The Washington times., 1914-07-31
Manager Griffith Starts Cam
paign in the Hopes of Eject
ing Aged Official,
CHARGES INCOMPETENCE
Griffmen May Be Hard Hit in
Battle for Pennant If Ain
smith Is Suspended.
By THOMAS KIRBY.

By THOMAS KIRBY.
DETROIT, July 31.-Charging dissi
pation, incompetency, incompatibility %
temper and general unfitness, Clark Crit
nth today opened a vigorous crusade
against the continuance Of Jack Sheri'
dan as member of the umpiring staf'
cf the American League.
BY wire and mail the head of the
Washington club appealed to other own
ers for support in the fight which he de.
cIares he is ready to carry to the finish
20 rid baseball of what he considers an
lmpediment.
Griffith admitted today that he expects
rhe suspension of Ray Morgan and Ed
Aiasmith, pending a thorough investlGa-
riOn. by Ban johnson, but Griffith is
dete mined to hattie for Morgan.
AS to Ainsmith. Griffith is offering no
defense. He says the assault by the
catcher on the umpire in the game
of yesterday was uncalled for and tnal
while he will intercede, II is Morgan 8
interest that the Washington club VIII
make the greatest effort to preserve.
While Griffith is most insistent in de-
CIaring that Morgan should be protected,
he gave a direct evidence OF his feeIing
for Ainsmith, when he not only severely
rebuked the backstop, but plastered a
WhIch hasn't been made public
In the hands of Ban johnson. in Chi
caRo. today are the reports OF Umplres
O'Loughlin and sheridan. Is upon
these documents that the director OF
he circuit is expected to take his mi
-ial step. In the same office is an eX-
ended telegram from Griffith plead
ing for stay of punishment for Nor
gan until the fun details are known.
iS
ego a letter from the washington
MANAGER explaining the trouble on Ma
in Field as he saw it.
The washington players have been
rautioned to hold their peace and fol-
lowing these specific Instructions of
their manager, they are leaving all the
talking to Griffith. Griffith says that
Morgan acted in self-defense when ne
struck the umpire, and that 1t Is Sherl-
dan and not Morgan who should be
made to suffer for melting one of the
worst riots in the history of the Amer
ican League, a fight in which players,
umpires, chairs, and the police Were
implicated. .-4s. y
Jack Sheridan's air is one of defiance.
Sheridan declares that Morgan threw
dust In his face, and that was enough
20 provoke him TO the action he took
ton player first, but further than that
ing that the next word must come from
the president Of the league.
While it is never possible to fore
tell, with any degree Of certainty, the
action OF Ban johnson, It is the opinion
of the writer that the Washington club
viii receive a staggering blow to It's
pennant aspirations as a result OF what
happened here yesterday. Ainsnith
carry to the end of the season The
battle which Griffith is making for
Morgan may save his second baseman.
But X would. indeed, be surprising II
the Nationals were not compelled to
use another man there for upward Of
y couple OF weeks.
To even q casual follower Of the
Washington team there is no necessity
os eoing into detail to explain the dire
Johnson may go in his often repeated
declaration Of ridding the American
League of anything that savors of
Towdyism- II he decides that Morgan
and Ainsmith were unjustffied in their
light il means that Washington's
chances for finishing one, two in the
present campaign have gone glimmer-
ing.
With Henry incapacitated. through
badly sprained hand. and today suffer
Ing the additional agony OF a gashed
shoulder for the part he played in the
role of a peacemaller, the club is left
with but one catcher-Alva williams
II Morgan goes, even for a short time
u means the disruption Of an infieid
hat has been styled by many the great
est defensive inner quartet in baseball.
Clark Griffith was on the coaching
lines when Sheridan and Morgan start
ID the fsticuffs. At a personal sacrifice
re threw himself between the men and
Gaping for his own player held him
lack while Captain Mcbride, OF the
Nationals. rushed TO the scene and fair
" stacked Sheridan in restraining the
umpire from following UP mis- plan OF
lighting. 1t was then that Ainsmith de-
Iiverec the blow On the umpire 1t was
indeed, lucky for Sheridan that Nc
Eride was ir the position ne was for
He hslved with Al Williams at least
half OF the sting of the blow yhicn,
ad II landed squ3relv might bavr
driven the umpire unconscious to the
round
The other Detroit players and the NJ
lonals. as soon as they could reach
q ne place struggled for law and order
]nd In all there was none more active
than John Henry and Ty Cobb. botn