Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07
SUCCESS DEPENDS
ON NEW PLAYERS

ON V6V La 6nO
Continued from First Page.)
natl did not round into good form until
mond, a shortstop, was developed and
filled position where the team had pre-
viously been weak.
II there is such a thing as form In base
ball. then Griffith appears to be the
wisest selection ever made by the local
owners. He undoubtedly realizes that he
did not fal. into q bed of roses when he
came here. No finished or well bal
anced team was turned over to him. and
it Is up to him to build up team which
will be a credit to the city.
No one should expect Griffith to do
wonders the first year here. He has a
three-year contract, and IL he shows
marked improvement in his team the
final year Of his engagement here he will
deserve credit for having made good.
There is not the slightest doubt that
Griffith will prove of much help to the
local pitching staff. AS IA twirler there
never was a more intelligent performer
than the Nationals manager, for, though
not endowed by nature with eXtraor-
binary physical power, Grifhth was lor
years one OF the most effective pitchers
IN the major leagues. He batned bats
men because he studied the art of pitch
ing. 1t is but reasonable to presume that
an individual who could win ball games
by sheer knowledge OF the art, should
be able to impart some valuable informa-
ton to husky young pitchers, who are
relying principally upon their arms TO
win ball games. Griffith thinks that ne
can accomplish this. and. while 1t may
seem queer to say that he even hopes
to improve Walter Johnson, there Is no
doubt that this Is possible. Johnson has
about everything in the way OF speed
and control that q pitcher should nave
to be successful but never having mad
be readily seen that there Is still mucn
for him to learn, and Griffith proposes to
teach him. johnson. like all the rest or
the pitchers. will be given a course IN the
adept Of the lot will be benefited most
by reason of the information resulting
from experience which Gr1lnth will I'M
part.
Judged on what he has done since TAX
ing hold here, it is only fair to presume
that Grifiith will make success OF ms
engagement here. What is most pleasing
about the Griffith regime Is the manner
I'm which he has conducted such affairs
as have come up for his consideration.
There are not many men. who, after
taking charge OF the local team, Wouio
have taken q long chance and cut out q
batch Of veterans without being absolute
could fill the bill.
Griffith has started out in the right di-
rection. He realizes that there Is not
chance to build up ball team SO long
as a lot of players who are on their last
legs are holding down important posi-
tons. They are sure not to improve, Dut
are certain to continue to deteriorate. ana
the one thing to do was TO hold mouse
cleaning. The team which Griffith VIII
present next season may not be able to
do as well as did the one last year, out
no one will question the wisdom of start
ing out to build up team OF youngsters
That the finding of the national
commission In the ticket scandal case
has not struck popular favor. even In
New York. where the CLUB was exoner-
ated. Is shown by the following from
the New York World. where the COM
mission Is severely censured for haV-
ing whitewashed the entire AFFAIR. The
World says:
IF you are thinking Of having any
whitewashing done we unquaiihedIy
mission to you. This body is without
doubt the finest bunch of kalsominers
that ever appeared before the public.
For reference we furnish the report on
the notorious ticket scandal during the
worlds series In this city .a,t fall,
which furnished an even greater SEN
sation than the games themselves.
I'm their Investigation or the SAID
scandal the commission proved them
selves to be not only the finest white
wash artists Of all times. but they
also proved themselves to be the great
est humorists that ever saw the light
of day.
that would lead to the disclosure of
the identities Of those that were re-
sponsible for the glazing wholesale
delivery OF tickets to speculators. the
national commission commended the
An IL 1%Sn
work in keeping tickets away from
the spectators.
Read this paragraph carefully and if
il doesn't cause you to laugh, particular
ly If you remember the conditions II at
obtained at the time, when all of the
agencies had stacks Of tckes and it was
possible to get ten or twelve seats in a.
row. then you have no sense OF humor:
" The New York club is to be COM
mended for the precautions taken by
them prior. during and after the sa c of
tickets in employing detectives to watch
their employees, and also IN depos ting
their letters containing mail orders in
out-of-the-way stations in envelopes that
could not be recognized as coming from
the New York club. On the other hand
it Is the opinion Of the commission that
when the mail order requests for the
series tickets had been exhausted and
taken care OF by the New York club
that club should have then provided for
the mail orders received Wy them TO
single tickets, instead OF holding these
orders up for some time without return
ing the money. thus causing many justt-
fable complaints.
THE entire report Is nothing but a
meaningless lot OF words used In an en-
deayor to exonerate the entire New York
and Philadelphia clubs from blame for
the scandal. The commission admits
there were lots Of tickets In the hands
Of SPECTATORS. but 1t couldn't find any
explanation as to how they got there.
| The commission is undoubtedly OF a
| mind that the public has a short memory
and also forgives easily, and tat Is the
| reason why 1t waited three months to
whitwash everybody. as the World pre-
| dicted 1t would"