The Washington times., 1916-01-24
Manager Griffith Collects Facts
and President Johnson Will
Garry on Negotiations With
Harry Sinclair.
Washington Business Men De.
mand Reserved Seats at
Florida Avenue and Boston
System will Not Come Here.
Bv LOUIS A. DOUGHER.


Manager Griffith today is work.
ing on his evidence in the Gedeon
case, collecting all his documents
and having them copied. They will
be sent to President Ban johnson,
who will conduct all future negotia-
tions in behalf of the Washington
club with Harry f. Sinclair, the for
mer Federal League "angel."
81 hope to have all my evidence in
this case together in time to send it
to President johnson tonight or to-
morrow" explains Manager Grit
fifth. "Then he will take it up with
Sinclair and, if the latter is square
man, he'll lay off Gedeon, who is the
property of the Washington club in
law. / don't know whether my case
is any good in baseball law or not,
but | know it is ironclad in the
courts"
The Old FOX laughs ut the claim of
he Philadelphia National League club.
he Phillies are said to claim GedeOn
ore signing with the Feds" II at
hat time Gedcon belonged to the Wash
nSton club. as GrlT maintains, he
ould not sign either with the Phillies
n the Feds.
The reduction in prices in Boston by
President Lannin is found to be largely
Il local matter. Lannin has surrendered
n hp nj int nf N Tn 10
ed loudly against the methods in vogue
there. 1t is said that the entire stand
last season would be sold at - cents
whenever a tailcndcr appeared at Fen,
way Park, but that a topnotch team ire
quently sent the reserved rows up &c
twenty. An ordinary team would play be.
fore, say. ten rows of reserved seats
The fans kicked at this, and to mollifS
them Lannin has cut out all reserved
seats in the stand and lowered the
prices of the boxes.
This reduction OF prices will hardly
affect the Red Sox treasury much. II
the first place tho boxes are far moro
numerous than at any other park In tn,
league. They are also farther away
from the diamond A fan here sitttine
better view of the game than far
in Boston sitting in u box, paying
dollar for the seat.
1T may be all right der Lsnnin to dc
away with reserved seats in his stand.
explained Manager Grifdth today. wher
asked il the local club would follow
suit, but we couldn't do 1t and satisf,
our patrons: Washington business me,
won't stand ir line before the ticke
booths, Those in Boston will. At frs
we reserved five rows. When we sew
that not enough fans came out TO war
rant. that number 81 rows of rescrv"c
Ti,t
seems to be satisfactory. All We wan
10 do is to satisfy car patrons. u ma
Jority OF whom are lair aud SCudro II
their dealings with US.
seats arc much TO be preferred TO thos,
in Boston or Chicago. In both thos,
cities the tuns in the dollar seat az,
not so close to the diamond.
1--WE were considering putting Lac h
on our b0-ccnt seats. hut Mhen th'
architects cIamIneG tho >paviliCHs tn,
decided that there would not be room
enough. We'd have To tear down botl
paVilions and Euild them over again.
guess th> fans know well enough thu
after our last two Years of baScbvl
war, We cannot do that now HoWrNC:
that's our intention and | nope 10 &C
it done as carly as next year
Two minor league meetings are to b
held in New York today. The NOR
important is the gathering of the Inter
national League masnates TO arrang
their circuit for 1916. to announce ncN
owners. and to select new managers
Jack Dunn. last years Richmond maj g
nate and manager will take over tn
Jersey city franchise and receive per
mission to occupy the lIaltimor" terri
tory. TnC harrisburg, Pa, club Wi
be shifted back to Newark and
would not be surprising if Joe Ian
nm. owner OF the worlds champion!
- GiS interest in the Providence" CiU.
The other baseball meeting VIII u
that of the merger committee OF tn
New England League and Eastern As
sOCiation. This committee H. compose
Of President Edward G. barrow. OF TN
International League; President Iimo
thy IL. Murnane, of the New Englan,
League; and Secretary John IL. k'arrel
OF the National Association of MmU
Leagues.
The Eastern Association, made up {
Connecticut and Massachusetts Citiei
which failed to operate last season, ina
plan for a siX-Club circuit and wi
suggest this proposition to the commit
tee today. Cities of the New Englan
League. however. want to merge wit
the best of the clubs of the other leagu
and form ten-club circuit This pla
reems to have met with the approve
of most OF the baseball owners through
out New England, and il is probab
that the scheme will be adopted.
Herman Schaefer. former comedia
with the Griffmen, has been appontc
third assistant to Smiling Bill DonC
van. and will accompany the pitcher
februaIy -. Duke Farrell is sccOU
assistant, and Joe I\clly holds the noI
g. VI Hr3t assistant 10 Manager Dom