The Washington times., 1915-01-06
THEIR DYING KICK"
DECLARES GRIFFITH
Old Fox Predicts Failure for
Feds, Who Strive to Ruin
Game by Latest Move.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

This last move Is the dying kick of
the Feds" said Manager Griffith today
In discussing the possible result OF the
Gilmore organizations attack upon the
National Commission.
'''rhe national agreement" continued
the Old Fox. was made In order to
keep the game honest, to keep crooked
players and magnates out Of II. With
out such an agreement the game could
not be conducted. Very well. suppose
the Feds do win in court. though !
hardly think they can. they would then
have the satisfaction OF tearing down
the entire game. making 1t Impossible
to continue 1t along the lines 1t has
followed since its beginning. In that
case. how could the Federal League
itself exist?
Baseball has succeeded because
those those, in in IT % were honest ,hs,r and ,tcS be-
word. It's true that the players were
held in tightly. but that is because
such treatment was absolutely neces-
sary., Last years lack Of discipline
and backwa rdness on the field shows
the effect of the absence of such treat
ment. Now the Feds want to tear down
the whole thing simply because they
have failed to get in. They haven't
chance"
This latest move of the Federal
League can hardly have n good effect
upon the national game, even though 1t
loses. II the courts declare the national
must cease, every ball player in the
country will be IA free agent at the ex-
piration of his present contract. Even
Dave Fultz doesn't ask for anything so
radical as that. The minor leagues, big
and little. will be forced to quit at once.
The a5ors will be able to worry along
for while. but they will have TO stop.
If the smaller cities in the big leagues
will have to close up shop. Washington
could not outbid the Giants or the
White Sox and would lose all its best
players. This same tale would come
from Detroit, Cleveland. Cincinnati.
city but New York and Chicago.
It Is likely that. once the great army
Of fans realizes just what this means.
they will turn all their hatred upon the
Feds as having been responsible for the
state OF affairs that now threatens the
national pastime Public opinion. always
most important, may now swerve from
the Feds to the o. B. side.
Clark Griffith thinks that Larry
Iajoic will greatly aid the Mackmen
in 1915 and doesn't hesitate to pre-
dict that Connie Mack will have s,vne-
thing to say about the pennant.
Comics a wise old chap" said Griff
today. Here he goes and gets Larry.
sure 800 hitter. to take the place
OF Collins. Larry won't field with Col
. Inns. but the change OF scenery will
keep him moving for year or SO.
With Barry and McInnis on either side
of him. he won't look 80 bad And
remember that his heart wasn't in his
work last year. Watch hfm clout that
pill next season.
"Connie's team will have something
| to say about the 1915 pennant. take it
from me II has always been one of the
| hardest teams we have to beat. and
they don't look any easier this season
| than before
Manager Griffith is setting a pace as
! a banqueter. Tonight he chats at the
! and on the 2lst he Is the principal
| guest of honor at the Alexandria Car