The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-01-09
MORGAN signs
HIS CONTRACT
Climbers Second Baseman Is
Given Boost IN Salary
Over 1913.
FEDERALS AFTER CANDL
Baltimore Club Agents After Ma
tionals' Star. but Proposition
Is Turned Down.
FEDERALS AFTER CANDM
BY WILLIAM PEET.

BY WILLIAM PEET.
Ray Morgan. the Nationals young
second baseman signed his contract for
the coming season. after a.~short talk
with Manager Griffith in the latter's Of
fee. yesterday.
A substantial increase in salary was
given Morgan. according to the Old Fox.
who added that he not only appreciated
the good work his youngster did in 1872
but expected great things from him dur
Ing the approaching campaign.
Morgan bowls with one Of the Arcade
Ibuckin League clubs and Griff happened
10 meet him in Washington Wednesday
night He asked the youngster to call
around and sign a contract.
Sure! I'll be there" Morgan replied.
and he was as good as his word. for
when he left the Office of the Washing
ton baseball club yesterday he was all
smiles, and meeting one Of his friends
said: I've signed up for the season.
Griff has treated me like a prince. !
only hope I can win a lot of ball games
for him."
Morgan has been with the Nationals
since the fall Of 1911. when Jim Nc
Aleer, through his scout, Duke Farrell,
landed him from the Virginia League.
Grif really brought Morgan out. play
him regularly at second base when the
Climbers started their famous winning
streak back in 1912.
Morgan is twenty-four years old.
His home is in Baltimore, but he isn't
Dragging about il. He will start the
coming season at second base.
Chick Gandn was yesterday ap-
preached by agents of the Baltimore
Federal League club and asked to sign
a contract, but he turned the PROPOSE
ton down, with the statement that he
had tied himself up with the Nationals
for three years, and would stand by
Griffith.
According to Gandil, the Baltimore
agents did not urge him to cast in his
he had already signed with Washing
ton.
I'VE are not asking any National or
American League players to jump their
contracts, and were under the impression
that you had not signed, the Baltimore
moguls told Gandil.
THE Federals made me a good OFFER"
declared Gandil, land If i only had a
year or so left in organized ball. I would
have been tempted to accept their terms,
but figure that will be able to play
major league, ball for seven or eight
years, and 1 know / will get my salary in
Washington. might not get it in Balti-
more"
Everything is settled for spring train
ing in Charlottesville. Mike Martin. act
ing as Griffith's representative. closed for
a house within a few minutes walk of
the gymnasium, where the youngsters
will no IodPad
Martin returned yesterday morning, and
the Old Fox was more than satisfied with
the arrangements Martin had made.
II Frank Gotch comes out of retire
nlent, no one car: say a word about the
Proposed bout in Philadelphia between
Bob Fitzsimmons and Jack O'Brien.
Frank Owens, the Minneapolis clue
catcher, drafted by the Washington club.
will play with the Toronto club of the
Federal League, says a news dispatch.
Manager Griffith last night said: II
am sorry to hear that Owens is going
&c jump. If such indeed be the case, for
1 rather hoped to use him next season"
Whether behind the bat or in a trade,
the Old Fox would not say.
The big league magnates are wholly
wrong when they say that nobody
wants the Federal League-no demand
for il at ALL" A new league will find
spontaneous boosting from railroad Of
fcisls, real estate dealers, and the
landlords of Southern hotels.
Eighteen thousand Japanese fans
watched the world tourists play three
games in the Island Empire. Even
over there, though, they kicked over
the high prices, $3.50 being charged.
Says the Tokyo Times: 1T is difficult
10 estimate how large a crowd would
have rushed for the gates had not the
admission charges awaited up to the
8 yen mark" Jap fans evidently never
bid for worlds series tickets.
There is nothing in the report that
Tommy Leach is going to jump to the
Federals. He is SO old he would have
to be carried.
II the Pimlico race track people would
come out boldly and declare a per
cent rake-off from the mutuels. instead
of per cent, it would take the wind
out of the sails Of all those who are
objecting to that system of speculation
and probably save a lot of argument
pro and con in the Maryland legis-
lature.
Among the most useless things in the
world is the story that the American
League is backing the Federal League in
its raid on the National League fold. To
the man who invented this dope must
be awarded a prize as the world lead
er among those who drift along life's
byways with a quaint creation of steel
and concrete where nature intended a