The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-26
Harvey Woodruff in the Chicago Trlb-
une Tells Of Meeting Of Star
Catcher and c.
Webb.
WILL GET $4,000 SALARY
While Nothing Definite 10 Issued
About Former Holdout 1t is
Thought he VIII Receive
Big Price.

BY Harvey 7. Woodruff
Catcher Jimmy Archer paid his ex-
pected visit to the Cub offices yester-
da yafternoon, smoked cigar in com
pany with President Murphy. and
emerged about two hours later with
his name attached to four year con-
tract. He will join the team at Louis
vile the latter part OF the week.
What the fans naturally are most
curious to know-whether Archer got
that $500 salary-is secret to the
former holdout backstop and his boss.
When President Murphy brought Arch
er from the private offices and pre-.
scented him to the assembled newspa-
per men he made the following full
and complete statement:
The contract is mutually satisfac-
tory" issued in the spring OF 1909,
when Frank Chance, then manager,
baked as result of quarrel with
the Cub president on the four year
contract for $500 per season he had
signed with the Cubs, and 1t was not
until Chance completed his term of
service last fall that he announced
he had received raise of $1,000 for
each of the four years.
Salary 5000 or Better7 :.
Therefore 1t is safe guess that
Archer received more than the $4,000
which is said to have been offered
him originally, although 1t is doubtful
whether he received the full $500
he asked. Guesses among experts
who specialize in that sort of thing
were that Archer will receive $4,000
or better for the four years Of his con
tract If he remains Cub.
The fact that Archer has signed for
four years means only that If he re-
tains his skill there will be no more
salary disputes in that time. Under
the rules Of organized baseball Arch
er can be released on ten days no.
tice, or sold or traded at any time.
Brown was serving the first year of a
three year contract when announce
ment of his release to Louisville was
made just before the city series last
fall
Archer Back in Harness
| But what concerns and interests
those who follow and root for the
west side club is that Archer, consid-
cred the greatest catcher in the Ma
! tional league, will take his old posi-
ton behind the bat and from his
squat position nail foolish opponents
who wander carelessly off the bases.
1t also means that Roger Bresnahan,
the $4,000 beauty, will not have to do
the bulk CT the catching, but will be
available in the event of injury to
Archer, or more important still, will
be subject to the call OF Manager
Il Evers when pinch hit Is needed to
tie the score or to bring victory.
Archer was all smiles following the
i interview, and appeared to bear out
to the letter Mr. Murphy's statement
that the contract is mutually salts
factory"
I Interview a Pleasant One.
THAT statement exactly Espresso:
it." said Archer Il talked with Presi
dent Murphy nearly two hours, but il
really did not seem more than hal
an hour, so you can judge whether
or not 1t was a pleasant interview. II
took us only few minutes to fix III
the whole affair. I'm pleased and
can conscientiously give my best eff
, forts to the Cubs, just as / have al
ways tried to do.
y don't know exactly when l vii
join the club, but 1t will be in fev
, days. There are several persona
. matters that need my attention.
: hope to meet the fellows at Louis
vile, probably on Friday or Satur
day
President Murphy said: we yisitet
about the great prospects OF the clu
this season, and about everything Ii
general The actual business tool
only a few minutes. 1t was a person
: al question which could not be settle,
/ until Archer and met. when We did
= only few words were necessary
Chest of Silver for Eyers.
!. Cub fans are preparing to indicat
;. their approval to Manager Evers o
- the opening day Of the season at Yves
! Side park, April 10, when the Card
!, nails -ex-Bresnahans- off the II
~ Of the pennant race. IF Evers wi
p promise to skip this paragraph II h
~ chances to see the paper, It can b
stated that chest of silver is regard
ed as the probable form which til
sr- expression of esteem will assume.
40 Don't think that piles can't be curet