Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-05
Game Deserves to Be Put
Back on Solid Basis, Man.
ager Griffith Contends.
JIMMY AUSTIN WANTS
THREE-YEAR CONTRACT
Fears Settlement of Strife Would
Jeopardize Position-Feds Talk
ing Shop to Him.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

| Manager Griffith. like most managers,
| is anxious to have peace in base ball.
War makes the task of the man in
charge of a team decidedly strenuous
and unsatisfactory. He is compelled
to use tact in handling his players
and there always is that element which
loses interest in it's work under such
conditions.
Il hope peace will be arranged said
Griffith this morning. The game de-
serves to be put back on q solid foot
ing. I realize, of course, that it is go
ing to be a difficult matter to arrange
| the present situation in the game, but
it can be done. and the sooner 1t is
accomplished the better it will be for
all concerned
Griffith was much pleased when ap
prised of President Ban Johnson's
statement that the American League
was not opposed to peace in base ball.
against the peace movement, but, &C
cording to an Associated Press dis
patch which appears in another col
umn of this issue, he is in favor OF the
movement.
Lloyd Rickart. erstwhile secretary of
the St. Louis Browns and now secretary
of the Federal League, insists that it
must be an even split in the agreement
w
It Is 5000" for the two factions, ac-
cording to this authority. Just what
this 5000 proposition is. Rickart re-
fuses to divulge, but in the following
views:
"Organized base ball is not going to
do all OF the debating. Organized base
ball is not going to tell US that We'll
have to abide by their instructions, and
organized base ball is not going to
profit in all of the awards If any are
made. We're willing to listen to any
thing that's reasonable proposition
that will be fair to both sides-but
we're not going to fall upon our knees
and beg to be taken in
Jimmy Austin. the scrappy third base
man of the Browns, is one of the few
members fthat team who have not
signed for 1915. Owner Hedges ten
dered him contract few days ago.
and Jimmy turned it down. Austin
says he is satisfied with the terms Of
fered. but he wants three year agree
ment instead of one-year proposition.
This was refused and Austin departed
for his home without closing with the
club.
Austin, no doubt, fears that when
peace is declared his position may not
be secure and he wants to fix himself
for at least three years. He demands
an iron-clad contract and Hedges re-
fuses to come through. Now the Feds
are said to be talking shop to Jimmy
Fielder Jones, who needs a third base
man, is said to be willing to do bust
ness with the Browns hustler.
Judged on the price the San Francisco
ball club brought the other day, the
game has not deteriorated as much as
was supposed. Jim Coffroth. the fight
promoter. has broken into the game.
He purchased the Frisco club, together
with Sam Berger, and they are credited
| with having paid Sa50,ooo for it.
There has never been anything lack
| ing with the defensive strength of the
! Nationals, but they have been sadly
| shy of hitter or two in the past. 1t is
| to be hoped that Rondeau will come up
| to expectations a slugger, even if he
! Is not Milan in the field or on the
bases. The player who can hit is of
| more help to team than the one who
| can field. The batter averages about
| four trips to the plate, where he can
| help his team, while he may have but
| few chances in the field. The combina-
| ton of hard hitter. fast base runner
J and marvellous fielder is only seldom
| found in a player.