Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-12
By J. ED GRILLo.

It is not likely that there will be an
other Jeffries-Johnson fight. because IT
is hard to believe that Jeffries would
agree to re-enter the game. Though
the last meeting Of this pair was great
disappointed from every standpoint
but that Of the colored champion, there
is no doubt that II a second meeting
could be arranged it would create
about as much interest as did the first
one. Jeffries. too, might give much
better account Of himself, for there is
no getting away from the fact that there
was something materially wrong with
him at Reno. He did not fight a single
round. but was in a stupor from the time
he entered the ring until he left it de-
feated champion. 1t matters not what
caused this condition. Bob Fitzsimmons
said some time ago that he was willing
to wager that if he took Jeffries in
charge for a year he could fit him to
beat Johnson. Perhaps Jeffries believes
in Fits declaration and is anxious to
give the game another trial. but assuming
that that be the case, it does not seem
probable that such fight will take place.
The chances are, in fact, that Johnson
will never appear in a championship
fight in this country again. 1t is doubt
tolerated, and If he ever fights again
it will probably be in Australia. where
they would give him big purse to meet
either Langford or Jeanette.
Every time any one identified with the
proposed United States League makes a
statement the absurdity of the movement
becomes more plain. President Whitman
of this league, who has called a meeting
to be held in Cleveland tomorrow, is re-
sponsible for the statement that there are
fifty major league ball players ready to
jump the old leagues and join his forces.
At very conservative estimate these
players would average 5000 for salary.
which would mean an expenditure OF
$4,000. and there has been nothing to
tenth of that amount to spend. But
there are not fifty, nor five, major league
players Of any standing willing to join
out with the outlaws. Ball players know
on what side their bread is buttered, and
when they jump organized base ball they
will have something in their Golfers to
show for it. Whitman and his followers
have been decidedly strong in the matter
Of talk, but rather short on action.
Dolly Gray, who for three seasons es-
sayed to pitch here. has finally returned
whence he came-the coast-and 1t
would not be at all surprising IL he pitch
was undoubtedly one Of the most success
full pitchers that the coast league ever
had, but he could not make good in this
company. He did not want to come
east. He yearned for the west. and this
fact may have had much to do with his
effectiveness.
Whether the joint committee on rules
of the major leagues will meet or not is
still a question. Many of the magnates
are of the opinion that there is no neces-
sity for changing the code In the slight
est and there is no doubt that the game
would not suffer if the rules were left un-
molested, but 1t would not interfere and
might help matters If some things were
Strengthened out.
John j. McGraw, whose opinion must
be respected when base ball is under dis
cussion, is in favor of more stringent
rule to govern the delivery of a pitcher,
or. better yet, to prevent the pitcher from
edging up in delivering the ball to the
batsman. He suggests that small. shall
rubber, should be dug on every major
league diamond, and that the umpire
should insist on a pitcher keeping one
foot in that hole while delivering the
ball. Clark Griffith, once leading pitch
er, is in favor of McGraw's suggestion,
and offers a couple OF others which he
thinks would make for good. Grifiith
insists that permission should be granted
to coach the batter at any time, and
urges that the field umpire be obliged to
work outside the diamond when the bases
are full or when runners are on second
and third or first and third, He saws