Evening journal., 1915-03-04
PUT WASHINGTON
IN THE Van Guard
Griffith'S Greats Have Gone
Into Spring Training at
Charlottesville
REGULAR SQUAD IN
CAMP IN A FEW DAYS

BY a United staff Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. March Ats the
same old song-"wait till next year"
but the fans along the Potomac are
joining in stronger on the chorus than
they used to.
Now that the dope specialists have
assigned Grifiith's American League
climbers to a place among the hrst
four likely candidates for bunting
honors next fall. the Old Fox's tribe
is fiocking in from the provinces for
the spring training camp at Char
lottesville. Va.
Charlottesville is some three hours
ride from Washington and the Sena-
tors, on February %, left for Dixie
Just why Charlottesville should be
selected for this honor has never
been learned. In previous years the
Nationals have done most of their
training in the Fayerweather gym
nasium of the University of Virginia
and it has been suggested that Grif-
fifth train his squad in the local Y,
NJ. c. A. and save carefare.
The first squad, which departed on
February 2S was mostly rockies with
Nick Altrock, Coach Ryan and Train
er Martin along to chaperon the boys
and tuck them into bed at 10 sharp
each night on March Z, Clark Grif-
fifth and his regular squad will make
their appearance in the Old Dominion
and the spring work will be on.
The first squad to leave included
- of the likely youngsters on Presi-
dent Minors payroll, including a
couple of newcomers in the shape Of
two promising young pitchers, Thor
mahlen and Hopper. The other mem-
bers of the first squad were Engel,
Gallia. Shaw, Ayres. Boehling. Har-
per, Bentley. pitchers; Henry, Aims
smith and Williams, catchers and the
two coaches
On March Z. Griffith will head a
delegation. consisting of Walter John
son. Chick" Gandil. Morgan, Nc
Bride, Foster, Milan, MOeller. Shanks-
Rondeau, Massey. Brown, Reinhard
the last four being newcomers Pick
Neh and the little Cuban, Costa.
This gives seven new men tC con-
tend with the regulars for positions
in the mid-season lineup. Walter
Johnson is the only pitcher who die
not go south with the first squad
Johnson is a wizard at conditioning
himself and always rounds into form
under his own treatment better thar
by taking the camp routine.
Johnson is expecting another bis
year and the alleged prejudice agains
him. caused my Walters careles.
q league-jumping tactics. is expected tC
vanish the first time he mOws dowI
three in the ninth.
Howard Shanks position in the
outfield is said to be in danger, be
cause of weak hitting and unless he
improves. there is a strong POSSIBLE
ity that he will occupy the bench toi
q spell. Second base is also caus
ing Griffith considerable worry Nor
gan has been notified that he mus
report in condition. as Neff and Pick
the two youngsters. have showed lot
of class and are simply itching fol
the job as a regular diversion.
All Washington realizes that Clarl
Griffith is out after the flag this yea
as he never was before Things look
cd pretty black last winter when
seemed that the Feds had acquires
Griff's big flingr. Walter Johnson
but despite the murmurings OF un
popularity. it was very joyful loca
fandom that saw Johnson back saf
in the fold and facing brilliant sea
son.
Griffith has, in addition to tn
"smoke king" a wonderful trio o
port-side fingers, in the shape O
Bentley. Boehling and Harper. Boeh
ling, of course, Jumped into the lime
light with his IL straight victorie
back in 1912 and while he has nc
equalled that record in the two in
tervening seasons, he is expected {
outdo himself the coming year, whe
every one of the Nationals will b
up on his toes, fighting for a littl
rag of bunting and the very suhstan
tial pecuniary and professional re
ward that goes with H.