The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-07
JOHNSTON'S CLAIMS. ARE NOT TRUE, SAYS
 OAKLAND DISPATCH.
Management of the Pacific Coast League Claims They Did Not Want to Cut
 Jimmy's Salary

The case of Jimmy Johnston, the former Baron, promises to be an i'm portant discussion for the stove league during the present baseball crisis. Johnston jumped into fame few weeks ago when he refused to sign an Oakland contract and jumped to the Federals.
 Shortly after Jimmy had completed his jump, peace was made, and it is now predicted that Jimmy will be- come a member of the Brooklyn Ma tionals.
 Johnston claimed that his reason for leaving organized baseball was that the Cubs refused to keep their prom jse to give him another chance in the majors, and on top of that the Oak land club wanted to cut his salary. Jimmy revolted and when George Stovall made trip west in the inter- est of the Feds he signed Jimmy to- gether with several other Pacific Coast League players.
 The Oakland management denies all of Jimmys claims. and, according to an Oakland dispatch, printed in the last issue of the Sporting News, places the whole blame for the affair on Jimmy
 DISPATCH FOLLOWS
 The dispatch follows:
 ''The chief interest hereabouts in connection with the settlement of the baseball war centers in the disposition to be made of the cases of Jimmy Johnston and Joe Gedeon, who were reported to have signed with the Feds just after the close of the Coast league season. Not so much interest is taken in the case of Gedeon, as in that of Johnston, as Gedeon had already been reclaimed from Salt Lake by Washing ton, while Johnston belonged to the Oakland club absolutely, the Chicago Cubs having failed to exercise their option on him.
 According to report, Johnston was paid 5000 by George Stovall to hur- de, and the question has been raised as to whether or not the player would be compelled to repay this money be- fore being restored to good standing. It is hardly thought that Johnston will be placed in the same category as the general run of jumpers, as he has never played a game with the Feds. This man cost the Oakland club, it is understood, $2000 and 1t is hardly thought that the -thatbe in the baseball world will cause the local club to forfeit this amount and turn the player over to the Feds because of his acceptance of one-half the amount that the Oakland club paid for his release from the Cubs. It is believed that the player will be declared still a member of the Oakland club and that he will be compelled to return the 5000 that the Feds advanced to him on account of salary for the coming season
 JOHNSTON'S CLAIM NOT TRUE
 sJohnston's claim that he had been cut $500 by Oakland and that that was the reason he4hurdled to the Feds is simply an alibi to excuse his act. No contract had been rendered to him for the coming season, it is stated in be- half of the local club. It is true there had been some general talk in rela- tion to the situation, but Johnston had given no intimation either that he had had an offer from the Feds or that he contemplated jumping. In fact, 1t is claimed that he had assured the local club officials sometime before that he had heard nothing from the Feds, and that if he did hear from them he would let the locab club know be- fore taking any definite action.
 Apparently, however, the sight of ready money was too much for him, and he succumbed After accepting the money and signing with the Feds, it is understood that Johnston was at- tackled by remorse and wished heartily that he had never listened to the tempter. He, therefore, was ready to listen to advances made to him by President Ebbets of the Brooklyn club, but no definite agreement was made with the local club. it is understood, so that the future status of Johnston, at the present writing, is decidedly un- certain Of course, the local club would like to have him back with the Oaks and the outcome of the case is awaited with much interest, both by the club and the local fans.
 "As to Gedeon, that is a matter for the Washington club to wrestle with. Gedeon played nice ball for Salt Lake the past season, and he certainly de- served another chance in the. majors. His hitting and fielding here were first class His blows were generally hard and timely. and his work around the keystone sack was all that could be asked. He perhaps was little ''boney" In running the sacks, but he was al- ways trying to do something when he was on the bases"