Evening star., 1909-02-21
MANY NATIONALS
SIGN CONTRATSC
Thirteen Within the Fold and
Others Will Come in
Without Trouble.

President Tom c. Noyes Of the Wash
ington base ball club arrived home from
Chicago yesterday. where he had been in
attendance at the spring meeting of the
American League. He brought with him
almost a satchel full Of signed contracts
Of the Washington players and appeared
to be elated over his trip to the Windy
city. The men who have signed for the
coming season are Kelley, Gray, Free
man, Groom. Blankenship. Unglaub,
Shipke, Street, Hughes, Tannehill, Nc
Bride, Clymer and Rapp. Of the men
still outside the breastworks, Burns and
Delehanty have just arrived from the
orient and little trouble is expected from
them, while Johnson, Ganley and Milan
are as good as signed. Everybody has
been ordered to meet Manager Cantillon
in Chicago Monday, March 1. and the
players will take a special car from the
Windy city to Galveston, leaving Monday
evening. All the details of the trip have
been mapped out and arranged for. and
the entire team is due in this city on the
morning of April 12.
The purchase of "Wid" Conroy of the
New York Yankees Mr.. Noyes considers
master stroke, as three different clubs
were after him and the locals outbid the
others Both Mr.. Noyes and Manager
Cantillon believe that Conroy is a better
man for the Nationals than Elberfeld, as
he is easier landed and always in the
game.
"Cantillon tells me that Conroy will
play third base" said Mr.. Noyes, land
hot n i,, hat fxxyn
years ago we think we have one of the
best third sackers in the business. Con-
roy has played every position on the in
and out fields and Joe says he can fill
thern all we'll. Personally, would sooner
have him than Elberfeld.
After I had reached Chicago and con-
suited Mr.. Cantillon, we met Messrs.
Farrell and Stallings of the New Yorks
and quickly learned that Elberfeld would
not be disposed of for any consideration
whatever. Stallings said he was willing
to let go of Conroy. and after days
dickering with us and Cleveland the third
ba seman was purchased for Washington.
Cleveland has the pennant bee buZZing in
it's bonnet; President Somers is willing to
pay out almost any sum for the right
men, and the other club owners at the
meeting said Washington was very for
tunate in buying Conroy.
1.-The time is not far distant when there
will be no trading of players. The fact
that one manager may foist an undesir-
able player on another for a first-class
man. thereby creating dissatisfaction and
hard feeling, is surely bringing about the
elimination of trades. Hereafter when a
manager has a player to dispose of he
will put a price on him and take the
money thus secured to purchase another
man in his place. Although nothing posi-
tive was arrived at during the recent
meeting, there was a general understand
ing between the American League mag
mates that this policy will be carried out
in the future. Perfect harmony prevails
in the American League. and the mag
mates are In such solid position at
present that no one desires to take advan-
tage of another.
About the disposition of Pitcher Bill
Burns, President Noyes had little to say.
Manager Cantillon Is fully aware of
Burns ability and worth, and the chances
are that he will be held on to until after
the season opens. and perhaps all year.
Burns is the only left handler on the
team. and Mr.. Cantillon wants to assure
himself fully that Southpaw Dolly Gray
makes good In fast company before any
consideration will be given offers for Big
Bill. Burns could have been traded for
was paid for the Widow in preference.
which demonstrates that Manager Can
tillon considers the big southpaw of con-
siderable value. At present there are
two standing offers of big money for
Burns. Just how much Mr.. Noyes refused
to state, but as before stated he will at
least start the season with the Ma
tionals. The reported i'll feeling between
Ganley and Burns has not worried Man
ager Cantillon in the least, as Joe always
points to the Baltimore club when 1t won
the championship as conclusive demon
stration that quarrels among the players
hurt the playing of the team very little
If at all.
The recent dispatches from Lynchburg,
Va, saying that Elberfeld had not heard