Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-26
BY ]. ED aRILLo.

When Manager Griffith refused to
waive on Mig Clarke some weeks ago he
was merely terrifying himself IN the
event that he should be unable to get
catcher in addition to AN inf1elder for
Gabby Street. Griffith evidently had his
mind made up to trade as soon as he
took charge here, and, realizing that he
would need a third catcher, he figured
that Clarke might fill the bill If he could
get no one better. This Griffith person is
not easily caught mapping. He does not
make lot Of noise as he proceeds, but
he appears to accomplish much.
Never In the history Of the local club
have its affairs been conducted on such
up-to-date lines as under the Griffith re-
gime, and while 1t is no easy task to
change a loser into a. winner, he of all
the men who have held the position here
appears to stand the best chance to
eventually put this town on the base ball
map, artistically speaking.
It requires whole lot of nerve ana
confidence to tear the old team to pieces
and start at the bottom to rebuild 1t.
Many managers would have hesitated in
dispensing the veteran players for fear
that the youngsters would fail and the
old fellows would not be there to drop
back on. Not SO with Griffith. He
burned every bridge behind him because
he realizes that his success depends en-
tirely on what material he can develop.
Whether the improvement which he is
sure to eventually bring here will be i'm
mediate Is a question which time alone
can tell. but there seems to be no doubt
that his system OF conducting the affairs
Of the club should eventually be crowned
with success.
In all his experience Griffith has never
been In SO good q position to accomplish
something with a ball team as he is now.
He Is his own boss, conducts the clubs
affairs without interference and his judg-
ment Is the law. Surely everything is
though it should never be overlooked that
the task he has undertaken is q diff
cult one and 1t may take several years
before his labors bear fruit.
Mike Gibbons, the st. Paul weller
weight, who. Friday night, put Willie
Lewis away in q couple Of rounds. is
the game has developed In recent years.
Gibbons has cleaned everything before
him since coming east, though the ohe
poor showing he made against Denning
in some quarters that he was an over
rated man. Fighters like other humans,
do not always feel at their best. They
all have their or days. and the Denning
occasion was one Of Gibbons. He is to
meet him again shortly, and no doubt
he will then prove his superiority over
this fighter, as he has over all others
he has met
With the first shower of spring the
outlaw league movements seem to have
gone glimmering.' No one at all familiar
with base ball conditions could ever look
upon these prospective Organisations sseri-
ously. To begin with. the field does not
exist for another league In territory
which is already occupied. and certainly
not IL 1t ignores the organisation which
has made the game what 1t Is today
The two major leagues have too firm a
hold to be disturbed by any threats such
as the United States and Columbia
League promoters made. It would take
an enormous amount OF money to even
put dent into organized base bah today.
With the players drawing enormous sal
aries and their pay assured they are not
taking any chances with newcomer.
There were other conditions when the
American League broke into the field.
Players and public were disgruntled. and
the invaders had no trouble finding sup
porters. There was room then. there Is
none now. Where the public at that
I time welcomed . change. Of condition Il
0nds those now existing satisfactory. and