The Washington times., 1909-08-14
NATIONALS DICKER
WITH HARRY DAVIS
TO MANAGE TEAM
Ben Minor and Ed Walsh in Philade phia in Confer
ence With Captain and Manager Of
the Athletics.
ALMOST CERTAIN TO GET THE POSITION
Owners of the White Elephants Willing 10 Allow Davis
to Go IF He Can Make Arrangements With Rep
resentatves to Lead Washington Club.
By THOMAS KIRBY.

Harry Davis, OF the philadelphia Ath-
istics, viii almost certainly be at the
helm OF the Nationals next Season.
Ed. Walsh and Ben Minor, stockholders
of the Washington team confirmed the
reports after yesterdays game at Shibe
Park. Philadelphia. that the efforts were
being made by the washington club to
pave the way for Davis accession 10
Cant1Ilon's boots. The first step in the
affair, Mr. Walsh said. was a discussion
OF the proposition with Connie Mack at
Washington when the Athletics were
there on their recent trip.
The washington stockholders are in
favor Of Davis, according to Mr.. Walsh.
According to reports from Philadelphia
he Is virtually commissioned 70 speak
for them IN the matter and to deal. with
Mr.. Minor, with the tAhletics.
s-Fur the present" said Mr.. Minor
after the game yesterday, the deal viii
not be pressed. a month win probably
elapse before the time for q discussion
Of terms viii be reached
eft can be said with entire truth that
there IS a chance OF Davis being our
manager. No deal has yet been framed
IN but there is a great deal Of senti-
Needed At Present.
The gist OF the subject is that the
Nationals want Davis, but there IS a
present hitch because Connie Mack
needs him badly where he is There
appears 10 be no chance TO get him out
Of his present berth while the season
is on, but a change Of conditions may
come with the seasons end, and it is
then the really serious talk viii ensue.
Davis is we'll qualified by temperament
and training to take over The Teins OF
team government. Connie Mack who
has watched him closely with the eye
OF an expert appraiser OF men, LllUkS
50 Mack would like 70 see Davis 90
up the baseball ladder. His only hesi-
tatson at this time comes from the fact
that with the team fighting for the pen
nant there is no apparent way open for
Davis release
Ban johnson IS said to favor the
movement, although he would not make
comment on II when approached on the
subject. He IS, Of course. quite cogni-
zant OF the affair. and has been from
5ts inception. He VIII probably use his
influence and his diplomacy 10 further
ing IL. at the same time being careful
20 urge nothing that viii IN any way
weaken the Athletics.
wniett and Smith viii probably pitch
IN the game today that starts al
o'clock
A man never appreciates ashes until
he falls on the Ice neither does the
washington fan realize the true worth
Of Charley Street until he is missing
For the past two days the Nationals
have looked worse than a Class r team
with substitutes in the lineup kahoes
Blankenship and hlllifeT, the trio that
tried TO brace up the backstopping, were
utterly helpless and once the Tigers GOT
on the bases they simply ran wild,
stealing everything but the foul lines.
This naturally took the steam out OF
the pitchers for 50 puerls was the
catching, the work OF the other players
must be thrown completely out OF the
reckoning.
me Developments demonstrate that
Street Is badly IN need OF an understudy
The perennial cry that ball players are
not 70 be had Is today as true as II
ever was. but II would be wise idea
70 cast the lines as another catcher Is
simply imperative.
Charley Street may rlzhffuIly be proud
OF catching nearly every game the Ma
fionals play during a season, but 50
we're the pitchers who used 70 wiz
double-headers in one day only to aWak
en the next year and ind that they
overwork never benefited any ath
Iete.
That. announcement about the disnis
sal Of Tim Hurst and signing Of Mike
Thompson seems 70 have been prema
fure II NAV come 10 pass later but 81
has not yet happened.
On the list, promulgated by the Ma
tional commission. Of PLAYERS who have
been sold 10 minor league clubs Qude
agreement 10 be repurchased betOr
August %. Washington is credited witt
but two-Bert Kelley ana Bill Shipke
both OF whom are with Omaha.
shipke may be recalled al any TIM
within the next couple OF weeks. as h