Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-20
Action Follows All-Day Conference
with Clark Griffith at
Kansas City.
WILL RETURN THE BONUS MONEY
Pitcher Says He Thought Was Free
When He Leaped First.
Vo TEN-DAY CLAUSE IN PACT
BoxmHn md wife Come 60 Meet
''the Fox" when Latter Says He
Can Make clear lie Has
... Hold ON Player.

KANSAS CITY, Dec. 19.-Clark Griffith,
manager of the Washington league base
bali club. announced here today that he
he'd signed Walter johnson. the star
pitcher of the Washington Americans, to
three-year contract and that Johnson
would play with Washington next season.
The manager and pitcher reached an
agreement after an all-day conference
After the meeting johnson issued the fol-
lowing signed statement:
After conference with Manager Grif-
filth and legal authorities, am con-
vinced the option In my last years con-
| tract with the Washington ball club was
binding, and am going to return TO the
washington ball club and fulfill my
agreement and ct the terms offered ms
by that club.
| (Slgned) WALTER JOHNSON"
wires Miner.
| Manager Griffin wired BENJAMIN 8.
Miner, president OF the Washington base
ball club, after the meeting. as follows:
! johnson is convinced our option Is
legal and signed with us at your fig
ures."
The manager said Johnson's new con-
tract called for a salary of $4,000 a year
for three years--an increase OF $500 over
his last seasons contract.
Griffith said johnson would return to
the Federal league the 5000 bonus which
Manager Tinker OF the Chicago Federais
paid him to sign a Federal league con-
tract in Cotteyville. Kan, December 3.
The Federal league contract calls for
salary of $4,000 a year.
Come 20 Meet griffith.
johnson and his wife came 20 Kansas
City following the receipt OF telegram
from Manager Griffith. asking the
twirler to meet him 10 talk over the
option attached TO Johnson's last seasons
contract M
II wrote to johnson and told him the
option was binding" said Manager Grif-
fifth tonight. s
Under It the Washington club paid
Johnson $500 for tho right TO contract
for his services after last season. john
son wrote to me saying. II 1 could con-
vince him that the option was legal he
would return TO the Washington club. I
immediately arranged for today's confer-
ence. We went over the option clause
with legal authorities and at the end OF
the day johnson became convinced that
he was legally under option to my club.
He is a square young fellow. He wanted
up"
Didn't Think Il BiRdinE.
Griffith said johnson explained that
when he signed with the Federal league
he believed his option agreement was not
binding.
r'of course" said Griffith, "as John-
son was under option to play with US. he
could not legally sign a Federal league
contract"
The new Johnson contract contains no
"ten-day clause" manager Griffith said.
As soon as johnson concluded his meet
ing with Griffith, he left the hotel ao-
; companied by his wife. Manager Griffith
said the pitcher had returBe TO his home
at Coffeyville Kan.
Gilmore Doesn't believe II. =
CHICAGO. Dec. 19.-"I don't believe II. %
asserted President James A. Gilmore OF
the Federal league. when told THAI Wal
ter Johnson. star of the pitching staff of
the Washington Americans last year, had
signed a contract to play three years with
. that club.
johnson signed a contract a couple Of
weeks ago TO play two years with the
Chicago Federal league club and ao-
: cepted 5000 advance money" declared
{ Mr.. Gilmore.
II believe Johnson Is too honorable q
: man to repudiate the contract he made
, with as
His alleged statement that he Is con-
vinced the option In his last years con-
tract is binding may be true, but we ara
convinced that the option is not binding
and that 1t is worthless. We are certaiu
on this point"
: WeeKhman VIII Fight.
Charles Weeghman. president of the
! Chicago Federal league club. said tonight
that he would take every legal step pos
sibe TO enforce Johnsoh's contract with
a the Federals Il have had no opportunity
as yet TO consult counsel" said Weegh-
I man. II will say however, that we win
go the limit to prevent Johnson brealSis.g
his contract with us, cannot believe Il
possible that he has signed another con-
= tract. The information astounded me"
e OMAHA RIFLE CLUB Is