The Washington herald., 1911-11-02
Griffith in Conference
With Ban johnson
Nationals New Manager Discusses Plans-John-
son Says Washington Is Lucky in
Obtaining "Grif."
special 10 Tbe Washinrtop HeraId.

Special to The Washington Herald.
| Chicago, Nov. L-CIarke Griffith, newly
appointed manager of the Washington
club of the American League arrived in
Chicago this morning and conferred with
President Ban Johnson. The successor
of James McAleer, who recently laid
down the reins as manager of the Gin
cinnati Reds, said:
| Il look forward to the coming three
years with a great deal of pleasure
have left club which will be heard from
| in the National League race next year
and am going to one which will need con-
siderable building up to become factor in
the American League. but nevertheless 1
am more than satisfied with the change.
| ''The Reds this year, notwithstanding
the fact that they finished in sixth posi-
ton, are 30 per cent stronger than when
they ended up in fourth place, and the
backbone for a corking good ball club is
there. 1 had more than my share of
tough luck with the team during the
season just over. My pitchers went back
on me early in the year and other ele-
ments cropped up which made the road
a 4 hard one to travel. Cincinnati is a
tough town for a manager.
NO, l haven't the slightest idea who
will succeed me. I'd like to see one of
the boys now on the team get the posi-
tion. They're all good fellows and capa-
BILE, and any one would make good.
Il think the Washington club offers
golden opportunity. The time when a
man can buy a block of stock in any
major league team has just about gone.
It's getting more difficult every year. We
should have a good club in Washington.
Following his conference with Griffith
the American League president said:
1T is a good thing for the Washington
club to get an experienced. shrewd, and
wise baseball general, like Griffith, for
manager. When Mr.. McAleer, after a
long period as player and manager, sue
Ceeded in getting a proprietary interest
in the Boston club and left Washington,
there was considerable gray matter eX-
pended in thinking of a successor. St.
Louis American League men were after
Griffith, and it was a happy thought that
put Washington into the running for his
services"
Mr. Johnson added that he was on his
way to Comiskey's hunting camp in the
Northern Wisconsin woods, where he ex-
poets to meet McAleer and talk over the
progress that has been made regarding
manager for the Red Sox.
Sam Crane, the veteran ball player and
fifth the following pretty compliment:
There is surely one man who appre-
ciates Clarke Griffith as a manager, and
that is Ban Johnson.
Ban is one of those fellows who sticks
to his friends. And that is one grand
good trait and one possibly that has
helped him to attain his present emf
nence in baseball. 1t ought to, anyway
1t was no douot Bans friendship for Nc
Aleer that enabled the latter to secure
a part ownership of the Boston American
League club. And that Jimmy Callahan
is the prospective next manager of the !
Chicago White Sox is doubtless due to
Johnsons friendship. Then there is Harry
Davis, who will be in charge of the |
Cleveland team, who, without Bans back |
ing, would not have had a chance to Sc |
cure his new position.
There are many other instances where !
Bans influence has placed several old |
timers in important positionS and it is
seldom that the shrewd leader of the |
American League goes astray in his Sc
lections
That much credit is due him
Il am of the opinion that Harry Davis !
will make good in Cleveland. He has all [,
the points that ought to make him a |
successful manager. There may have !
Stovan as leader of the Maps, in view |
of the popularity he gained in Cleveland |
last season, but Davis was slated for the |
place by Ban johnson, and that set
tied it.
But nothing could so plainly show how
President Johnson dictates the entire pol |
icy of the American League than by
Grifhth's unanimous election by the di- ,
rectors of the Washington club to the
management of the Nationals
Ban Johnson, even if he is the dictator
of the junior baseball organization, has
made no mistake in selecting Griffith to
lead the Nationals.
"Grif has been the most unfortunate, as
well as the most misunderstood, manager
in the baseball business. In Cincinnati
he didn't have a living chance to make
good, and if any manager does in that !
city he will be a marvel There are con-
ditions surrounding baseball in Redland !
that do not exist anywhere else, and, be-
lieve me, conditions will not improve
there either, unless the Reds start off in
the lead and hold 1t without a break until
the season closes.
Ban Johnson was a newspaper man
there, and doubtless knows the why's and
wherefores of the situation.
But Griffith as manager in Washing
ton will have support, and support, too,
that will not finch under adversely. He
will be enabled to conduct his team ac-