The Washington times., 1914-01-22
Young Pitcher Confident of
Making Good With Climbers
in 1914.
By THOMAS KIRBY.


today in pacing his suite in the
Southern building and memorizing
his "extemporanious" speech which
he has prepared for this evening al
Alexandria, to announce the signing
of Bert Gallia.
From his home in Woodsboro, Tex.
GalIia wrote his chief expressing
satisfaction with the term. and send
ing the usual quota about being
primed for the fray and anticipating
the most successful season Of his
career. Unlike many players, Gal
LA is q great believer in outdoor
work during the OF season, and he
has been so busy in the wilds about
his home that he is really confident
of being most valuable asset to the
Grifmen next summer.
Despite the fact that GaIlia's work
has been rather uncertain and he has
performed principally in the role as .
relief TO wsyering brother twirlers.
Griffith is an ardent adniTer Of the
Texan. Gallia is physically one Of the
strongest men on the rolls Of the Wash
iHgtCn club and. possessed OF full
share Of the nerve necessary to face a
crisis, his manager thinks that he still
has an excellent chance to get a TegU-
lar turn on the pitching corps.
Clark Calvert Griffith, Washington 3
foremost baseball citizen, will this even
ing receive from Alexandria the un-
bridled freedom of the city, bOunti-
fui repast, and unterrifed expressions
of praise and good wishes from the
leading orators of that ancient and hon
ora.ble settlement
The occasion will be a banquet at the
Hotel Rammel, with the Washington
baseball pilot as guest Of the Cardinal
Athletic club. which has combined with
other civic organizations TO honor the
man mainly responsible for shattering
each and every hope and fooling from
the start Mr.. J. Birmingham and five
other entrants IN the Ban johnson der
by. Incidental To the eating and speak
ing will be the announcement by Mr..
Griffith of the date he has assigned in
the pre-championship season schedule
for the Cardinals ball club.
Mayor tisher is to be the toastmaster.
There will be a number of surprises in
store for the guests when the mayor
begins his opening speech. Features of
all sorts are in store for the diners al
Tie big Cardinal Athletic Club affair.
Members of the chamber of commerce
end al! of the representatives OF the or
.ssnizations gathered will welcome Grif
IN great style and the dinner Is promised
ka T. ri
event is the second annual affair and is
going to surpass the first banquet in
CTery way.
sylvester A. Breen. the moving spirit
Of the Cardinals is seeing to it that all
the Ft.ests are pleased with the banquet
and promises all details ready for the
capacity crowd when it sits down.
While George Mcbride admitted to
his chief that the Federdls had not at
tempted TO lure him from the path Of
organized baseball, his ''roomie' John
Henry says that agents of the outlaws
we're leading up to inducements TO
have him jump, when he summariIy
,nded the discussion by Ieaping on the
lTst train and rafting into Washing
ton and signing for two years. Our
Old friend "It is stated on high
authority that the PLACER received i
eIbstantlal increase in GALAXY goes in
li,nTy's case as in all others.
With the documents of Mcbride and
Henry in the safe there are now TWEEN
'N-.hreC Climbers and near-Climbers un-
der contract to give this city their best
,'IorI next summer in the scramble for
hynUrs.
y hen ELL KiIlifer repudiated his Fed
o~aI League contract and Topped. back
20 the Philadelphia Nationals yesterday,
the UnorthodoX scheme conceived in the
,ninds OF Gilmore and his copatriots, re-
reived their worst jar since they an
TOunCed their Intentions TO form the
l.ucICus OF their clubs by invading the
amps OF the two established major
Leagues
Considering the fact that considerable
ul"HCy is doubtless already tied up in
tie Federal venture. IL Is not unlikely
Tia Tits promoters will decide TO fight
the contract case in court. This may
. ung to light through legal inquisi-
ton, the much talked of and much
aDused reserve clause. If the Federals
serve no other purpose they will in
that its promoters will deside to fight
directly and unintenticnally, do bail
players generally a greater favor than
hey know
II has long been contended that the
lf'<rlN We CA use Il unconstitutional lfl-
der the prohibition Of involuntary serYi-
'"3C. and II this claim is upheld in the
'VT~t> it will force the powers that be
~ take another tack and rewrite CON
tra"tS that will make for the greater
5 l.d'ty OF the plan under the direction
"l tnC National Commission.
come time back il appeared as though
Ire Federal League was to be a real
J1"tCT. but il would now appear as
though Killher's lead will be followed
~ CtEeTs who have sinned against the
'cnetg OF Hermann, johnson and Tener.
il the reboundIng Of players is not
siopTed Immediately, the Federals will
f-d themselves much wiser and con-
sideTably poorer before reaching July &,
hich is the generally accepted date for
tho demise Of frecraCker leagues in all
- lions.
While Killifer is a grand catcher it is
not the loss Of the player so much as
MS lately signed contract which should
rausC sleeplessness for the men behind
the Federal purse.
At this juncture in the proceedings it
j.. TO say the least, rather amusing 10
Rad in no less than seven exchanges
Where would Washington have been
rad II not been for Walter Johnson
dining as il does In a number Of CaSes
from those disappointed beyond belicI
by the failure of their own prOtegCs. We
'"uulG respectfully PROFOUND for these
a ibi Alfreds the following assoTt Of
queries. Where wOull Washington have
eventually landed had
Gandil. the clubs best hitter, not been
forced 10 the bench on account Of In
1nFtnC gaf g1F he