Evening star., 1914-06-05
J0HNSON'S FUTURE
IS MUCH IN DOUBT
Whether He Will Be With Ma
tionaIs Next Year Is
Questionable.
GRIFF MAY HAVE, HARD
TIME SIGNING HIS MEN
Salaries Are Already About as High
as the Club Can Afford
to Pay.
BY J. ED GRuLo.

terms GflI1lth o1ered him. though these
would give him a substantial increase
over the amount he is drawing now, re-
puted to be $4,000 Griffith has not only
agreed to increase the figure but will
make the contract ironclad for period
of years, yet johnson has not signiied
a willingness to sign it. He takes the
position that it will be to his interest to
| wait.
Neither has Johnson accepted propo-
sition from the Wards, owners Of the
! Brooklyn Federal League Club. nor made
| them figure that he would accept. Jim
Delehanty and Bill Bradley however,
took Walter to Ward last night, and
Ward told him that he could name his
own figure if he was willing to sign
contract, and it is limited that propo-
stion was made to hand him twenty
thousand-dollar bonus the moment he af-
fixed his signature to contract. Walter
is playing a waiting game. He told
Griffith that he wanted to remain mem
ber of the Nationals If everything was
| even, but of course. he is too good a
business man to overlook a lot of money
! if he is taking no chances and has it
assured him.
| Griffith contends that Walters contract
is binding, though it is for but one sea-
son. the reserve clause giving the club
the right to continue it indefinitely. Legal
authority has assured organized base ball
that this agreement will be held by the
courts. SO that it may happen that if
Johnson should desire to join the Federals
he would be prevented from SO doing.
But it is not the danger Of losing
johnson that is giving Griffith concern
for. I, q ha
hard time signing all his players for
next season. Grifhth's system OF handling
his men has been to pay them good sal
aries If they deserved it. In this way
most of the players are already receiving
all the club can afford to pay. and
when it comes to signing them for next
season Griffith is not going to be i'll a
position to offer substantial increases to
clubs are in a better position in this re-
spect. The St Louis Browns, for in
stance. were all signed up for next sea-
son during the recent eastern trip. Hedges
had them signed to such low hgures that
it was not difficult matter to offer them
increases and satisfy them, hence he did
not experience much trouble in getting
them in line. Conditions on the Wash
ington team, however. are different, for
the reasons stated, and Griffith has good
reason for feeling bit alarmed.
That many of the players have been af-
fected by the f1attering offers they have
received from the Federals is a known
fact. and that the Generalization caused
thereby may greatly affect the teams
chances in the present race stands to
reason. To have big bonuses offered to
them naturally sets the players to think
ing about things which are foreign to the
game, and their works suffers accord
ingly. This may not apply to Walter
Johnson, however. He is sure to give
the club his best services while he is
tad with hllf % a
players not getting anything like Johnson
in the way of salary and large figures
have peculiar effect on them.
Johnson is slated to pitch the opening
game in St. Louis tomorrow. After the
game he will leave for his home in Cof-
feyville, where he will spend few days
rejoining the team in time to make the
trip to Chicago, where he will be used in
the opener against the White Sox.
Eddie Ainsmith has rejoined the team.
and it is not unlikely that he will take UP
| the task of catching johnson in the game
Saturday, though Griffith may decide to
let him put in a couple of days Of hard
work before putting him in the lineup
for Ainsmith looks to have taken on con-
siderable weight during his long idleness.
! west depends entirely on their continuing
to play the brand of ball which has
marked their work during tee past
month or so. Griffith has had a hustling,
hard fighting team to date, and this
stride will have to be continued for. the
trip to be successful. Most of the players
have hopes of landing the flag this year.
and they are putting forth their best eff
forts to bring this about 1t means a lot
for ball player to break into a worlds
series. Many Of them would get more out
of such series than they are paid for
playing an entire season. The level-head-
ed members of the team are preaching
hustle and hard work to the youngsters
and to those inclined to take things easy
! in the hope that the winning streak will
be continued.
| Neff. the Virginia college inaelder. is
expected to join the team in st. Louis to-
morrow. His acquisition gives Griffith no
| less than three utility infielders. count
/ ing Geodeon ard ''Wally' Smith as such,
and Neff and Gedeon can both be used
in the outfield in pinch. Neff very like
, ly will need week or two of work to
get him back in shape. He has been
| idle ever since the college season ended,
| more than two weeks ago.
| Carl Cashion was twenty-five years old
| Yesterday An admirer from his home at
Huntersville remembered him with a dia-
! mond stickpin.
There is now not a single member of
! the team who is not playing up to his
| standard or near it. Dan Moeller and
| Ray Morgan, who were bit slow in get
| ting into their stride, showed to good ad-
vantage since the team started on the
present trip, and the chances are that
both OF them will go along at a good clip
now. There is, however. some room for
| Improvement on the pitching staff Joe
Boehlins will have to show more than
he has of late before he can be expected
| to be numbered among the winners.
! Caslion and EnSel have shown improve
ment and there is hope that both Bent
ley and Harper will hold up their end
when given the chance. With Ainsrith
back in the fold the catching staff once
more looms up well. for Williams, on his
showing since he was forced into the
game, has displayed lot of ability. and
should be worked regularly. because of
his superior ability as hitter. Williams
surprised every one with his good work
behind the bat and his throwing. He was
believed to have a very weak arm. but
[ in the final ealne in New York threw
out four would-be pilffers. and he did it
| without straining himself.
J The stretch Of home playing which the
/, New York Americans have just finished