Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-04
BY J. ED GRILLO.

About the only construction that one
can place on the action Of the national
commission in it's request that only
strong line-ups be used in playing exhibit
ton games in foreign lands is that the
powers that be have reasons for not
wanting to arouse the ire of the players.
Failure to pass a rule forbidding these
transforming trips comes as a surprise
to those who have read statements from
President johnson in which he condemn
ed this practice. 1t was naturally sup
posed that IL this subject was reached
at the meeting that some drastic meas
ures would be adopted to prevent these
transforming trips. but instead the COM
mission decides not to interfere with the
meekly suggests that when such trips
are made that the strongest possible
lineup be presented.
That looks. very much like d back
down, and yet the commission really has
no right to dictate to either players or
club owners as to what they may or may
not do during the idle season.
That these transforming tours as now
conducted are a detriment to the game
there is not the slightest doubt, but the
commission perhaps realizes that 1t has
no right to interfere with the players
who want to take such trips.
AID Wolgasts action in taking on
George Memsic. a third-rater. thus side
stepping Owen Moran, will not meet
with public approval. Wolgast made the
match with Memsic. which is to take
place Washington's birthday for no
other reason than to prevent the Brit
isher from claiming the lightweight title
by forfeit. He has been successful In
this, since his fight with Memsic will
take place on the anniversary of his vic
tory over Nelson. and he avoids losing
the title by failure to fight within a
year. But Wolgast is not helping his
standing with the public by these tao
tics.
When base ball won over Garry Herr
mann it made the present organization
possible. For eight years the Cincinnati
magnate has served as the chairman OF
the national commission, a body which
deals with all sorts Of cases and is con-
stantly to be called upon to infiict pun
ishment on the very men who created II.
1t is most remarkable that one man
should be able to hold so important a
position in base ball. He might do it in
differs from any other business. There
Is more competition. more jealousy, and
last, but not least, a greater variety OF
individuals are identified with the game
than with any other enterprise.
That Hermann has served most satis-
factorily at the head of the commission
is proven by the fact that tnere has
never been any movement against him.
and to this must be attributed much OF
the success that base ball has attained
in recent years.
With any other man at the head Of so
important a body there would undoubted-
Iy have been dissatisfaction and wran-
Cling, with the result that the entire base
ball structure would probably have oeen
demoralized long before this
While there are times that the COM
mission takes action with which many
interested in the game 90 not agree. ye.
much of the credit for the successful Pc
Rod the game is enjoying.
There is no denying that it is the gen
eral impression that John McGraw. lead.
er of the New York Giants, because or
his fiery temper could not be popular
with his players, but this seems to De
erroneous, IL the opinions given by the
men who work for him are 10 De pc
lieved. There have been numerous praises
sounded for McGraw by the men under
him, which undoubtedly gives the best
line on his character. o
RUDE Marquard. whom Mciraw mas
been carving for several years without
really getting anything in return for the
S11 600 he paid for his release. Is the
iatest to come across with a boost for
his manager. In Cleveland the other
day Marquard said:
1.-THE greatest manager In the world and
the finest fellow that ever hveo:
EVERY man who ever saw New York
uniform swears by McGraw. He Is a
prince in every sense of the word, known
TO base ball perfectly. and knows how to
Most people gain the idea that Nc
Graz is a fiery. Wild-tempered individual, |
addicted to abusing people in general |
NJ, -. v,bsre thew are wrong. FREQUENT. !