Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-09
SPORTS OF ALL SORTS
Washington Base Ball Club
Deaf Still Hangs Fire.
.LOCALCAPITALW ANTED
PRESIDENT JOHNSON WILL NOT
SELL TO OUTSIDE PARTIES.
National Leagues Meeting in New
York-De Orc Gains on Sherman
Bowling Contests.
LOCALCAPITALW ANTED

The local situation in the base ball world
as regards the sale of the Washington club,
remains unchanged today, the controlling
interesting remaining in the hands of Presi-
dent Johnson of the American League Mr..
Johnson is in constant conference with Mr..
Lambert counsel of the club, but both
these gentlemen refused point blank to in
form The Star reporter who the parties are
with whom they are dealing. Many OF the
local stockholders have been doing some
tall guessing since President Johnson ar
rived in the city, but The Star man got only
a smile when either of these parties was
mentioned to Messrs. Johnson and Lam
bert as possible buyer of the club.
A new aspect has been given to affairs by
the appearance here of President Shibe OF
the Athletic club of Philadelphia. who has
been in the company of Mr.. johnson. I'm
mediately the thought sprang up that he
was the mysterious purchaser, but MT.
Shibe says he is here solely on the matter
of exchanging players. and that ne cou'I
not buy the Washington club on account Oh
being a big owner in the Quaker city agSre-
cation. 1t was then suggested that Messrs'
Sommers and Killelea were interested IN
the Boston club while holding control ol
other teams. but the difference OF war ana
peaceful times was suggested as an excuse;
Everything Is on peace footing now ana
President Johnson is much aVerse 10
having anything to do with what saVorS OIL
syndicate ball. 49,
Third Baseman Lave Cross OF the Ath-
Ietics Is ambitious to shine as manager.
and would like to take hold of the Senators
to demonstrate that he had as much to 90
with the Athletics success as Manager
Mack Mr. Cross Is one of the best players
in the country. and to let him out would
weaken the Athletics. not only IN playing.
but in inside work, of which the public
knows but little A good man may be Sc
cured for third base, but Washington pa
irons are aware of the difficulty In getting
a first-class third baseman. Messrs. Shibe
and Mack are also fully aware OF the Dig
chance they would run in letting Cross out.
and as much as they would like to please
Johnson in this matter. they must look
after their own interests. Mr.. Johnson has
declared himself In the matter OF putting
a first-class club in Washington, and ne
still insists that he will do 1t. Should
Cross come here Coughlin will not be let
out but will be played at short instead,
where it is expected he will be star
Manager for Washington.
The matter of a manager for the Senators
Is quite a serious question, and this Is
worrying Mr.. johnson almost as much as
the players. On this point Mr.. Johnson is
also silent. Several prominent managers
were mentioned but a shake of the head
was the only response. The report pub
lished in last nights Star that Manager
Hanlon of tue Brooklyns was slated for
this city was most emphatical.y denied by
Mr.. Johnson. who said that he had never
been thought of, let alone approached with
a proposition. Mr.. Hanlon, in New York
yesterday also denied that he had the
slightest intention Of cutting loose from
Brooklyn and coming to Washing on.
Whenever managers are spoken of for
Washington James H. Mannings name is
continually bobbing up and will not down.
This clever gentleman is located at present
in Kansas City and doing well in the man
business. but there are thousands
of fans in this city who ~elieve he could
be brought back IL the right sort of per-
suasion were used One of the best-known
base ball patrons i'll this city yesterday
suggested to The Star reporter that he
take up Manning ard boom him back to
town. He said:
L know that there are no differences
between Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. Manning,
and that the latter likes the city very
much. With Manning at the head of the
Washington club his name alone would
be worth $4,000 on the season. The one
season he was here Manning demon
strated what a good manager could do as
he won games with an aggregation that
would figure poor in the Eastern or West
ern Leagues. He is hard loser, some
thing the patrons like, and If Mr. John
son wants an Endorsement Of Mr. Manning
l will guarantee to get up petition that
will be almost a mile long and covered
only with the names of followers of base
ball in this city.
Mr.. Manning has said frequently that
he is out of base ball for good, but l know
indirectly that he would like to furnish
a winning team for Washington, as he did
for Kansas City several seasons, the mat
ter having become a sort of pride with
him. Manning has never been losing
manager, and that he had to take the
dust of so many clubs the one season he
was in Washington, has nettled him some
what and he might be persuaded to come
back and wipe out the one small marx
against his record.
Would Prefer Johnson.
There is a general wish in Washington
that Mr.. Johnson will not meet with sue
cess in the matter of selling the club, so