Evening journal., 1914-12-24
.JOHNSON'S Return
PLEASES BALL MEN
Moral Influence of Latest
Move by Walter Will
Be Felt by Others
SPECIFIED SUM
FOR HIS OPTION

NEW YORK, Dec. 24--Walter john
sons return to the Washington Ameri-
sans. as announced from Kansas City
Saturday, is the source of greatest sat
isfaction TO New York's colony of major
league magnatcs. james L. Gailncy,
William Z. Baker. Charles H. Ebbets
and Frank j. Farrell all interpreted
Clark Griflith's successful negotiations
as the greatest victory of the fight be-
tween organized and independent base
hall interests. John Conway Toole. the
lawyer, who has advised the National
League in many of its legal battles,
charactcrizes tho latest action of Wal
ter johnson as complete vindication
of the new type Of major league con-
tract.
On the other hand, Federal League
sentiment as typihed by President
Robert b. Ward, Of the Brooklyn club,
appears one of resentment. Mr.. Ward
stated that ii johnson had really de-
serted back TO Washington he and his
colleagues were prepared to force tho
/ fight 10 the highest courts.
! MIR. Ward was asked if he did not
consider the latest twist of the johnson
ease direct parallel TO that of Catcher
! William killfcr, of the phillies. A year
ago Kllifer returned advance money he
! had accepted from the Fodcrals, disrc.
garded a contract he held with the Feds
and resigned with William r. Baker.
club. Tho Federals cndeavOred to pre-
vent the players return, but lost th,
cuse. The court ruled that the indcpend
cnts did not come "with clean hands
II johnson stands in different light,
i said Ward. "llc sought the Fedora
/ League. He was bound 10 the Washing
Il ton club only until October II last. II
is true that the Washington club hclr
an option ON his services for 1915, but il
is equally true that Washington refused
{, point blank to exercise that option by
offering him a remuneration that a riva
WAS willing TO pay. / am sure we cal
iprove that Washington wiifully abro
. gated the option in question. If 50
then johnson cannot refute his contrac
b with us. Certainly we shall enter tn
fight for him with clean hands,"
John Conway 1oolc said; "Ihe virtu
of the American League victory, ! thinl
lies chiefly in it's moral influence.
will tend toward tho sober reelection {
I players negotiating with the indepen,
ents. From a legal point / cannot 81
where the Federal League can preseI
e any strength of claim 10 this pitcher
e services. Johnson admits, after consul
! ing legal advice. that he owes Washin.
ton legal and moral obligations for II
$500 in cash he received for an optic
on his 1915 services. That he and n
employers were able mutually 20 ayr,
upon salary for three additional veal
proves clearly that he and those en-
ployers had not had ample opportunit
TO discuss differences of opinion as
i remuneration before the Federal Lcagr
nterfered.
81 truly believe, under the circun
] stances of Jolnson's voluntary return
e Washington, that that club will have
J, much stronger case than PHILADELPHIA
1 did iR its claim for Killifer. No dcfnii
j, sum was stipulated as an option obligi
tion in the document signed by Killifc
A specified sum of $500 was named
.Iohnson's 1914 contract, giving Wasl
ington the privilege of renewing q
: contract in 1915 at the same terms pr,
y vided the two interested parties cou
" not mutually agree upon new salal
j. terms
James r. Gaffney and William
: Baker could sec nothing but a gre,
legal triumph in Johnson's return.
Possession is ninc-tenths of the law
said Gaifney. 'Johnson returned of h
|, own free will to fulfill contract oblig,
tions. Those Obligations were not ol
whit modified by the Federal Leaei
negotiations. Tie returns the Federi
| League money. as did Killifcr, and q
4 case is closed"