Evening star., 1914-12-21
WILL FIGHT
TO RETAIN ". JOHNSON
Both Leagues Mobilizing Forces,
Preparing for Gigantic
Legal Battle.

| CHICAGO, ILL.,, December 21-Lines
ball and the Federal League for what
fought legal battle in the history OF
| the national game-a fight for the
services of Walter johnson, sometimes
known as the speed king of the slab
F; Clark Griffith, manager of the Wash
ington club. who Saturday induced
Johnson to return to the Senators. ar
rived here yesterday and was closeted
with Byron Bancroft Johnson, Ameri-
can League chief, on the status of the
acroOatic twirleT, and, while this seS-
sion was on James A. Gilmore. head OF
the Federal circuit. was mobilizing his
| forces incidental to forcing Walter into
| fulfilling his contract with Charley
Weeghmans Chifeds in 1915 and 1916
! The first shot of the legal warfare
was, fired by Gilmore in 9. ORD
/ day message. addressed to Johnson al
Coffee Kan. In this telegram Gill
more urged the big pitcher to come to
Chicago post haste at the expense OF
the Federal League and face the men
ito whom he is legally bound"
Following the conference with Ban
johnson in American League head
quarters Manager Griffith related the
story of the dealings between Waite er
Johnson. the Washington and the Chi
feds clubs. The narrative as spun by
the Old Fox follows:
Five-Year Offer.
Il wish to correct an erroneous report
relative to the first offer made Waiter
Johnson Inv tba yEasbjpotop cI,,f, We
rendered him Il proposition last August
agreeing to pay him $4,000 for his
services during the seasons of 1915,
1915, 1917, 1918 and 1919. The story has
been circulated that we limited that
salary to Il threc-year contract John
son declined to accept our tive-yeai bid,
as he was then considering an offer Of
$4,000 for three years work with the
Brooklyn }'ederalS.
'.When Johnson passed up our five
year proposal President Ben Minor of
the Nationals called off the deal. Later
Fielder Jones visited Johnson and
sought to sign him to a st. Louis Fed
eral contract at a salary OF $4,000 u
year. After getting this bid. John
son wrote the Washington club set
ting forth his negotiations with the
Federal LeaSuerS and stated he would
be willing to remain with us for three
years at 4 Sa larry of $4,000 per season.
This demand also was fatty refused by
President NJ nor, and johnson, after
thinking over his various offers, de-
cided to accept one of $1,000 a year
with the Chicago Federals for the sea-
sons of 1915 and 1916. / saw this con-
tract and know it to be n fact that
Weeghman, in addition to agreeing to
this price, advanced Walter s6,OOO
which the latter intends to return to
the Chicago club owner.
Bound to Locals.
Immediately upon learning of Wal
ter's detection to the Chifeds, [ got
busy, determined to swing Walter
back to Washington. I went to Kan
sas City and met Johnson. We con-
ferred with lawyers and they are west
ern men, one friend of Johnson's
who was suggested by the latter to act
in an advisory capacity. The lawyers
examined. Johnsons 1914 contract with
the Washington club and warned him
that he was unable to accept work
from the FederalS, as he was bound to
our club by the option in his old docu-
ment. After hearing this he consented
to afIiN his signature to three-year
contract with Washington for $4,000.
BY acting honorably with our club, in
this matter, Johnson has lost q chance
to earn $4,000 in a Washington uni
form, for his previous offer of $4,000
for five years represented a total fig
ure of $4,000, whereas he now is as
sured $37,500 for the next three sea-
sons"