The Washington times., 1911-04-10
JOHNSON COMING
WITHIN FEW DAYS,
DECLARES NJ 'ALEEb
Manager Has Written to
Slab King, Who Is Get
ting Eager.
CONDITIONS ARE
FULLY EXPLAINED
Contract for Season Will Be
Signed BY Pitcher, Manager
Thinks.
By SENATOR"


OF all the American League stars. and
lone hold-out of the Nationals, will
shortly be in the fold again, is today
the confident opinion of Jimmy McAleer,
and, strange 10 say. word comes from
CoffeyviIle, Kan, that Johnson is of the
same opinion out there.
Il expect to see Walter before the
week is out" said Jimmy McAleer
last night. He'll come here from his
home, and, after short talk with
President Noyes and myself, will sign
contract for $500, and go to work that
day.
Explains in Letter.
Il have. sent the lad letter fully
explaining conditions here and empha-
sizing the futility of his holding out for
more money. Furthermore. he will not
be sold or traded to any other, club in
baseball. II he plays baseball again
it will be with the Nationals, and he
Knows It, too.
ION the way up from Atlanta l
thought out number of different angles
of the situation which, perhaps, l had
forgotten in my talks with Walter. So
sat down and wrote them out and he'll
get the letter at least by tomorrow.
Walter is determined chap, but he
has a lot of common sense, and l ex-
pect TO see him in Washington before
next Saturday. I have nothing per-
sonal against Walter, and shall welcome
him as an addition to our pitching staff.
McAleer Visits Park.
Although a meeting Of the board of di-
rectOrs of the Nationals was expected
yesterday, II did not eventuate. Jimmy
.McAleer took the afternoon to get the
lay of the land, visiting the ball park
on Florida avenue and watching the
preparations for the opening of the sea-
son.
While out there he was asked concern
ing the attitude of President Noyes re-
garding the Johnson affair and replied,
Il have the full support of President
Noyes, who was in touch with the whole
thing from first to last
Out in Coffeyville Johnson tells an in
terview er that he expects to be at home
only a few days. Il expect to hear from
MCAleCE in A couple of days, and be
leve We will get together" says john
SOE.
1t is thought that when Johnson re-
Ceives McAleer's lengthy letter he will
see the error of his ways and take the
first train East to join the club.
Squad Visits Park
Early this morning the whole SOUND
went to National Park and gathere/ -
the playing togs, which were sent over
10 Georgetown Field.
AS soon as McAleeT took a look ut
National Park late yesterday afternoon
he saw that ii was impossible to praC-
" q
wOrkmen building the stands. He i'm
mediately got into communication with
the authorities at the university and ac-
cepted the invitation that was extended
the day the park burned.
All of the players reported at noon,
and limbering up practice was con-
tinued until the time for the Georgetown
and Cornell teams to start work Tor lhe
second game. OF their series. There was
some fight batting, but SMcAleer would
not give his. approval TO any TOO strenu-
0stbrYI oHs york IKE on tie field that was sull
The Nasionals viii dress in the Ryan
Gymnasium again tomorrow morning
and.hbve. theft final work before the
opening game the following day.
Confidence in Keefe.
Confident that young Andy Keefe, the
CleS Seland sandlot player taken South
with ghe. Nationals, has the 'lnakings of
q good performer with more experience,
Kid Elberfeld, the pepper-box veteran
infieadeE, tooks the lad home with him
to GRrret Park, and will do his best to
place hun With one of the Virginia
League teams. e
''keefe has the right spirit" says FL
berfed, but he hasn't played much,
and the pitching he was forced to go I'D
against at Atlanta was strange and al
together too much for him. But the
boy is in earnest, and toward the end he
was playing pretty good ball. His work
in Fridays game was first class He
got into two lightinning double plays,
and showed quick feet, a strong arm,
and good noodle.
1t isn't easy for youngster to break
into baseball. ITS easier now than il
used to be, but it's hard even now
Eeefe is well built. and i like his spirit
I've got some friends down in the
Virginia League, and I'll try to land
the lad there With ma day or so. OF
course, if there are no openings, why,
he'll go home again"
Keete, though quiet and unassuming,
made many friends at Atlanta. He
swung like an old back gate at the
wide curves of the big league twrlers,
and from the first It could be seen that
he had little chance of catching on.
Manager McAleer promised 10 land him
if he could, but the Nationals boss
found no place, and so now Kid EIber-
field has taken il upon himself TO place
the lad with one of The Virginia
leaguers.
How Players Bide Time.
Yesterday the Nationals strolled about
town and visited the ball park Dixie
Walker and Jack Lelivelt were the lone
duo TO go over to the Arlington. most OF
the boys reporting 10 the Dewey. where
they will stay during the season. a
few, however, with friends here will
not live at the Dewey.
Captain Mcbride thinks that the new
park will be one OF the best in the cir
cult He was much interested in the
progress of the preparations, for opening
day and said so. It's wonderful to see
what can be done by lot of men sent
the limit said he
After supper most of the boys went
for short walks, and some took in the
moving picture shows. John Henry and
Eddie Ainsmith, the heavenly twins
paired off and disappeared Bill Otey