Evening star., 1914-11-20
OFFER Of $4,000
IS NOT DENIED
Griffith Made Walter Johnson
Such a Proposition Early
Last Season.
DOCUMENT WAS DRAWN
FOR THREE-YEAR PERIOD
Rival All-Star Tourists Are Not on
Speaking Terms, But Are Draw
ing Big Crowds.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

The Washington clubs offer to Walter
Johnson last spring, when the Federal
League was trying to obtain his sigma
ture to contract, was $4,000 a season
for three seasons. Manager Griffith nor
any one else familiar with the affairs
of the Washington club has never de-
MED that. 1t also is matter of rec
ord in the Office of the American League
in Chicago.
In last Sundays Star the facts con-
cerning Johnson's salary since he has
been with the local team were pub
lshed and the statement reiterated
that the local club had offered the big
pitcher three-year contract calling
for $4S,o00. These are facts admitted
by the local club officials.
So far as Johnson is concerned he has
! not received any word from either Grif-
fIth or President Minor during the last
six weeks or SO. A few days ago Presi
dent Minor received a letter from Wal
made public. President Minor said this
| morning that he had not yet replied to
Johnson, but that he would do so either
today or tomorrow.
Charley Weeghman was asked for
statement regarding Charley Murphy's
remarks to the failure of the
proposed sale of the Cubs, and Weegh-
l. D.
| Il do not want to discuss Murphy. He
| is a neighbor of-mine on Sheridan road.
Furthermore, l own a valuable bull
! dog, and do not want him poisoned"
Much has been said about the prowess
i of Benny Kauff, who led the Federal
League in batting as a member of the
| champion Indianapolis team. Kauff is
slated to be sold to the highest bidder
in the event of peace being declared.
but, according to Davy Jones, former
Tiger, and now a member of the Pitts
burgh Feds. Kauff is not the sensational
player he has been touted.
| This Is the way Davy sizes up the
youngster:
while there isn't any question in my
mind but that Kauff is a much better
| man than a number of outfelders hold-
ing regular positions in the major
leagues, he does not class with Cobb or
| Speaker or Crawford or Milan or few
of those other fellows, declared Davy.
"Kauff is pretty much of a mechanical
| player; when things are breaking right
| for him he is a wonder, but when the
stun goes wrong Kauff loses.
HE hasn't the brains Of the men l
have named. For illustrations: Cobb.
| when pulling his sensational stuff,
something to come afterward: Kauff
thinks of but one thing at time, and
he makes lot of bad plays. But Kaun
| is fast; he can hit (although he Is in
clined to bat IN streaks) and is good
| fielder"
] Gossip emanating from Brooklyn is
| to the effect that before the winter
| ends Jake Daubert will be traded. The
| big and capable first baseman of the
! Dodgers is in bad with Boss Ebbets
| Daubert is one of the directors Of the
! Players Fraternity. He, like several
| other members of this board, John
| Henry being the only exception, held
! their respective clubs up as soon as
| thew had been chosen for the fraternity
! posts and, of course, Ebbetts did not
| forget this very soon. Now he wants
/ to trade Daubert and if a club can be
: found which will take him in q trade
! he will change clubs before spring.
! Whether it is due to the business
J ability Of Frank Bancroft or the pres
! ence on the trip of Ira Thomas, is not
; known, but the fact remains that ideal
a box Office standpoint. Word has
reached here to the effect that che
t players of the American and National
! League teams on the trip do not speak
) to each other only on the field and then
! it is in an uncomplimentary way. This
! naturally means that their games are
| full Of fight and spirit and as a result
! the teams are drawing exceptionally
! well.
! The trouble started soon after the
| teams go under way. The AllAmeri-
| set and the All-Nationals did not relish
! the kidding that was inflicted. 1t is
! reported that if n pennant hinged on
/ the result the playing could not be
| more earnest, and Frank Bancroft is
| described as laughing up his sleeve.