The Washington times., 1911-01-11

hold-out player in the person or 30
Groom
The pitcher, who is at st. Loui
University studying medicine. has re
ceived his contract and has given ou
an announcement to the st. Loui
papers that he considers his SALARY
far too low. He claims that his worl
in the past justifies the addition of a
least $1,000 to the figures submitted
by McAleer, and declares that, unles:
the raise comes. he will not wear 6
National uniform next season.
st. Louis is pretty sweet on Groom
and should the player fail to come tc
terms with Washington. the Browns
will put in a bid for his services.
The Toledo club, of the American
Association, has purchased Hub Hart
the former Georgetown catcher, from
the Cleveland Maps.
McAleer Is Boss.
When negotiations looking to the en-
Eagement of a manager of the Nationals
for the coming season were opened last
fall, Jimmv McAleer let it be known to
the directors of the Washington club. in
the strongest terms possible, that the
only conditions under which he would
accept the position would be that he be
given absolute power in the handling of
the players and supreme authority in
all relations between the players and
the owners.
When the American League first
placed a team here conditions were so
muddled that there was constant con-
fict between manager and directors.
Gradually this handicap was overcome
until in his final wear here CantilIon had
more to say in directing the destinies of
the whole machine than had ever before
been granted a manager of the Wash
ington club.
When McAleer first came here 1t was
under virtually the same arrangement
as the one under which his predecessor
worked, but during the coming season
the control of the manager will be
greater than any other leader in the
American League, with the possible ex-
ceptiOn of Connie Mack.
The disposition Of players, signing of
new men and releasing the veterans.
saying what ones will go to Atlanta and
who will be sent to Hot Springs, OBJ
tanning the contracts and naming the
figures each player is to receive will all
come under the direct hand Of McAleer.
and in whatever action he will take he
will receive no directions from any one
ir the club. from the president down.
Mcbride a Help.
When Mcbride was named as captain
it was the work Of McAleer alone, and
he figured that ir the shortstop he
i ho, AL
and at the same time a man who would
follow out orders without the least al
teration.
At the American League meeting Nc
Aleer had his first opportunity to show
his power, and that he failed to make
any deals was infinitely more disap- !
pointing to others than to the manager !
himself.
Numerous trades were concocted, but ,
McAleer disposed of them with a look |
or a word. He was willing to trade |
Charley Street, and had several PROPOSE
tions under consideration, but the ru- I
mors of the catcher's poor physical
condition made other managers lea1y
and his plan failed. He was figuring
upon getting Corrigan and Woods, from
Boston for Street, but the reports from
Hot Springs caused President Taylor
to change his mind at the last minute.
He spoke to several others about
players, but when he received no en-
he simply packed his suit
case, &nd went back to Youngstown TO
do future negotiating through the mails.
He has taken no one into his conf
dence, and to obtain even the slightest
ITEM of news at club headquarters here
Is practically an impossibility. He has
persistently refused to give out the list
Of players who have thus far signed,
and the only real news that has come
out of his winter retreat was the brief
telegram. printed in these columns last
week, giving the details of the training
trip and the exhibition games already
arranged.
In the meantime McAIeer is making
he most of his authority, and quietly
forming his plans without letting any
Jne know of his intentions.
Since it was announced in The Times
several days ago that two minor clubs
had put in bids for Wade Killifer Others
nave come forward with offers to take
he utility player in case McAleer should
leCide to let him go.