Evening star., 1914-12-07
GRIFFITH ATTENDS
BASE BALL CONFAb
Nationals Manager in Confer
ence With Magnates of
Two Big Leagues.
PRAISE FOR LOCAL CLUB
REGARDING JOHNSON CASE
Cincinnati Writer Says Washington
Officials Not Blamed for Turn
ing Down Pitcher.
BY j. ED GRILLo.

Manager Griffith is in New York. He
left for the big city last midnight. and
will be in attendance on the gathering
of the National and American League
lnagnates for the next few days. The
principal object of this meeting is to
find plans for protecting organized
base ball against the raids of the
Federals. Griffith naturally is inter-
ested in such movement, since his
experience with Walter Johnson.
Griffith also will feel out several
cIubowners with refernce to making
trades. He is anxious to add another
seasoned pitcher to his staff. There is
not much chance of such a deal being
made, but Griffith is willing to take a
chance.
While in New York, Griffith will get
himself posted on what organized base
ball intends to do, and he is particular
~ anxious to have a chat with Pres
ident Ban Johnson regarding the
American Leagues policy.
That the Washington club is not be-
ing criticised for its stand in the john
case is indicated in the following
from the pen of Jack Ryder of the Gin
cinnati Enquirer:
Criticism of the Washington club for
rather out of place. This great pitcher
drew down $4,000 last season. He won
twenty-eight games and lost eighteen,
having a bad year for q man getting
extravagan salary. From the Athletics
he won only two games out of seven.
During the season Johnson came out
with an interview in which he said he
vas in base ball solely for the amount
of money he could get out of 1t, and
that he would sign with the highest
In
some lines. but not in base ball, where
the fans like to think that the players
nave some interest in their work
sporting venture, aside from the finan-
cial returns. When johnson gave out
this interview he lost many friends, and
he was not the idol that he had been
In Washington after this i1l-considered
confession: So11e His popularity was not
games with colored teams Sundays in
the east for comparatively small sums.
Wnen Johnson was first sought by the
Feds the Washington club. in an ef-
fered him the extravagant salary of
$4,000 a year. Johnson refused to sign
at these figures. and so the offer was
withdrawn If he had accepted these
standing today. but he held off, in the
hope that the Feds would raise the
ante little higher. The Washington
club really did a good thing for base
Dali Wnel refused 10 De 0elQ In
this manner, and played off against an
outlaw club 1t had shown it's gen.
erosity and good faith by making
handsome offer, which was declined. 1t
was under no obligation to hold this
offer open until Johnson found that he
could not better 1t elsewhere.
THE action of Johnson doubtless will
help the Feds to obtain a few more
huctuatiug athletes 1t cannot save
base ball tremendously in doing So
Ball players cannot see 1t as yet, but
it will soon be brought to their atten-
ton that the noneygrabber and the
jumper is the greatest enemy Of the
rank and file of the profession, for
these men, aided and abetted by the
Federal League. are killing off the
confidence in the sport and disgusting
SO many thousands of fans that the
turnstiles are likely to move at
slow pace next season. When the
blow comes, as it is sure to do, the
athletes will be the ones to suffer, and
the honest and loyal players will have
TO bear the brunt of the shift down
ward along with the leapers who have
brought about the disaster
The absence of Walter Johnson from
the local pitching staff may prove
blessing in disguise. There will be
more of an incentive now for the
Young pitchers to make good. So long
as johnson was with the team he stood
out and the other pitchers on the
team naturally suffered by comparison
In the future, however. conditions will
he different and the other pitchers
may show to better advantage than
they ever have before.
Jim Shaw, who, when i'll action. re-
minds one very much OF Walter john
son, is apt To come near to being just
as sensational q performer in due
time Shaw. in fact, should nave bril-
liant year judged on his work last sea-
son Shaw, who is a mere boy, is eX
pected to come through in fine shape
next season. Good judges of pitchers,
men like Unpires Dineen and Evans.
gave il as their opinion last summer
that in Shaw Griffith had a pitcher. who
in time would be the equal Of John
son.