Evening star., 1915-02-12
GR|FF|THLEAVES
TO SIGN BOEHL|NG
Nationals Manager Makes
Hurried Trip to
Richmond.
SCHAEFER WAS HELPED
BY FEDS LAST SPRING
Comedian Demanded $40O Increase
in Salary From Local Club
and Got It.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Manager Griffith left this morning g
for Richmond, the home of Joe Boehl-
ing The Nationals manager gave it
out that the object of his trip to the
Virginia town was for the purpose of
making final arrangements for the
three exhibition games nat the Nation
ais are to play there March %, %
and 80.
But he naively admitted that he mi light
run across Joe BoehlinS while at
Richmond and. of course. would talk
to him about signing his contract.
Boehling is the only member of the
Washington team who is not under
contract for next season. If Boehling S
knee has mended. as he says it has, he
is sure TO be of considera BILE value TO
the team There is some little differ
ence in the salary offered and the
amount Boehling thinks he is worth,
but the chances are that after Griffith
has a chat viii him today matters will
bc cleared by.
When the Federal League scare was
on last spring, there were those ball
players who took advantage of con-
ditions and got themselves a raise in
salary. Many of these did not deserve
increases, but obtained them because it
was considered policy not to have any
disgruntled players about.
Herman Schaefer, former comedian of
the Nationals. took advantage of the
situation and got himself s4OO in
crease from Griffith. Schaefer. though
he played in but few games, drew
$4,000 per season, and when he reported
last spring he demanded $500 in
crease, which he received. But the
chances are this move on the part of
Germany cost him his job with the
team. for he was the first one to be
dropped by the local club last winter.
There is to be a change in the policy
of the local management the coming
season. Griffith in the handling of his
players has been lenient to a. fault.
With some of them this has been the
proper caper. but others have taken ad-
vantage of conditions. To a certain
extent the advent of the Federal League
last spring was responsible for many
OF the things that were overlooked, and
as a result there was a lack of interest
among some of the players.
But that will not go the coming sea-
son. Regardless of who the player may
be. he must put forth his best effort
for the team this season, or he will sit
on the bench, and not draw any pay,
either. There is to be strict discipline
observed in every respect. The clubs
of organized base ball have grown
tired of paying eXorbitant salaries and
not getting the players best efforts. 1t
will be case of everybody hustling
this year, or there is going to be trou-
Bile.
Just how the impression got abroad
that Clark Griffith is claiming the pen
nant for his Washington outfit would
be interesting to know. There is some
satisfaction in the fact that Griffith
never uttered such d declaration. though
he has never hesitated to hope that this
might come about.
1t has become a standing joke that
Griffith is claiming the pennant, but
there is no ground for this allegation.
Griffith has been in base ball too many
years to predict victory before the
season has even begun. but some of the
comedians who write base ball persist
in misleading the public by having Grif-
fifth claiming the flag.
One of the clearest recolections Man
ager Rowland of the Sox has of his
minor league experiences is the ride he