The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-10
WILL OPEN SEASON
IN MODERN PLANT
Nationals Of American League
We'll Equipped for First
Game.
WILL MISS Johnson
Premier Pitcher Utterly Unrca-
sonablc in His Salary
Demands.
WILL MISS JoHNso

Washington. D. c.. April Sin
modern baseball plant, constructed az
ter the old one was destroyed less than
8 month ago by fire. the Washington
baseball club OF the American League
will inausurate the season of 1911 next
Wednesday, with the Boston team as its
opponent
New steel and concrete, low deck
stands have replaced the ancient wood
10000 persons VIII be available when
the time for the game Is at hand.
Eventually, when the new plant is
complete, at a cost approAimating $780,
COO, it will have a capacity Of 1900.
Thomas c. Moves, president of the
Washin gton club, declared to-day thai
the work OF reconstruction had been
unusually gratifying.
The Washington team, minus Walter
johnson, who refused to sign a con
tract for salary less than $500
YEAR. returned to-day from the spring
training camp at Atlanta. Twenty-f four
men were in the squad, including Aim
smith. Henry, Sumerlot and Cunning
ham. recruits OF the latter part Of last
season; Hughes, the veteran pitcher,
obtained from Minneapolis, and several
! , ~
Conway. Miller and Bunting
President Moves and Manager James
McAleer are convinced that the club
has been strengthened by these play
erE, despite the refusal OF Johnson to
meet the terms Of the club manager
and his retirement to his home in Kan
sas.
Probably 1000 fans greeted the play
crs upon their return from tho training
camp at Atlanta. Disappointment was
expressed that Walter Johnson was not
among the arrivals. and some enthusi-
asts expressed the opinion that John
son would join the team before the
season was well along
ChriSty AathcWson is the ONLY pitcher
Who receives more than $500, and the
Washington club sustained heavy loss
by the destruction of its stands by fire.
In addition to the cost Of the erection
OF new stands. These were cited as
reasons why some of the baseball clc-
mcnt regard Johnson's position as un-
rcasona ole. Johnson declares that I'M
Ill he gets $500 he will devote his
time 10 developing his extensive farm
II GoffeyHllc, Kan. This farm is new.
~ acquired. and his teammates think
me farm Will bring him back into III.
game perhaps on the theory that for
Tho next Year or two the farm NAV use
UP as much as johnson can earn as tho
e.
$500 per season.
Manager McAleer declared that there
would be no effort from his end to set
waiter Johnson to reconsider his stand
on the salary question and that he had
no IDEA as 10 what johnson will do
Said Mr. McAleer:
In my long career in basebalr have
never met q bail player so utterly IN
reasonable as Walter johnson in the
matter OF salary From the time he
Ieaehed Atlanta I had daily talks with
1ohhscn. We made him the most lib
Gtrsl oner received by a pitcher in the
league. we argued. pleaded. did every
lhlhg but get down OIL our knees 10
MIN, and still he would not change his
attitude 80
When We handed him his transnor-
'ation TO Kansas I told hin he could
stay there until he was willing TO talk
Ieasonably. I haven't heard word
from him since he left, and ] really do
not Know what his plans are. INC
ans however, may rest assured that
as long as the present officials arc In
charge the Washington bali club viii
never meet the demands that Johnson
has made. 80
Nobody living except Johnson and
myself know how tried 10 .aye tho
piayer for the Nationals: but when q
man gets beyond all bounds of reason
"hat can YOU 90 about.it? So ,,nrca-
scnaole did Johnson become thai he
nnatly declined TO talk cxccpt n say.
= on know what have said. and that
sisncs Then it was that ]. with thc
luil consent Of the owners, told John.
son 10 Quit Atlanta"