The Washington times., 1908-05-06

That the washington Club violated a
rule in selling the players when they
were not with the club viii be granted,
but why did Johnson permit the sale -.
Also, why should the statcmcntS or
the players alone be accepted as rea-
son for filming the washington Gun
without imposing "A penalty upon them
Jumping a club is the most serious or
baseball crimes, with the exception OF
throwing games. The commission keeps
an eagle eye upon the hoppers, calls
them 10 strict account, and does not
allow them 10 play again without q me
unless fl has been proved they nave SUI
fered an injustice.
This exception is the ground upon
which the national commission has
seized TO avoid furnishing the ohstrep-
erous players, while at the same time
handing the Washington manager ana
owners a bill for so According 10 the
published reports Of the decision ana
interviews with Chairman Garry Herr
mann. the commission. which in this
case should most likely he spelled
Ban johnson, held that Joe can
tillon had so abused these poor, un-
fortunate young persons thal Jney W. =
perfectly right in throwing down the
club at the most important part or
the baseball year
This charge that CantTlon curses
and berates his players almost beyond
human endurance is a hot favorlte with
baseball writer's and many players out
side Of this city The New York papers
are especially fond OF il. but there IS
not a city in the circuit where they do
not get or this precious bit Of gossip
every now and then and sometimes
oftener. It is worth some atteruon-
The writer has been with the WASH
ington club many weeks on the road
since CantillOn took charge, ana mas
naturally been thrown with him ana
the players daily when they were nj
home He has no interest IN taxing
up the cudEels in defense OF Cantluon
and II he thought his treatment or the
men in any way responsible for the
failures 10 win he would not hesitate
10 say So any more than ne hesitaIed
20 express the opinion that Cantilion
did himself incalCulable injury here last
season when he stopped coaching at
the home park
II is my personal opinion that the
stories 10 the effect that CanullOn Uu-
necessarily abuses his men are merely
vicious gossip started by born sore
heads and Derpetuafed by newspaper
writer's who have not taken the trouble
to investigate before making snch a
serious charge. A baseball team Is not
a young ladies' select school, nor IS its
conversation limited entirely TO quota
ton from TIE prayerDook- \ manager
who tried 10 run one on such refined
lines would last about as long as George
Huff did Il handling the Boston Amer
leans last year
When his team loses q hard game
pN tOol Playing Nahtlliou upeS ucL mes
itate to express his opinion. but that he
singles out individual players or groups
Of players and addresses them in Ian
guage other than that which they in
cessantlv use among themselves when
bantering or nagging is not true as far
as my observations extending over two
wears would indicate. That he calls
players who have, through dUmbnesS.
neglect, or indifference failed 70 do
their part IS perfectly true. and II he
did not do that he would he dropped
as a useless addition to the pay roll.
That is what he and all other baseball
managers are for, but I have never
seen or heard OF him go 70 excess in
this direction or vent personal spleen
against ono OF his men. Whether any
Of his long distance critics in other