Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-27
IBy Latest MailI

j
CHICAGO, Ill.--Walter Johnson. ia
nous finger, is on the fence AGAR
and is worried over his recent fiipfioI
! from the Washington club to the Chi
feds and back again. Walter wants
| to do the right thing, but does not
! know which way to turn. He says sc
| himself. He wants to maintain the
respect of the fans and says he is
about to come out with statement
to the effect that he will abide by the
decision Of the, courts and will &c
wherever the law says he belongs
He also declares he viii give either
the Washington or Chicago Feds the
best he has IN stock.
Influenced by Fred Clarke.
The Idaho wonder says he was In
fiuenced by Fred Clarke, manager OF
the Pittsburg club, ard Clarke Grit
I fifth, manager of the Washington team,
aided by several lawyers, into beliey.
ing that he was unquestionably the
property of the Washington club, and
had made fatal mistake in signing
with the Chicago Feds through Man.
ager Tinker. He therefore Topped
back to organized baseball.
This information comes through an
emissary for President Weeghman,
who few days ago visited johnson
at HIS home near Coffeyville, Kas Mr..
Weeghman would neither affirm or
deny this statement when asked II
1t were true.
Depends on Court Ruling.
fsI L., 49,, 4
way or the other" said Mr. Weegh-
man. Il am Informed. however, that
Johnson is sorry he made the second
jump. / also know that in the event
the courts decide that Washington
has no claim on the star twirler and
that he belongs to my club he will
report to Manager Tinker and give
the fans the best he has in stock. l
must not say where l got this infor.
nation out of respect to johnson and
I am sorry anything has reached the
press. ] would much prefer nothing
be printed at this time"
Johnson Explains His Jump.
Coming through a third party, this
Is what johnson has to say: Il hope
the fans viii be lenient with me no
matter how my case comes out" said
Johnson. Il tried to do business with
the Washington officials and they ig-
nored my letters | gave them five
weeks to think it over and at the end
Of that time met Joe Tinker. He
offered me S17.500 a year for two
years and gave me $4,000 In advance.
The president of bank at my home
was witness and received the
money.
Hardly had Joe Tinker boarded a
train for home with my signed con-
tract in his pocket than Fred Clarke
reached town. | did not know he
was coming. He had been sent here
by Manager Griffith. He talked to
me a long time. He persuaded me
into believing that / had made mis-.
take.
Has Conference With Griffith.
Clarke got me worked up into a
fever and finally consented to meet
Griffith, who was accompanied by two
lawyers. They took me into room
in hotef in Kansas City and l was
bombarded from all sides. II fel.
low ever needed friend needed one
then. They read law to me from big
books and finally convinced me that
the only thing for me to do was to
remain with Washington. / did not
know what to do, but took the advice
OF Griffith, as he was always my
friend.
never would have signed for
President Minor of the Washington
club or Ban Johnson of the American
league. He said Immediately after !