Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-04
BY J. ED GRILLo.

day afternoon. He Will visit new 1orh
and Philadelphia after a short stay
here The head of the American League
made it plain that no man VINO mas
jumped a contract or reservation with
the American League can ever return
to that organizations; that Is inal Ine
Brooklyn Federal League club has the
only right to Benny Kauff, according
to Johnson. He has no chance or re-
turning to organized base ball Tor
many years, if ever. New York nao NO
right to the man. and he cannot play
in the National League. The American
League has never had contract Jump,
err. and wants none, the league heao
said.
leagues who is loyal to his employers,
and we will know those who nave
worked secretly to harm their employ
ers-and we have memories, SAID Mr.
Johnson.
be delighted to have such good
sportsman as Joseph Lannin at the
head of their club.
"Mr Lannin should receive the warm :
est kind of support" said MI Johnson;
"and 1 know that he will when his Red
Sox get well under way.
| There is a small army of ball play
ers trying to. get back into organized
base ball They are using the influence
Of their friends TO- get back. But we
THE Federal League is releasing the
men who have fallen back, and they
are trying to find places in organized
base ball: There is nothing dong:
They made their own beds, ana they
can lie in them.
The Federal League is calling halt.
Mr.. Ball of St. Louis and other lnnu .
entail men have been to me and tired
hoa haI
Iof the courts. 1 have consented am
willing to take the cases out OF the
courts, for l believe base ball should
have been r taken into 1 White sox
are doing fine business, while the
Federal Leaguers of that city are doing
nothing"
President Johnson said that in the
| west it had been figured that the Red
Sox would make a runaway race OF 1t
this season. He added that he believed
the Red Sox would win the pennant
But they must get going pretty soon'
he said.
This bleak New England town was
never intended for spring base ball.
The only way it can possibly be nan
died to advantage is to take It's teams
on a. trip at the opening Of the season
and keep them travelling for month
| or more before ever treadfng on nome
soil
The sox's experience this spring has
been the worst of all. Not since
last Thursday have the players
been able to don their uniforms. and
there has been so much lack of activ-
ity that the fact that the season ls on
has almost been forgotten by local pa
irons.
The weather here has been what one
might expect in February, and Presi-
dent Lannin, the head of the local CLUB,
is one of those willing to advocate
| schedule in the future which Will take
yncto
away from here for the first months OF
the campaign.
At II O'Clock yesterday it looked as
if it would clear. but at half-past l
off, Fortunately for the Nationals they
did not spend another entire day in
| idleness. Griffith, who is great be-
lever in keeping his players busy, had
o'clock yesterday morning. The play
ers donned their uniforms and Tor
| nearly an hour the pitchers loosened
up their arms with the catchers, while
the infielders. outfielders and utllitS
| PLAYERS ran around under the grand
stand until they worked up persp1ra-
ton Then came bath and a rub
down and the outfit seemed in better
| fettle by evening.
johnson worked out strenuously and
displayed lot of speed, yet he is
slated to work today If there IS game.
Johnson has had five days rest. I'M
F, less yesterdays short exercise can be
| considered work, and this is too much
idleness for pitcher of his habits. Yet
| the catchers who handled his delivery
insist that he now is in better shape
| than he has been at any time this
spring, and that any team beating him
| now will know it has been up against
some real twirling.
The present trip is one of the most
| ho Cat he q
to make this season. No one realizes
this more than Manager Griffith, who
says that much depends on the show.
ing his charges make from now until
mate finish in the race is concerned
Believing he will stand a chance OF
being decidedly prominent in this cam
paien, Griffith has decided upon the
trip Barring accidents or failure to
show form, this quartet, which is to
do the work exclusively. is to consist
of Walter Johnson, Joe Boehling, Bert
Gallia and Jim shaw Griffith figures Is
form, and that they will be able to
win a majority of games while on the
road this time. If they can accom-
plish this they will be sure to attain
a good position in the race by the time
thew return to their own stamping
grounds.
| Bill Carrigan. the manager or the
Red Sox, admits that his team is in
| had shape and that this is the reason
for it's rather poor showing to date.
Not only was the weather at HOT
Springs far from what 1t should have
been. but we have had but one good
day since the season opened, and the
result Is that none of our players Is
really in shape. But week of warm
weather will put US on edge. and then
we will be able to show something.
| II have by no means given up hope
of finishing at the top of the race.
1t is going to be a hard fight, but l
believe that when we are intact we
have the strength to accomplish this
feat.
! President Lannin was quoted in the
local papers yesterday morning as be-
ing entirely satisfied with the manner
in which Joe Wood and Vean Gregg
are conducting themselves. This was
in reply to an article to the effect that
club the consideration due it, Lannin
said Wood was rounding to rapidly
and within a week would no doubt be
able to take his regular turn on the
slab. Gregg, also. he said. was getting
better, and he had every reason to be-
lieye that by the time the team re-
turned from it's coming western trip
IGrege would be ready to earn his sal
lary. All this sounds very well, but
the inside dope is that neither of these
pitchers will be Of any service to the
Red Sox this season, if ever again
There seems to be some doubt about
has had ball in their hands for nearly