The Washington herald., 1915-03-14
Desires Privilege Of Making
Known the Motives Caus-
ing His Famous Jump.
SWAYED BY SENTIMENT

| Weeghman asking me il ] was in
position to talk business, and sug-
gesting that if i was. I make a trip
to Chicago and talk things over. I
wrote that l was in a position to talk
| business. but that l had garage
to look out for in Coffeyviile and
couldn't very we'll get away, but If
they would send a representative TO
see me I would talk with him.
so Joe Tinker came down TO Cof-
feyville. II didn't take us long to come
to terms-about twenty minutes. l
guess. He offered me a three years
contract at s17.50O a year. with $1,000
advance money on my salary.
"ThIs was less than Fielder
Jones' had offered me. but at that
time ! fully expected to go to
WashIngton. When I received that
letter from Minor II put n differ
ent appearance on the case, and
signed with the Federal League.
Some time later | heard from
Griffith. He said he was coming down
to see me and wanted me to meet
him at Kansas City. ! could not very
well refuse to accommodate him to
that extent. and l met him as he
suggested. at Kansas City.
1T has been said that there were
gued me into re-signing the Wash
ington contract. There were no law
yers there.
"But Grimth himself showed me
where ] thought ! had not done
right by him and by my old club.
He had worked hard and Invest
ed all his money in trying to
make Washington winner, and
succeeded more than any
there.
He told me that my going out
wrecked his pitching staff and put
the club that he hoped might be a
pennant winner into the second divi-
sion. He said that he didn't deserve
any such treatment from me, as he
had always done we'll by me. | can
not tell here all the arguments that
he used. but | will say he convinced
me that l ought to have remained
with Washington and ought to re-
turn even then. l said to him:
, Griffith. l don't see how / can do
such thing. / have signed a contract
in good faith with this man in Chi
cago. and l couldn't break my word
/ to him
.Bst Grfnth argued with me
that point. He admitted that
would he doing an injury to the
Federal League, hut his argument
was that IL wouldn't make mat
tiers any better to injure Wash
ington Instead. That was how
the situation seemed to lie. Which
ever way ] turned wRs wrong.
II had unwittingly got myself into
a position where | had to choose be-
tween two evils. Either was bad. but
I had TO decide for myself which was
the least of the two. And | did de-
eide that question to the best of my
ability.
1T is a humiliating position to he
in, and has no doubt hurt me with
the public. I will accept their judg-
ment willingly. admitting that l no
doubt deserve a good deal of criti-
Cism.
But I do not think ! deserve to
be called mercenary. for 1 actual
~ went back to Washington for
less money than the Federal
League had offered me. And ! do
not think 1 deserve to be accused
of lacking loyalty tn Washington.
for all the way through ! tried to
give Washington the preference.
Il did not treat the Federal League
right | broke my contract with them.
But I broke IL only because I was
convinced that by not doing so
would be doing an even greater in
jury to Washington. Perhaps l was
wrong. but I at least acted for what
| considered to be best"