Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-04
LAND|S.NOT LIKELY.
T0QU|T JUDICIARY
Would Make Good Chairman
of Base Ball Commission, But
Salary Would Be Less.
PLAYERS TO STAND CUTS
By J. ED GR111o.

United States District Court would
make a strong man for. the position
OF chairman Of the national base ball
commission. now occupied by August
Hermann of Cincinnati, there is not
the slightest doubt.
But 1t is Questionable whether Judge
Lands would accept the position, in
view OF the fact that the salary is not
as big as the one he Is drawing from
bis judicial position.
What is more. there is a certain ele-
ment in base ball which would object
to having a lawyer identified with the
conducting Of the game, many of the
magnates frequently having expressed
themselves as not desiring attorneys
even among the club owners. and this
element would not want one of that
profession in the most important posi-
tion in base ball
II the election of the third member of
the national commission is left to
vote of the sixteen club owners. there
Il little doubt that Hermann will sue
coed himself.
There Is no more popular man identi-
fed with the national game than Au-
gust Hermann. and that goes so far as
base ball men and the patrons of the
The story that a deal is on which
will send Ray Caldwell to the Cleve-
land club in exchange for Ray Chap
man is emphatically denied by Man
ager Lee Foh1.
Caldwell is great pitcher when he
keeps himself in condition. He is
rather uncertain proposition. however,
and has been unable to keep himself
on edge for any manager who has at
tempted to handle him.
He broke lose under Chance, and for
the last two months of the past season
was missing from Donovan's team. 50
Echi Is wise to pass up the PROPOSE
tfon for him. even though Chapman
may not be the ball player now that
/. he was few years back.
That there is to be some wholesale
cutting of salaries by both major
Z leagues before the next season opens
II assured.
II is the National League, however,
which will do most of the salary slic-
ing. for 1t was the Tenet league which
suffered most by reason Of the advent
of the Federal League. It's salaries
were forced up.to an alarming amount.
and how that these contracts have
mostly expired .he salary lists are to
be reduced so that again it will be
possible for a club which finishes in
the second division to make healthy
profit on its investment.
The American League will not have
aS much cutting to do as its rival, but
there will be enough of it done to
eeuse the usual howl from the players.
The maRnates say they do not propose
TO be unjust. They are willing, they
say. to nay the players what they are
I Of the athletes are worth $4,000, 81, 900
and $4,000. which has been paid for the
pAst two years.
T.
He'd by Presidents johnson and Tener.
that. regardless Of his protest against
. the players being fined for barnstorn-
. ing, that such punishment will be melted
! ont by the national commission.
The contract Of every player in the
major leagues contains a clause which
prohibits him from taking part in ex-
hfbition games after the close Of the
regular season, unless he gets the per-
mission Of his club to play such games.
The Pittsburgh players will not be
Affected. for the reason that Owner
Ofeyfuss required them to play
throuRhout the entire contract season.
unfn October Is. forzwhich they drew
! their salaries.. They played exhibition
games. the club paying their expenses.
the story that Hans Wagner is going
70 be ma rried has been revived Friends
4 Performed before next spring.
Fielder Jones Of the St. Louis Browns
WI make many changes in his team
before next spring, 1t is understood.
i 1immy Austin and Ward Miller will
Be- sold or traded. while Eddie Plank
has notified Jones that he wants to
- traded because he cannot stand the
climate Of ST. Louis.
The announcement that Austin and
Miller are to be cut loose comes in
the nature of a surprise. for this pair
Of players did brilliant work last sea-
eon. but 1t may be that both are draw
Ing more salary than Fielder Jones
thinks they are worth. Austin. it will
BE- remembered. jumped to the Feds
and then jumped back again. He un-
loubtedly grabbed a two-year contract
~ a. big figure which still has year
70 run There Is not much chance to
sell such players. however. for all the
eiubs are ducking the high saiaried
fellows.
Frank Bancroft one of the greatest
fgures in the history Of base ball. and
who. although seventy-six years Of age.
n one Of the most energetic and enter
prfsing business managers in the coun-
lures, illustrated by films. in Ohio, In
diara and Kentucky towns. 1t almost
broke the pioneers heart when che
commission frowned on transforming
so as not to be idle in the winter
month";.
The Cubs spent money like sailors on
shore leave this year, but now the di-
reetors have gone to the other extreme
and will watch the sheckels closer than
. pawnbroker. It Is said Joe Tinker
will have to stand a cut of salary from
$4,000 to $1,000. IL he wants to hold
his place.
Frank Chance has, ii is reported, had
/ two offers this fall from National
League clubs to become manager, but
he has turned them both down, insist
ing that he prefers to remain on the
Pacific coast rather than be worried by
| having to handle a major league club.
It 10 understood a new players con-
tract IL to be adopted this winter by
the two major leagues. There is some
secrecy as to the number of changes
and the character of them. but IT Is
certain they will be explicit as to what
| the players are to do during the of
season. and there is a likelihood that
the contracts will, be changed from a
SIX to q twelve month agreement
This 10 q change which many of the
club owners have been anxious to
adopt for some time in that 1t gives
them control Of their players the year
around. and adds other benefits neces-
eary to put the game on a sounder
basis.
The Rochester club of the Interna-
tfona1 League has let out Tommy
Leach. who was its manager during
/ ne past season. and he In looking for