The Washington times., 1911-04-07
Fans of Washington Support Ball Club Stand Against Pitcher Walter oc
FANS SIDE WITH
ACTION OF CLUB
Pitcher Johnson Will Find Little Sympathy Here If He
Should Decide to Come for Visit After Spurning
e Offer to Pitch for Washington This Year.
Continued from First Page.)


all walks of life, and the feeling is al
most unanimously in favor of the club
Here is what some Washingtonians
have TO say on the case:
Chief Justice Clabaugh. of the DlstLlct
Supreme Court: Il do not care TO as
cuss the matter in the newspapers. I35
aCtly right to refuse such an unrea SON
able request. Johnson is making big
demand, even for star.
Justice Ashley NJ Gould, Of the Dis
trict Supreme Court: Johnson Is
making big mistake. The club Is
tempted hoid-up. Johnson is receiv-
ing a most liberal salary for pitching
once or twice a week. and / think is
treated most literally for tail-end
club"
United States District Attorney
Clarence T. Wilson: Not having
studied the case l could not express
ar opinion. but l am deeply interest
ed in the great national game and
feel that. johnson would be great
loss TO baseball in Washington as
well as elsewhere"
What Harry Hodges Says.
Harry Hodges. clerk of the District
Court of Appeals: Let him go back to
the tall timber. and maybe he'll learn
sympathy with a hold-up."
Prof. Maurice Joyce. court attache
and prominent sportsman: I'm glad
McAleer let him go. The idea of beg
Eing a player, even of Johnson's class.
10 play on a team he has contracted to
give his best services. He got just
what was coming to him."
In the District building the same opin-
ion prevails
Commissioner Rudolph said: Six
thousand five hundred dollars is more
than a Commissioner of the District of
Columbia gets in a year. 1t strikes me
that Mr.. johnson ought to be satisfied
with the. sum for playing baseball for
five or six months"
DR.. William Tindall, secretary to the
BOARD of Commissioners: The fans
ought not to lament. In my opinion q
star is sometimes a detriment to a team
as the other players get to depend too
much upon his SERVICES when he is in
the game. If WalteTt Johnson can af-
ford to lose $500 we can afford to lose
Walter"
Thinks Club Did Duty.
Robert H. Young, lawyer, president of
the District Amateur Baseball Com
mission. and son of the former presi-
dent of the National League, thinks
that the club exhausted every reason
able means to get Johnson and declares
that he feels that the owners will be
backed up by every baseball fan in the
city.
johnson is a valuable man, but
don't wreck the whole ship just to let
that pitcher have every cent some one
has told him he is WORTH was the
comment of the representative of ten
amateur leagues of the city.
Even 'Frenchy," that arch fan and
friend of the ball player, has gone back
on Walter johnson, and is optimistic
enough to believe the Nationals will
win even without the assistance Of the
Idaho IConoclast.
ber OF the Maryland Legislature and a
former ball player himself says:
L think McAleer's stand in the John
son matter is perfectly right. and I
up. johnson is getting big money when
he draws $500 year, and his demand
for $500 is laughable."
Among Automobile Men.
Among automobile men there is the
same sentiment against johnson. There
are many of the most enthusiastic faus
In Washington among the dealers ir
motor cars. and they are well qualified
says 1t would be the height of fool
ishness for the baseball club to accede
10 Johnsons eXorbitant demands"
Joseph NJ. Stoddard: THE stand taker
Icy the club in the Johnson matter is
perfectly right, in my opinion. There is
no denying tile fact that johnson is a
great drawing card, bat his salary de-
mands are beyond all reason"
Lester D. Moore, jr.: while I think
Walter Johnson is great pitcher, Il
does not seem to me that he is worth
$500 a year TO the Washington club.
think the fans will Side with the club in
this matter"
The general feeting that exists in
other parts of the city pervadeS the
Capitol while at the Government Print
ing Office and the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing, two hot beds Of fandom,
the club has most supporters, although
there are some who take Johnson's side
in the discussion. Financial circles, too,
are greatly interested in the crisis, and
most of the bankers who follow base
ball believe President Noyes position is
the logical one.
Sentiment With Club.
Charles 9. Rogers. Collector of
Taxes: "Dhe sentiment of the fans
will be with the club; Johnson has
simply overestimated the value Of
his services to the Washington team.
mands are eXorbitant.
club should be congratulated on its
stand in refusing to pay Johnson
more than $500.
Alonzo Tweedale. Auditor: THE pub
lie. will regret losing Johnson, but I do
hA ar1n he