent playing tag tacked on ii The Athletics, Led By the Peer From Old Union Race Fans Enthuse the veteran was manly enough to call at Corsa.it headquarters and say adieu.