The Washington herald., 1912-05-20

new team which will be put in the field
In place OF the club that Jennings led.
In this way Jennings keeps his job
even though the men he failed TO ad-
wise and lead are running serious
risk of being deprived Of employment
in their profession forever.
The Athletics club did everything in
fits power TO help out in the difhculty,
even to the point of waving its right
to forfeit in case Detroit fails to take
the field tomorrow. Under the rules
they have a right to insist on the pay
ment OF 1900.
Wearing a smile and not showing the
slightest sign that the American League
had been, called on to face one Of the
gravest crisises since its birth, Byron
Bancroft Johnson stepped out OF the
elevator at 1915 O'Clock, after being
confined to his room since $50 in the
afternoon.
II Just came down to shake my legs
after such a long session." he said to
the reporters who gathered about him
in the lobby. Ever yreporter had a
question or two.
Boys" he said, I'VE have been I'M
I able TO finish this business D1slIght
because of the nonarrival of President
Navin, of the Detroit team. He is late
leaving Detroit and won't be able to
in the morning. Then we will get to-
gether and talk the matter over.
To Postpone Game.
There will be no game in Philadel-
phia tomorrow and there will never
be another game in the American
League wqith lot players in major
league uniforms. President Shibe and
Connie Mack. who couI dclaim to-mor-
rows game by forfeit, very courteously
have gone to the aid of the Detroit
club and agreed to call It a postponed
game Connie Mack told me he did not
want any victories by forfeits, so the
game will be played later in the season.
The Athletics officials showed a very
good spirit in the muddle, although
they suffered much by the disgraceful
affair of Saturday.
THE situation is this: The old Detroit
players have suspended themselves by
refusing to play the game Saturday.
They are now regarded as contract
breakers and are ineligible to play in
organized baseball until they are re-
stored 10 good standing. The only way
they can be restored to good standing is
by consent of President Navin and my
self.
There is a league law fining a player
50 a day who refuses to play ball. but
say that such punishment will be in
fiicted. The punishment may be a great
deal more severe. The American League
will take no initiative in dealing with
the Detroit players. We simply consider
them out OF the game. There is one
thing certain. Detroit will be represented
in the league by a good ball team. The
schedule calls for Detroit to move to
Washington on Tuesday, but that game
probably will be cancelled, just like the
one at Shibe Park tomorrow.
Hope TO Organize Team.
BY Wednesday or Thursday We hope to
have a strong team assembled that will
wear Detroit uniforms. This team will
be able to hold its own with any others
III the league and will give the public
good sport 1t won't be any sand lot
team, but club Of competent men,"
Here Mr.. Johnson was interrupted and
asked to tell il the other seven American
League clubs would go to the aid of
Detroit and give II enough players to
form good team.
Il can't go into details" said Mr..
Johnson, but it will be a good team.
The American League club owners will
have a special meeting at the Bellevue
Stratford here on Tuesday when the af-
fair will be discussed. I had a very
long and satisfactory talk with Hughey
Jennings. manager of the Detroit team,
and he agrees to manage any team that
the Detroit club picks for him.
''As for the Cobb case, It is a side
issue. Not the slightest move will be
made toward Investigating his case until
the present strike Is adjusted. His in
definite suspension remains in force. 1t
is simply a case Of play or keep out Of
the game.