The Washington times., 1906-12-06
TBAIL GOLF RACING BOXING $ WRESTLING ATHLETICS
PATTEN ONLY'REAL CLASSY
WASHINGTON PITCHER
Wherefore, Tales of Him Being Traded Are Not Taken
Exoneraton of Mr.. Smathers Was
EXpected-Murphy and Corbett
By THOMAS S. RICE.

Writer baseball yarns are now hav-
ing their innings. Some of them make
good reading In these days, when COM
parativeIy little is doing IN The sport
ing world, and some are mere rehashes
Of what was heard in the summer.
one OF the tales sprung today was
that Clark Griffith would probably get
Case Patten, the Washington pitcher
for the New York Americans, in eN-
change for Delehanty and an unnamed
young pitcher. This same tip went the
rounds a few months ago, and was dis
credited although l. was known that
Griffith did sound the Washington club
on the subject and was extremely anX-
ious 10 land the willing worker"
Weak Pitching STAFF.
Patten had an of year IN 1896. and
many predicted that he was ali in. One
Of those who took a contrary view was
Ben Minor, secretary os the Washington
club. lie insisted upon holding Patten
and his judgment was verified. He
would be wise ia insisting that he be
held another year.
Washington's pitching staff for 1907
Is about The weakest II could have in
the American League. Patten is the
class. Hughes is capable Of good work,
but is uncertain. Falkenberg got away
with il in good shape last season, but
viii have 70 prove that he Is a real sure
enough man Of strength and reliability.
Smith did fairly well and has the max
ings Of a valuable twirler, but is not
yet a star by any means. KitsOn's arm
went back on him, and whether he will
be able 10 pitch next season Is prob
lematicaL Because OF his hitting he
may be used as an outheldeT. TO let
patten go Tor a man or Deiehanty' S
l.cahDer would be a move on the part
OF Manager CanGllou that would be
/ hard 10 understand.
Smathers' ExoneIation Only Just.
+. +. Smathers has practically been
eXoucTated OF the charge that he caused
Lou Dillon TO be dOped 10 the race ia
which he drove Major DelmaT 10 victory
FOR the Memphis Gold Cup az Memphis,
TWO years ago. When the case came up
for hearing before the board OF review
% the National Trotting Association in
New York Yesterday the complaining
witnesses were absent. with lew eX-
ceptions, and made their charges in
the forE, Of afhdavIts. Mr.. Smathers
- on lELs4 WIN a most OF N4Ai4tEEtos
and presented such e srong case THAI
tho board could take no other action
than dismiss the charge and declare
that he had won the greatest OF all
amateur harness prizes in a fsiT and
sportsmanIike manner.
This case has been remarkable IN
many ways. Both Mr.. SmaJhers and
c. x. G. Billings, who owned Lou Dill
lon and was supposed 10 have been be-
hind the charges are very wealthy men.
Both have been 80 the harness game for
the fun of IL. acquiring in their rivalry
some OF the greatest driving horses the
world has ever known. These horses
have been kept on the professional
tracks and reserved exclusively for anna
teur contests, and IL might have been
supposed tLat the trials OF strength be-
tween men n such standing and under
such circumstances would have been
free from the slightest breath OF sus-
plciou against the principals. no matter
what might have been done by stable
attaches working private schemes OF
their own