The Washington times., 1912-01-18
MANAGER GRIFFITH
SAYS NEW WORKERS
ARE JUST SMOKING
Have Excellent Ell Ropo
Brand Over There"
Says He.
DENIES RUMOR THAT
HE'LL TRADE CATCHER
Declines to Consider Bobby Groom
"ioldout" at This
Time. =
BY SENATOR"

''They have an excellent brand OF r.,
Ropo over in New York" said Manager
Clark Griffith, Of the Nationals. TODAY.
when asked concerning the report from
New York that Harry wolventon is
considering deal involving a trade of
JACK knight for one of the Nationals
crack backstops. "Gabby" Street,
"Dorf' Ainsmith or John Henry. ''They
have been smoking that stuff ever since
tho big meeting in New York, but there
is nothing to 1t. It's purest brand of
Al El Ropo and they roll their own,
too.
.hI 1T is UNTRUE that I was trying to get
tempt, nor do intend to. I guess I'll
stand pat with the three catchers I
and three is not too many to carry
through long season.
Bobby Groom, the toothpick twirler Of
the Nationals, has slight grievance
contract rendered him by Manager Grit
nth without first endeavoring to get a
little better arrangement. The two are
now In correspondence over the matter.
"Isn't a Holdout."
II notice that Groom is being called a
'holdout,'" said Griff today. "I don't
think he should be called that. A player
has right to ask for more money than
that offered him in his contract. He
also has right to decline to sign it
until he has talked 1t over with his
manager. This doesn't make him a
.holdout.' as ! look at it. That's what
the winter Is for to a man in baseball
1t gives him a chance to talk over
affairs with his club.
mo man is a 'holdout' until the sea-
son starts and finds him sulkng in his
Gox In fhA oil aslo c.
You see, there's a long time yet before
I shall have any 'holdouts.'"
Last spring Groom didn't sign con-
tract until after arriving at Atlanta. The
either, but he found himself practically
compelled to get in line for the season
OF 1911. Groom is attending a medical
school In st. Louis, has another year
terms next year, will most likely quit
the diamond. However, he will most
likely sign before the coming season
gets under way.
Henry In Line.
John Henry has written Manager Grif-
fifth that he will bring his signed con-
tract with him when he reports at Char
lottesville. II don't expect to set the
league on fire, but you'll find me around
the ball yard every day offering you the
best I've got" writes "Massa John"
Henry Is wintering in Amherst Mass,
lnstructing the students at Amherst Col
lege in the art of gymnastics. Before
leaving college Henry was an expert
gymnast.
Showing that enegry has it's own re-
ward Manager Griffith has appointed
Maurice Wolf. lust mere kid. but filled
to the brim with baseball lore and love
of the game, bat boy for the coming
season. Wolf dropped in to see the
Nationals boss ut his office In the new
Southern building. asked for the Job,
even though the snow was on the
ground at the ball rark. and got it..
He will be on hand when the Nationals
come back from Charlottesville. Also,
he may be expected to wear a tin
crown, the gift of his admiring friends.
Callahan's Scheme.
Jimmy Callahan, manager Of the Chi
cago American club, is Of the opinion
that organized baseball should lend Il
helping hand to the stars of bygone
days. THE major leagues" he SAYS,
''should set aside one dav each sum.
mer for a championship garGe and ap-
ply the receipts toward maintaining a
pcrsion fund. This money could be used
for providing comforts to worthy play
ers of the past, which they otherwise
could not enjoy. Better still. IL the own
ers could create jobs for them during
the playing season, the wages these
veterans would earn would hetp them
wonderfully for n time