Evening journal., 1915-06-21
johnson IS WROTHY
At GEORGIA peach
Will Investigate Cobb's Sig
nal Tipping
Story
MAY GUST TY
FROM THE GAME

Should it be proved that Ty Cobb
wrote the story that appeared under
his name in newspapers throughout
the country, stating that the White
Sox have been stealing signals from
other teams, the Georgia Peach will
be driven from the American League.
The case against Cobb, however, must
include proofs that Ty meant the
White Sox when he wrote that a
certain team In the league, whose
manager owed his success as a bush
league boss to grab signals was
guilty Of crooked work.
President Ban johnson. when he
arrived in Washington on his swing
around the circle. was greatly
wrought up after the gist of Cobb's
story was told him.
Cobb will have 10 see me about
the story said Johnson. "and I'm ad-
dition he may have TO come before the
National Commission. II Il Is proven
that he himself wrote the story and
that he meant the White Sox when he
spoke about a certain team whose
players have been stealing signals of
rival clubs, Il will 90 hard with him.
IF Cobb Is guilty on both counts /
will drive him out of baseball
don't care II he is a great ball player.
No player or anyone else amenable
to the discipline Of the American
League can pull anything like that
and get away with Il.
II have never been IN favor OF ball
players lending their names TO stories
OF any sort having 10 do with base
ball. and especially II they do not
write them themselves. This is as
serious case as / have discovered
since | came East President Comis-
key spoke TO me about Il before I left
Chicago, and now find everybody in
the East talking about II.
Just imagine a man OF Comiskey's
character lending himself 10 such a
scheme as Cobb writes about He
certainly could not have meant the
White Sox. and I have been told that
he does not mention any names. Just
think what IT means II he accuses
such a man as Comiskey, the man
whose character always has been
above suspicionl Could baseball get
along without Comiskey? ! don't
think so'
The last was brought out with n
snap OF tho jaws and In a high-pitch-
ed voice which by inference boded III
for the ball player Journalist.
Johnson also indicated that Comis-
key had demanded a thorough sitting
of the charges and Johnson himself
asserted that he would make a rigid
investigation along whatever trail the
charges may lead.
One charitable construction Is put
upon the story 10 the effect that Cobb
never saw what he is supposed TO
have written, as the matter Is handled
tna,-s syndicate. However, Il is be-
-lieved that the player was conversant
with al least the gist OF the story be-
fore II was sent out and, at any rate,
his name gives the charge extra
ordinary seriousness and the guess
Is that Cobb will have To stand by II.
The story Of the White Sox stealing
signals from other teams on their
home grounds Is said to have been
started by Bill Donovan OF New
York. Donovan, IL Is reported told
Hugh Jennings. of Detroit, and when
the Tigers played in Chicago. Stan
age and other players were sent to
the hleachers to find out how II was
worked
The inference all through Cobh's
story clearly points TO the White sox,
30 II will have 10 be an ingenious alibi
20 clear the skirts OF the 400 hitter
from the City OF the Straits.
Manager Rowland refused 10 com
ment on Cobh's masterpiece. except to
say that somebody would be proved
liar in the near future.
Our IS and 10 hits in the games al
New York showed that we can hit the
ball on grounds other than our own
he said. II have been asked 70 deny
the charge. but Il Is mighty hard work
% catch up with a lie"