The sun., 1907-03-19
SPORTING TALK OF INTEREST.
BAN JOHNSON COMMENTS on
the kICkING BILL PLAYERS.
says American League VIII Not Tolerate
salary HoIduDs. Rs the Men Are All
Llberally Treated Jockey Club StIU
Looking Into BuTaIO Track Matter

In view OF the numerous American League
players who have been making kicks for in
creased salaries President Ban johnson was
ASKED on Saturday for AN opinion, which drew
from him these comments. The American
League has always been liberal in the salaries
of its players. and so far as il consistent with
business prudence and sagacity will share
its profits with the men In uniform but there
Is limit to the salary of teams and players
that cannot be exceeded. ! do not care to
discuss cases. but have investigate each
one on its merits and in not one instance has
the policy of the club been penuriOus We
want our players to be satisfied but we will
not toady to them or turn over to them the
conduct OF our clubs. Before the advent of
the American League as a rival of the National
t2,fOO salaries were rare. and $40. 900 was re-
garded as an enormous sum to pay in a season
for the services OF a whole team Major
league players must bear in mind that the
game is on a peace basis and that there is no
competition for their services. We are not
trying 10 reduce our expenses, but no club
owner can in justice to himself or his asso-
"Iates in our league pay 1000 salaries,
however valuable the player may be- We
have all our men in line with few exceptions,
and the hodouts will display lack of business
sense and poor judgment in looking after
their personal welfare"
Manager Donovan Of the Brooklyns has
notified his players that they cannot indulge
further in bowling. He says that bowling
tends to develop underhand pitchers and
throwers who are of little use to a ball club
Donovan asserts that bail players who shine
during the winter months as crack pin knights
are usually the slOwest to get their arms In
shape in the spring. Alperman, Mcintyre,
Eason and other Brooklyn players who have
been rolling the wooden sphere regularly
since last fall are all complaining of a stiffness
in their wings. IL is possible that other
managers will follow DOnovan's example.
Joe Murphy's financial hacker in the pro-
posed deal for the Buffalo racetrack. said a
well posted racing man yesterday. is Sam
Lazarus. who has been described as a Texan
hut who in reality Ia n rich st. Louis manu-
iaCturer. Whether Lazarus ia in league with
other 81. Louis capitalists, notably Celia, the
Jockey Club does not know at present But
the matter has been taken under advsement
and there will be something doing very
shortly. Murphy has not as yet cnched a
lease on the Buffalo track. but he expects to
10 this AZ Bennings. just why the Jockey
club stands ready to turn over a New York
state track to a st. Louis man is puzzlng a
great many persons who have a passing in
terpst in the sport and who believe that the
Jockey Club should con'inu to exert policy
ri sXclusiveness in this respect If only to
keep racing in Eastern hands and also to
provide sport for the many 80 called poor
owners, H. would seem to he an easy matter
for the Jockey Club TO run the Buffalo meeting
under its direct auspices, with the other big !
tracks making up a possible deficit.
However. IL Buffalo in new auds does not
come up to the requirements. II will be an easy
matter next year for the Racing Commission
to refuse another license. the Jockey Club al
the same time declining TO grant any more |
dates. Murphy has been ment iOned az mana |
ger Of City Park, New Orleans. a plant that !
IL owned and controlled by the American |
Turf Association. of which Edward COrTigan |
has been a leader since its inception. They |
say that Corrigan is out Of 1t now. but Barnes. |
who is closely identified with him. ia still one |
OF the big men in control"
The AEnew Stanley anti-rscetrack bills |
will come mp for hearing at Albany to-mor- /
before the Codes Committee Of both |
Branches OF the Legislature. The jockey
club. 10 is understood. will make a strong fight
for the perpetuaton Of the sport, while the |
enemies Of racing will also put up a stir bat
tlc. But those who have studied the situation
carefully said yesterday that the bill. in all |
probability, would not be reported.
II is said that there has been more specuIa-
ton AZ the New Orleans track this winter than
ever before. Robert Tucker il credited with
heing the biggest plunger in the Crescent City. |
At one time, it is said, he was S3I 900 ahead Of
the game. but in the last month or so he lost
this all back and at present is about even
to the good, say the gOssips. but Charley Celia.
who has been making a star book. ia about
where he started last fall. The heaviest loser
is said 10 be Jack Sheehan. who dropped nearly
siO.oOO in less than six weeks. Three years
ago Sheehan was a hustler around the Cana
dian tracks, where he ran a shoestring into
hank roll. Dave Gideon. Ike Haekelberg. |
Villy Duane and Charley Ellison are all good
winners on the two meetings.
l. 1
the other day at the expense OF Seymour I
Bputler, a PinkertOn sleuth who is we'll
known on the metropolitan tracks. Beutler |
has been in charge Of the gum shoe men at |
Ascot Park all winter. The other night he |
went out of town with several friends TO see
przenRht and became so Interested in the
affair that one of his companions pinchsd his
diamond stud unobserved when Beutler
discovered his loss he was clearly distressed.
hut when the pin was handed back l8ter on
he was subj iected TO some unmerciful iOshing
Since then Beutler has been compelled adOzen
times to tell how il all happened.
Charles +. Trevathan, "A well known turf |
" ritter and racing Official. died at West Baden
on Sunday. He arrived there a few DAYS ago
from California, where he went a year ago /
seeking cure for tuberculosis. He was asso-
ated at one time with the old Bay District
track in California, and later on was Judge
81 Washington Park track. Chicago. For
several years after that he was a turf critic on
several New York newspapers. and also wrote
a number OF songs for May Irwin. He was
known in al racing centres. and a host Of
friends mourn his loss.
Horses at Bennings are getting in some
good work in preparation for the Eastern
racing season which opens there next Mon
day. Among those that are going along
nicely are Paler Orphan Lad. Anna Smith,
Graziallo, Qusdrille. Tickle. BeldemO, Reid
more. Sandy Creeker and others. The horses
At the Long Island tracks had more salts
factory exercise yesterday in spite Of muddy
going.
Abe Attel the featherweight champion
pugilst, has beaten the game at Ascot Park
for about $1,000. Recently he bet a cool
thousand on OrmOnde's a Right At even money.
who won handily Then the little fighter
was told by Barney Schreiber that the lat
tcr's fllly Sainrda. a to shot, could fall
down get up and run home backward IN
front of her field. Attell wagered $1,000 on
her and il was like finding II. Attell, IL Is
said has cleaned up nearly S35. 600 this winter
NJ Los Angeles in the prize ring and the bet
ting ring.
Battling Nelson has Just been operated on
IN a Chicago hospital for throat trouble. Both
tonsils have been removed and the fighter