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Show MAJOR LEAGUES If GROWING IHU5 : XKW YORK, Fob. b'.Moro major i leagues iu the ucar future will be in-' in-' t'lictcd upon the long-mil ferine; public ! if a prophecy inatfo today by Johu At. I Ward ia fulfilled. Ward made this statement toi a bevy of sport writers at the Hotel Imperial. "The promoters of independent baseball," base-ball," said ilr. Ward, "are prepared to launch another circuit of major pretension pre-tension and wit'uiu the next season or two you will find the Federal champions pitted against this new rival in world's series competition. , There is no doubt in my mind that there its plenty of room for a fourth major1 league," and that iiv time too public will have, its eyes opened to the fact," .Mr. Ward was asked to name the possible pos-sible makeup ot a fourth circuit. "That is the easiest thiu in' the world," he replied. "Detroit, Cleveland Cleve-land and Cincinnati are. three recognized recog-nized major Icauo clubs of the west. It would not be difficult to find a fourth with which, t o complete the western win- Louisville always has been the pretty fair sort . of town. Then there is Toledo, which is a hustling hust-ling city. Now as to the cast, Washington Wash-ington nas only one major representative. represent-ative. The J literniitioual league has evacuated Baltimore. This big city would welcome ,a second major league promotion. New York, of course, will not, be overlooked. The west side of Philadelphia is a most fertile field. There you have a strong eastern circuit, cir-cuit, havo you not?" Ward was asked where the promoters pro-moters would find enough talent to maintain the established major league reputation in four different circuits. "The country is swarming with good players, J 5 he replied. "Four major leagues will bo seen in the near future, and it will bo a big blessing to all who have the interest of the game at heart. For the player it will broaden the stupe of his opportunities. For the promoters it will stimulate baseball iu all of the major league cities." Mr. Ward further said: "Tho Federal league does not seek to disrupt organized baseball or its principles. Such a movement on its part would be the height of absurdity. I, of course, am speaking as an outsider. out-sider. But I believe that the Federal league, peeks nothing more than the protection by injunction of its player eights." |