The Washington herald., 1914-03-11
Bowling
By cHRIsTY MATHEwsoN.

Until / had definitely signed with the
Giants again. made no comment on the
Federal League or the offer Of that or
ganization to me. In fact. there was
nothing definite in the way OF an offer
until I received telegram from Presi-
dent Gilmore a few hours after putting
my signature to the National League
contract But even II this offer. which
has been published in the papers. had
been made a few hours before signing.
II would not have influenced me In the
matter at all.
The proposition came out OF a clear
sky and was unexpected. I have learned
since that the Federals believed l was
signed up all winter and that II was
not until a New York newspaper man
happened to mention the fact to Gill;
more in the waidorf-Astoria Hotel in
New York late one night that was
unsigned that any action was taken My
information comes from New York cor
respondents who are here with the team
in Marlin, And who were present when
Mr.. Gilmore made his discovery. Ac-
cording to these men, the incident de-
veloped through a tanning bee in the
Waldorf. Here Is the story as told to
bs 4NtN tOIh TCPOI hO" WIN
the Giants in Marlin:
I'VE were all sitting around the WAL
dorf late one night. tanning and dis
cussing the Federal League. when one
Of the boys said to Gilmore:
why don't you make Matty an Of
fer and get some publicity out of 1t any
way?'
Hes signed. isn't he?' asked Mr.. Gil
more.
..No ,,,o-. ,k., nm, II;. coptract
expired last season. and he has not sign
ed the new one yet
Gilmore at once left the party and
sent a telegram to you. Then he an
ncunced his action TO us newspaper men.
and the story appeared in the papers
the next day"
Knew He Would Not Desert.
As a matter Of fact. 1 never considered
going 10 the Federals and did not an
swer the telegram, which did not make
any definite statement Of terms. II
merely asked me whether l would con-
slider an offer to go with the new league
as a manager. When the Los Angeles
reporters inqr -ed about the possibility.
told then. the only thing to say
was that 1 would consider the offer. But
all the time ! knew I would not desert
the New York club. which had practically
made me IN DaSeDan-
In saying this, am not attempting
to belittle the Federal League in any way.
saw several reports in the newspapers
during the winter and early spring
months that ! was the agent of organized
baseball on the Coast and that I had
been busy counterbalancing the bids of
the Federal League agents for the play
ers spending the winter there. AS a
matter of fact. kept clear of both base
ball on the diamond and the politics of
baseball last winter because I did not
care to have 1t on my mind. I was hav-
ing too much fun playing golf. and II is
not in my province as merely a player
to try to influence others to take certain
steps which some day they might re-
gret and then blame me for their mis-
takes.
For instance. Arthur Wilson. the New
York catcher received a big offer to go
with the Federals with the promise of
a large piece of advance money. Will
son has been pininG for the chance to
work regularly with a big league club
for two or three years now and was
weary Of sitting on the bench. absorbing
Information in this position about how
II is done In the majors. AS said in a
previous article. Wilson even asked Nc
Graw to transfer him to a minor league
team for this season so that he could
have an opportunity to work daily. Now.
IL the Federal League turns out to be
big success. and IL had advised Will
son to refuse its offer and stick with the
Giants. he might have said to me some
day:
well. took your advice and am still
sitting on the bench. II / had gone with
the Feds, / might have been a star
now"
Considers Oner Compliment.
Without occupying any more exalted
position than a pitcher on the staff OF
he Nan VOrL -Ittb I don't Mt To med J.