Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-09
t. Louis Club Makes Bid for Walter Johnson Offer Is Turned Do
FANS CONDEMN JOEiNSON'S
STAND FOR EXORBITANT PAY
Patrons of Game Assure Club of Their Sup
port and Praise McAleer for His Action
in Sending Pitcher Home.

II Walter Johnson is under the impress
sion that patrons Of the game here are IN
sympathy with his stand in the matter
Of the amount of salary he is to receive
from the Washington club he would have
a rather rude awakening II he were to
20 through the bundle Of correspondence
received on this subject by President Tom
Moves and the sporting editor OF The
Star yesterday.
In nearly every instance johnson is Ac-
knowIedged a great pitcher. but no one
sides with him in his stand for the enor-
nous salary he demands.
Only those communications whose writ
ers have not allowed their anger to in
auence their pen are printed below. but
these give an idea Of what the patrons OF
the game here think OF the stand the
club has taken against Johnson in this
matter:
Sporting Editor Evening Star:
Pardon my intrusion into the limelight
of the press-nny first appearance as a
seeming "knocker'-but l simply cannot
refrain from the expression Of my hearty
Endorsement of. the firm, fair and very
commendable attitude of Mr. James Nc
Aleer. manager Of the Washington base
ball team, in the matter OF the johnson
imbroglio. which seems to have super
seeded in Importance the war with Mex
ico''
1t is very distressing that this situation
Of affairs should exist as between the
club on one side and Mr.. johnson. who
has been variously referred to within a
we'll as by an overzealous band Of merry
hero worshipers. as the American League
premier pitcher" ''the Idaho phenom, -
wonderful Walter" 1.-The greatest young
pitcher that ever" etc. and there can
be no doubt that we all regret it. AS
a matter of fact, this largely gratuitous
and, as 1t has resulted. unwise laudation is
mainly responsible for the present strained
relations between misguided Walter and
the Washington club. l am, fortunately or
unfortunately. not a stockholder Of the club
and am not a special friend of any of its
officials. and while fully realize that such
an expression OF opinion is utterly futile
and in many. IL not ALL instances a use
less waste Of energy. may I not. for the
once. as briefly as possible, air the views
Of myself and some Of my associate fans,
and say, with unaffected earnestness
Praise for McAleer.
"AH honor, respect and admiration for
| McAleer and the club oniciais for this
| renewed manifestation OF firmness, cour.
age and stability Of purpose. which ar.
| CUES. well for the future Of base ball in
Washington
Nothing in what I shall say must be
| regarded as a denial Of the fact that
Johnson is a splendid performer, or that
he has given evidence OF his bravery
| on many hard-fought fields. This is ad-
| mitted. But exception should be taken
to the oft-repeated statements in the
newspapers that he is 1.-THE greatest pitch
er in the country and kindred overex-
alting suggestions AS matter Of fact. it
is not true. and Is really an unjust re-
| Election upon many other equally capable.
and in one or two instances. more capa-
BILE performers than Mr.. johnson. whom
| it is unnecessary to consume space in
enumerating. The real point is that
these repeated expressions have had the
effect Of unfortunately discriminating
this promising young pitchers ego, and
| 1t is feared, to his own discredit. in SO
far as his career in Washington Is con-
cerned. This is really the sad feature
| of it, He has utterly succumbed to the
| indiscreet hattery, and the result is a
case Of "vaulting ambition o'erleaping
| ITSELF either under the impulse OF sug-
gestion or self-design. and the pity of II