Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-17
BY J. ED GR1LLo.

Though Mike Donlin has been out of
the game for four years. there is more
than one club willing to give him a
chance should he decide to break back.
He is, of course, still on the reserve
list of the New York club, and it is
decidedly questionable if that club
would allow him to go elsewhere.
probably being perfectly willing to
take a chance on Donlin itself. But
there Ms not much chance of Donlin
coming back. The story is sprung
every now and then and helps to keep
Donlin before the public. But an ath-
lete who has been off the stage for
is not apt to be able to deliver should
he try his hand again.
Donlin is one of the few players
who quit base ball while still in his
prime. He could have commanded a
high salary when he gave up the game.
for he was still a great hitter and
would have been of value to most any
team. But after SO long Il retirement
1t is not to be supposed that he would
don the spangles again unless ctrcum-
stances forced him to.
Though Carl Morris, the Oklahoma
heavyweight, has not fought any one
of any class, the fact that he has dis
posed of all his opponents in jig time
and in a most decisive manner would
indicate that there is a whole lot to
this young fellow
Judging from statements he has made
he is not only a strong, husky fellow,
but he has a better head on his shout
ders than the average chap who takes
up the fighting game. For instance, ne
knows his own shortcomings ana strives
to correct them. He says that he can
beat most any one who will carry the
fight to him, but that he is rather doubt
full as to how he would come out were
he to face a clever boxer who would
place himself on the defensive. He seems
to doubt If he has the ability to cope
with that class OF hshter Just yet anu am
he is trying to find some one who VIII
teach him the defensive end of the game.
That in itself speaks we'll for Morris,
for the average fellow who had at
tanned the success that he has would
consider himself unbeatable and make no
ever make a champion remains to be
seen. but he does appear to be sincere
in his efforts to climb the ladder or pu-
one of the Philadelphia fight clubs is
making an effort to bring Jack Jonn-
round bout. A purse of S1OU0O is 10 De
offered. and it seems certain that Jonn-
son will accept, and there does not seein
to ever have been doubt about Lang
ford. Such a bout is not going to prove
ANYTHING, however. Six rounds is naroiy
enough to show whether .Langford mas
chance or not with the champion he
NAV have one advantage in that he is
sure to enter the ring as mt as 1t is pos
sible to make himself, while Johnson
NAV not think it worth while to do any
real training. in which event he is apt
to stumble against something he Is not
looking for
John l. Taylor's system of offering play
ers bonuses providing they play up TO
certain standard has never been proven
a satisfactory policy in base ball. Taylor
is reported to have cut the salaries OF all
his pitchers and then added clause 10
their contracts whereby he agrees to pay
a certain bonus in the event OF their
winning a certain percentage of their
games. This scheme has been tried be-
fore. There was an instance Oh one OF
the National League teams few years
ago which showed the absurdity OF the
system. One of the pitchers was given
a contract whereby he was to receive
substantial. bonus providing he Won two
thirds of his games.
1t happened that he got away Well In
the spring and won four of the six games
he pitched. But right there and then he
developed lame arm and did not pitch
another game during the remainder or
the season. He collected his bonus, how