Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-09
BY j. ED GRILLo.

As was to be expected, the news OF
Walter johnson having been sent home
had no sooner been sent Throughout the
country than some of the other club own
ers in the American League got busy and
started hitting the wires for Information
regarding a trade or sale OF Johnson.
One of these reached here yesterday
from Robert Lee Hedges. the St. Louis
owner Mr.. Hedges informed President
Noyes that he was willing to come on
here for a conference Tuesday. He
thought he could make a favorable trad
basis.
President Noyes' reply to Hedges will
leave no doubt in the St. Louis mag
mates mind as to what disposition the
/, local club will make of johnson. He was
informed that there was absolutely no
chance to trade for or buy johnson, and
II was couched in emphatic words.
Walter johnson will remain the prop
erty of the Washington club so long as
there is a Washington club. and such a
thing as organized base ball prevails, -
said President Noyes- We will neither
trade nor sell him. He has been fairly
for it or not at all. That is final, and
rival club owners who make an effort to
get him from US are merely wasting their
time
BY adopting this policy, which is not
unlike the fellow who bit off his nose to
spite his face, the club may suffer finan-
cial loss. for there is no doubt that john
son would bring a fortune if put on the
material in a trade, but it would be con-
trary to the policy of the present owners
of the club to enter into such a transac-
ton. because it might shake the con-
have in the men who are promoting base
ball in this city
For many years the Washington club
was conducted for no other purpose than
the circuit. No effort was made to get
winner here. and the public did not
object when the club was finally taken
away from this city. But under the pres
ent regime new state Of affairs is in
vogue. To trade or sell johnson would
start the rumor among the uninitiated
that the entire holding out Of johnson
and sauabble over salary was nothing
more than ''frame-up' to pass the
player over to some other club in a
larger city, where his drawing proclivi-
ties could be worked to better advan-
tase.
the Washington club does not propose
today itself open to such criticism. and
on his farm.
1-nere was also rumOr that Connie
Mack had made a proposition for john
son. but President Noyes had not heard
Of II. But no matter what the offers
may be or who may make them. john
son will neither be traded nor sold. Mack
would stand less chance than any Of his
rivals for the reason that he already has
. team which looks as il 1t would make
Q runaway of the next race. and to give
him johnson would kill the interest in
the race.
Before noon today the Nationals. after
spending thirty-five days at Atlanta, will
return here preparatory to opening the
season of 1911 Wednesday next, when
they have the Boston Red Sox for their
opponents.
Were it not for the unfortunate stand
Walter Johnson, the teams star pitcher.
has taken on the salary question, no
team that has ever represented this city
In the American League would have
brighter prospects than the one which
lin McAleer has been getting fit at At
anita The absence Of johnson naturally
places a big handicap on the teams
chances. and yet. though he will be
greatly missed, his comrades on the pitch