The Washington times., 1915-02-14
Manager Is Of Belief That Club
will Finish Just as Far Up
in the Race Without Young
Pitcher.
First Squad Of Nationals Will
Spend Initial Night in Train
ing Camp Two Weeks From
Tonight.

Clark Griffith is today little wor-
ried over the reported signing Of
Young Howard Ehmke, the former
Los Angeles pitcher for whom he
has been angling, by the Buffalo
Federals. He figures that the Ma
tionals will have the same standing
in the American League on October
1, next, as if Ehmke had signed
with his club, and his views are un-
doubtedly shared by many.
ri would have been glad to get
this kid into our fold," said Griff
today, "for he is a youngster and
his showing at this age makes me
believe I could have made a regu-
lar out of him in a couple of sea-
sons. But when it comes to nursing
any Of these players into coming
with my club, want to 60 on rec
ord as being through with that sort
Of thing. I offered this boy a con-
tract which was reasonable, and il
he saw fit to take q chance with the
Feds, it is his own affair, and I am
far from grieved."
Two weeks from tonight the first
squed Of Grnmen will spend its initial
night in the training quarters at Char
lottesville and one week later Manager
Griffith himself Will lead the second
party into tho Virginia citadel. In
cfuded In the bunch OF players which
encamps February d will be all Of the
National pitchers with the exception OF
walter johnson. and the entire catch
Ing stan. Mike Martin. Nick Altrocls
and Jack Ryan will also 20 South with
tho nrst squad.
When Griff heads toward Charlottes-
vile he will have at his heels the in
felders and outhelders who will strug.
gle with each other for purmanent posi-.
tions In the Nationals gardens. In this
coterie will be Rondeau. Massey. and
Brown. three outfelders who have never
been seen hero and who ara going tc
do their -adrndest'' to get a fxed place
on Griffith's team. Reinhard, an in
fileder who has been taken on during
the winter. is another new ono who will
appear for q trial in q major league
training camp.
"Doggie" Hopper and Thormahlen are
the pair Of pitchers OF whom Washing
ton fans know little, and who are ex
pected to show their worth in tn.
month which will be spent in Char
lottesville. They will be in the frs
squad which goes South.
kS,nA A.,
huge surprise which President Gil
more threatened to spring on thu
baseball public was that the Indian
apolis club of the Federal Leagu,
would probably be transferred t.
New York, meaning, of course. tn,
Bronx.
The promoters of the Newark club
Harry L. Sinclair and Pat Powers
have practically decided on Newark
for the Kansas City club. and t.
further embarrass organized baseball
the Federal League plans to locat
another club right there in the hear
of baseball interest. While 1T is stat
ed that President Gilmore has tn
Indianapolis club in his possession
1t is believed that several of tn
moneyed men in the Federal Leagu
organized to pull the club out of fin
ancial difficulty last season.
Indianapolis won the pennant i,
the Federal League last year and ye
the club lost money. The deficienc
was made up by several of the club
owners coming to the rescue. Will
Powers and his hacker, Sinclair ha
visions that perhaps they might .ge
the Bronx territory, they overlooke
the fact that the Independent circui
this season would have to be change
so that the Indianapolis franchis
could be taken care of.
The International League has cut
rather insignificant figure in baseba
this winter. but President Ed Barro'
amends sna his beore tEe week s9Ps is TO
club presidents of the circuit will hol
morrow. OF which. it is hoped. assui
ances will be given of continuation c
the fight under organized baseball.
The word OF Ed Barrow has bee
given that this long established mino
league is prepared to operate through
out 1915 or go down In the attemp
There will be eight clubs, too, In a
probability. Barrow was very anXiol
TO transfer the Jersey City franchise
feet such step, though little encou
agement Is held out from the hosti
attitude of Harry n. Hampstead.
The matter of the Bronx transfer
not one of life and death to the Barro
circuit This hustling president. who:
milton from the major leagues. hi
planned we'll for his club owners. !
banked heavily upon the possibiliti
of the Bronx, but did not stake his q
upon that one move; Barrow has Sc
eral other irons in the fire. and II ms
he TO his ultimate good II the Intern
tiona' IL kent out ~ the Bronx