The Washington bee., 1911-04-15
Public Men And ThinDs
(By the Sage of the Potomac.)

When I heard that Walter Johnson
had gone to his Coffeyville, Kansas,
abode 1t made me sick. You know
am base ball fan of the highest
! dSgree--33rd degree and then some.
| why, L even dreamed about Walter
and how the club here would lose a
long string of games just because the
ciuo othclals could not see their way
clear to give him $500 bright silver
ooiIars year. In my dream | fame
led l had interviewed the dyed-in-
the-wool fans, and here's what they
SAID: DR.. Mcneil was the first man
approached. The Doctor, who has an
order OF things running something
| like this: base ball first, wife second
and the university third, said: 81 don't
/ blame Johnson for not signing at
| 50, 500 to pitch for the the Washing
+ tons. Why Thirkield pays some of
/ the teachers at Howard University as
much as five hundred a wear. and an
Ignorant base ball pitcher ought to
get at least fifteen times the salary
paid professor who has been through
college" When asked if he would
continue to occupy a reserved seat
at the games this year, if Johnson
failed to report, the Doctor remarked. 4.
We'll, | will, providing one does not
cost me any more than it has been
costing me IN the past"
Dr. Warheld said it was nonsense
on the part of the club paying John
son less than $4,000. He said that
he as heau of Freedman's Hospital
received $1,000 a year, and he was
satisfied that any base ball pitcher
was worth three times anv surgeon
in-chief Judge Terrell was of the
opinion that Walter JOhnson's salary
ought not to be increased until after
the municipal judges had been in
creased to something like a living
salary, a salary that would permit
them to own an automobile Judge
said he had been "cavaling along"
on $4,000 for more than eight years
and he had never vet refused to sign
up with the government simply be-
cause they refused to make his salary
$1,000 or more.
Doc. Williston said he didn't think
Walter Johnson could come back this
season as strong as he did last sum
mer, and therefore was not worth
PIgCOO 4)OC Sdiu liz WAS lilG OILY
man here who could come back
strong. I've proved what [ can do"
said the Doctor, "and, if they get to
guying me about not being able to
come back, I'll show them a thing or
two DR.. Lotion thought Walter
Johnson worth only about $1,000. He
said that he and Doc WillistOn were
the only two comeback men, and he
was sure that Johnson could not come
back. DR.. Lotion said he makes
whole set OF new teeth for SIS, and
1t takes him a week to make the set
right, and here comes Walter Johnson
with one game a week to pitch who
wants ST, 200 a week DR.. Will Davis
was amazed that Walter Johnson
wanted such high salary. why"
said the Doctor, we druggists can
only make five hundred per cent on
prescriptions filled, and here comes
this dub from out where Mr.. Vernon
halls who wants as much as we drug
g1sts get John Dancy said that the
salary that Walter johnson wants is
more than he spends for groceries
and market stuff III a life time, and
he thought if the Washington Club
wanted to throw away its money, they
ought to buy stock in the Lincoln
Memorial Building Co. Dancy is
against high salaries for ball players,
and for all other officials and beings,
until he comes back" again Walter
PlnChbaCk contends that as long as he
charges but two and a half cents per
cue for pool, no ball player ought to
get more than he makes out of his
business, and he claims that if the
Washington Club pays Johnson $500
a year the club will be paying him,
Johnson, exactly fOrty-fve cents more
than his billiard parlor is paying.
John Cromwell IS in favor Of a high
salary for Walter Johnson. He says
that IT he wanted to, he could make
more than Johnson wants playing
whist for living. He says he only
teaches school for a past time, not
for money, for if he wanted to make
money all he would have to do would
be to advertise that he's ready for all
whist engagements. Ed Henderson,
because of that bulletin board episode
at NJ Street, was lOath to speak on
the salary question for Johnson, but
did volunteer the information that it
paws better to manage athletic meets,
and use a school bulletin board. Dr.
| Curtis said that some times he only
gets $2.25 for removing an Overian
tumor, and he can't see why Walter
| Johnson should get $500 a year for
pitching a few inshOOts once a week.
! Doc says that while his practice is as
much as DR.. Childs, which is never
over $4,000 a year, he believes that
| high salaries for ball players makes
| poor payers out Of patients. Tom
Clark figures that when he can make
million and a half a year just by a
rise in stocks that are selling at ten
| cents a share on the curb, it is no
more than right that Walter Johnson
should get what he asks. Amp Glenn,
the sedate prexy at NJ Street. says he
never investigated base ball as a
language, and therefore cannot be
considered a competent witness, but
he thinks every man should get all
he can. Kelly Miller is amazed that
there should be any question about
Walter JOhnsOn's salary why"
snorted Race Adjustment Miller, IF
we deans, through the generosity Of
Thirkield, can get $I,76O every year,
aud that is a munihcient salary Presi-
dent Thirkield will admit for a col
ored professor, why should not ball
player who has never had an edit
ca+Io,, rrat Gro o0O y wear And inst