Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-09

It must not be supposed that the cause
of the breach between the club and john
son was caused by the thousand-dollar
difference in the salary offered and the
one demanded for this season. 1T is Not
the difference between $500 and 81, 500
that caused Johnson to go home. Inc
mere acceding to Johnsons terms for
this year would not settle the matter by
any means, for Johnson has given notice
that he will expect raises for the next
two years, SO as to bring his salary in
the aggregate up to $27 900 for the next
three seasons. That would mean the club
has to get ready to pay him $4,000 for
the two seasons following the coming
one.
It was at the prospect Of having to
buckle down to that proposition that the
club baked johnson Is a great pitcher,
and may have the making of the great
est the game has ever produced, but he
values his services too highly.
johnson promises to become famous
hold-out, but If he is at all supersttious
he will abandon his stand, for IL history
should repeat itself his career will start
on downgrade from the time he kicks
King was in a class by himself until he
held out and remained idle a year. He
did not come back last season, ard Is
only mentioned casually now. George
later he dropped into the minor league.
Nothing like this may happen Johnson,
but it il we'll worth considering while he
has hours for thought down on the farm.
To the uninftiated It seems unfair that
q ball player can be kept out Of base
Is willing to pay him. and yet when the
facts of the matter are sQuarely dissect-
ed It becomes plain that 1t is because OF
these conditions alone that base ball has
prises in the country. which pays its
exponents princely salaries.
Were ball players signed TOR but q
single season or two ana coul0 go Wnere
they pleased at the end of the term OF
their contract it would be but a year or
two when large cities like New York.
Chicago and Philadelphia would harbor
all the stars, because clubs In those cues
could afford to outbid their smaller rivals
The result would be lopsided circuits ana
loss of interest. while such a thing as
minor leagues where the great stars are
developed would be out of the question,
because the annual raids made on these
clubs would eat UP their profits.
Organized base ball does not work q
hardship on the ball players by reason OF
the clause in the contracts which gave
the club a continuous claim on the play
er's service. This clause, known as the
reserve clause, has been the salvation OF
the game and the ball players. BY reason
of its existence base ball has been placed
on q substantial footing. Millions are
now invested in the game, while the SAL
aries Of ball players have increased over
goo per cent in the last twelve years. 1t
is not 80 long ago when the greatest
PLAYERS in the game could not possibly
draw more than $2,4O0 for the season.
That was the limit. and when one year
Kelley. Jennings, McGraw and Keeler held
out for 81, TOO and finally won wonders
were thought to have been accomplished.
Today those four players would draw
something Ike $4,000 between them
every sosson. That 70 what tho CLAUSE
IN the c6nHaaE which .AysS The club the
pieyeey services for l4f0 bao 4ouo-<oA Tho
8auae on6 fAA Vla1ah ,,...----.. :