Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19
Looks Like Salary Limit Is
Being Broken by Clubs.
AFFIDAVIT is FAULTY
Couched in Phrases That Enables
Club Officials to Evade
Issue.

| OdiiQom, Tor IL Is apparent tnat a major
ity OF the teams are not now enforcing
and do not intend to enforce the limit.
There's little use calling names. for tho
heads OF the teams will merely direct one
to the contracts on file with President
Boatwright. and. to be sure. these appear
TO be as straight as a gold dollar. There
are players working In the Virginia
League who would not think of taking up
q pen to sign a -fifty-dol
lar contract II there was not something
coming to them on the side. The league
| Is full OF these. and yet the constitution
fixed the individual limit at $3.50 a month.
| Not long ago a pitcher was offered the
Lynchburg team by the Atlanta team.
| The purchase price was all right, but
| when President Wilkinson found that the
very lowest this man would work for was
$225 he promptly called the deal OF. He
now has the satisfaction of seeing this
same pitcher going like a house attire for
another team, having Yet to lose a game.
Lynchburg Is just as agreeable a town
to play In as the one this man Is working
I'm. yet he is presumably playing there for
$780, while he refused to come here for
less than $225 This is evidence OF an
art in high finances that the Lynchburg
team has Yet to learn, and IL is an art
that Is putting some Of the teams on the
circuit In a position to fight for honors
that they are not entitled to.
| The trouble appears to go back TO the
| National Association. for il looks as
though the affidavit provided for the club
officials couched In such phrases a to
enable the club officials to evade the real
| issue. and at the same time invite the
| player to swear to a point-blank false
statement.
| that the full and entire amount Of COM
pensa ton or remuneration. including sal
| airy. gift or anything else. by whatever
name. that he will receive directly or in
frnY ha hali ri tlh danC
exceed s. month, the amount shown
on the face of this contract"
| Thus the payer swears he will not
take anything on the side but the club
Official Is not required to do so. as will be
seen by the form of affidavit for the Of
fetal:
- makes affidavit that he will not,
nor will his association, corporation or
agent. compensate or pay said player for
any other services rendered to the said
base ball club or to any other person.
Arm or corporation more than s. per
month"
Had the association added something
like this, Said afiant also states that
mo compensation other than that named
herein has been or will be paid to said
player by any other source, to the best of
knowledge and belief. then the asso-
citation would have put the salary break
ing clubs on a level with those players
who are getting money on the side for
services. over and above that paid by the
teams.
This seems to be the first stab the Ma
tional Association has made at salary
limit enforcement In the Virginia League.
and study of the two forms OF afh-
dayits Will show where the association
missed plugging the one hole by which
the clubs can evade the limit with swear
ing falsely and still force the players to
do so.
The National Association has job on
its hands right now In the Virginia
League. and II II does not find the limit
broken here by some OF the teams then
there 10 no longer any use to try to en-
force limit under which the circuit can
thrive. II is by reason of the work of
the National Association that the Virginia
League was able to go to work this
spring. and the association ought to see
that the salary limit is enforced here 1t
would be a good league to set some
mighty stiff examples to last for q long
time. Now Is the day and the hour and
the National Association Is the thing. VIII
lit measure UP to the opportunity thus
afforded?
AL Orth. for years a star in the two
big leagues. proved to be a bowling sue
cess as coach this spring of the Washing
ton and Lee University team. for the
team was enabled to win twenty-one out
Of twenty-eight games played. the team
making a remarkable showing, despite
a regular major league schedule. Ortiz
Is now at work as an indicator man In
the Virginia League. and his friends here
with this new role
AS coach Orth came i'm contact with
two college pitchers who are bound for
the majors as soon their schools are
over this year. These are Moran. the
Washington and Lee pitcher. who has
signed with Detroit. and Dave Robertson.
who is an asset of the New York Giants.
Moran had a bit of trouble with his
pitching arm during the early spring.
but Orth says it has come around nicely
and he believes Moran will experience
little trouble in winning neat major
ity of his games with a team of the
caliber of the Tigers to back him up. .
Orth, however. does not believe Rob
ertson will be sensation with the
Giants as a pitcher. but as an outfielder.
IL McGraw can find place for him I'm
the outfield, he looks for another Ty
Cobb In due course OF time. Ortiz de-
man stand better at the plate than Rob
ertson. and he is a slugger of great
promise This. coupled with the fact
that Robertson is ten-second sprinter,
Orth thinks. will help him to prove a
terror to pitchers In the National League.
Jack Grim objected to decision here
this week and Umpire Mcbride chased
him. and the veteran watched his ship
builders cop a thirteen-inning affair from
the locals from q perch in the grand
| stand.
Eddie Burns a first baseman from tho
New York State League, has reported
for Manager Stocksdale. and a fight with
Woolums for the Lynchburg initial sack.
Eichenberger. an outfielder formerly
with Johnstown. in the Tri-state, has
signed with Petersburg.
Guy Titman, one OF the men longest in
| this circuit, has been turned loose by
Norfolk to give place to Kircher, who has
been out OF the game thus far this sea-
i son by sickness. Shaffer has also signed
an outfielder named McInns, a brother
of the Philadelphia Athletics first base
man, and an outfielder named Keller,
who played last year in the Ohio State
League.
Catcher Rock and Pitchers Brennan and
Holden. late of Troy. n. c.. have reported
| to Newport News for a trial Grim has
about twenty men on his roster now.
| Roth, a southpaw, secured from Fort
Wayne Of the Central League, has report
ed to Manager Stocksdale. Roth IL q
4 strapping big man and has the appear
ance Of being a pitcher of merit.
| Howard, the Washington infielder. re-
Gently secured by Washington from the
Atlanta team Of the Southern Association.
| has been turned over to Richmond for
more sprouting He will take a place In
the Colt infieid.
| Mace. the son OF Umpire Harry Mace.
who began last year with Petersburg, 10
catching a great game for the Richmond
team. II this youngster takes good care
Of himself he will be heard from ere