The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-14
Speed Ball King Says Griffiti,
Failed 10 Answer Letter and
Minor Tried to Bluff Him.


Johnson to the Federal league and
his no less sensational hump back
again We're the big features Of the
winter. In a signed article in the
April issue Of the Baseball Magazine
the great pitcher explains his con
duct.
will try 10 explain. frankly and
openly, why l signed with the Fed
eral league. I know that my act in
leaving my original club. Washington,
to go with a new league, and then ap-
parently deserving the FedeTals for
Washington has been severely criti-
clsed and can easily see why This is
so.
MhenEa man has made a mistake. IL
ID very easy 10 criticise him without
knowing the motives which inlluced
him to make the mistake. And 4 is
hard for him to explain those motives
without having his explanation called
an alibi. Perhaps the statement ! an
here going TO make will be called an
alibi by many people, but il is not i'm
tended in that light. | have never yet
made an alibi and / never expect to
make one. But ] do claim the priv
ilege common to afl-tlle privilege on
being heard before | am Judged and
think l owe it TO myself as we'll as
TO the public 10 explain the unpleas-
ant situation in which ] found myself
this winter and how ] camc, quite
l;nintentionally TO get into such a.
position Then, il it is SHOWN that l
deserve blame for what / have done
and ] admit, in the light of expert
ence, that [ did not act wisely. make
no excuses and ask for no corsidera-
ton. am willing to accept whatever
blame is due me-
Liked Federal League.
From the first, L was always inn
pressed with the Federal league. They
locked to me like game crowd, and
# admired their courage. | do not
see how anyone who has seen how
they have fought against the greatest
odds, can fail 10 be impressed with
their courage. / always hoped they
would succeed for thought their sue
cess was good thing for the bali
player, and a good thing fof; the pub
lie, The public wants high grade
base ball--the more it can get the
better. AT least that was the way I
locked al it and still do
j think my attitude toward Wash
ington was alwayAs cleaE VI have re-
Deatedly said, that j would play for
Washington for less salary than d
would anywhere else. [ have proved
that statement by doing exactly that
thing; for | turned down superior
Federal league offer to go with my
old employers. That is what / meant
/. by saving that other things being any
wheer nearly equal, would always
give Washington the preference. But,
had been free 10 sign, as supposed
was, and had been offered salary
so much larger than Washington could
pay me- that there was no fair com
parison, would have felt that / owed
1t to my own future to take the larger
prospect just as any other man in any
other business would have done.
Wrote to Griffith.
wrote Clark Griffith after Fielder
Jones had offered me $4,000 a year,
and asked him If he would give me
$4,000. He had already made that
suggestion himself, and l thought II
was no more than fair TO take the
mans own proposition. He did nor
reply to this letter and left me in the
dark as to his Intentions. It was about
this time that President Gilmofe OF
the Federal league gave out the state
ment that he would make nosmore of
fers to high priced stars Tor the Fed
eral league wished rather to build up
their average standard players. This
seemed to eliminate me from their.
consideration, for which could in no
wise blame them. They had made me
a fine offer Of $2O,G COO year, more
than i had any expectation even at
the time of getting from Washington,
and had turned the Offer down mere
~ because wanted to give Washing
ton the preference.
I was not worried at all by the turn
Of events. but when ] heard nothing
from Washington, 1 though perhaps
my first letter had been lost in the
mail, and wroteeagain. j received no
reply TO this letter, either, but some
time after j received a letter from
President Minor. He is q lawyer, and
no doubt accustomed TO being sons
what decisive in his correspondence.
AS president OF the Washington clue
he is anxious to got players for as
small salaries as possible 10 nor
and did not at the time, blame him
personally for the letter; but did
not like 1t. lie wrote in effect that
was the lawful property Of Wash
ingion; that the best figure they could
make me was $12d5O0 q year, and
4 that il did not accept that figure
they would renew their old contract
according to option.
Thought Federals Would Fail.
1t was easy to see what he was
thinking Of He had read President
GN1more's statement, and about that
time there was a general rulnor that
the Federal league would go under
He thought had no chance to play
anywhere else, and that he had me
where they could dictate terms. and
ii don't think they ever will I can
make a living il j never play any
more base bail. q
It might be said that ought to
have been satisfied with $1,000, and
that lots of people would have been
glad to get that much money. Was
turned down an offer for $50, 900 and
had previous offer from Washing