Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-07

do not take much stock in the Nationals
for next season, but If you want to get
az true fine on us. just write to several
players of the other teams in the Ameri-
can League.
II have seen several members of the
Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago and Boston
clubs since the season closed, and they
all \told me that the Nationals We're
about as strong as any OF them. They
said we always worried them more than
the first division teams, and II that was
so last season. / think We will be still
more troublesome next summer,
any in the country. and with Mcbride at
short and Altizer or Shipke on third, the
inffeld win be able to hold its own.
''Just tell the Washington fans for me
that they needn't lose any sleep over the
Nationals next season. We will be there
with bells on from the time the first game
As played and hang on until the finish.
wrote to cantillion last week and told him
We must get into that first division or
know the reason why, and he took the
fourth place was a cinch. Everybody on
the tam likes Cantillion, and We will play
our heads of to satisfy the Washington
people that he is great manager. Good
bye, old pal. until see you April 10 or
thereabouts.'
The stockholders of the Washington
club we're made happy yesterday by the
dividend on their holdings in the organ
NATION. The board of directors thought at
hrst that IL would be better to keep big
surplus in the treasury to start next sea-
son with. but after consulting with sew
eral of the stockholders 1t was decided to
declare dividend of 4 per cent. When
the money is withdrawn to pay this divi-
dend there will be still a large sum avail
able for the spring trip. and good
amount will probably drift in from the
has a Of
fall. At the present time there are some
thing like forty players under reserve to
the Washington club, and as fully one
half OF these win be turned adrift after
will come into the Washington treasury,
Finishing in the last position In the
championship race and declaring a divi-
dend of per cent Is certainly a unique
situation In base ball and speaks volumes
for Washington as paying city.
Howard Wall, the old ball player, and at
present one of Washfngtons largest coal
merchants, has received a long letter from
old Buck Freeman, the ex-senator, who
was with Minneapolis last year. Buck re-
sides IN wilkesbArre during the winter,
and has charge of the Y. NJ. c. A. gym
nasium. He has been enjoying grand
health, and will doubtless be making
season, although Toronto has offered
something like 5000 for his release. The
Minneapolis right field fence is a short
one. but up in Toronto it is still shorter
and old Buckarene would probably land
about fifty home runs up there in sea-
son. hence the anxiety of the Canucks to
get him on their payroll
At the finish of Bucks letter to Wall,
he says: This fellow Jerry Freeman,
who is to play first for Washington next
season. will be the only real first base
man the Nationals have ever had. He
viii make that infield very strong, as he
can play the bag equal to Hal Chase, and
l am sure will prove better batter than
the California wonder. i hope the WASH
ington people will give Jerry lots of en-
couragement at the start. as good be-
ginning certainly does wonders for a ball
player