Evening star., 1916-01-24
BAN JOHNSON ASKS
GEDEON CASE DATA
Manager Griffith Requested to
Forward All Evidence to
League President.
Defends Herrmann's Activities.
Says Annihilation of Independents
Would Have Endangered Game.
DREYFUSS CITES benefit
OF FEDERAL LEAGUE. PACT
BY J. ED GRILLo.

The possibility of Manager Griffith
Soing to the civil courts with the
Gedeon case virtually was eliminate
this morning, when the local manager
received wire from President Ban
in the Gedeon case be sent to him at
once, which means he will take charge
of the case.
Griffith has lot of evidence which is
likely to be construed in his favor
when the Gedeon case is decided. The
case probably will not get to the ma
tional commission, however, because it
is matter in which two American
League clubs are involved. and it will
be uk to President Johnson almost ex
clusively unless the disputing parties
should want it to be placed in the
hands of the league board of directors.
But it is not likely that either the
Washington or New York club will
not be satisfied with Ban Johnson rem
dering the decision.
The fact that Griffith paid Gedeon for
an option on his services for the COM
ing season is one of the strongest
points in his case, and it is believed
this will have much to do with decid-
ing the case in his favor. True, Gedeon
is but an experiment, but for all that
Griffin Is not to be blamed for putting
up a hard fight for the player.
Why Ban Johnson, as the story goes.
because he did not allow the Feds to
die a natural death, and for this rea-
son will oppose him to succeed him
self as head of the national commits
sion, is not clear.
Barney Dreyfuss. the Pittsburgh
peace with the Feds when Weeghman
tried to buy the Cubs a year ago, yet
in a statement made the other day he
admitted that it was for the best that
peace was effected with the third
league, and he gives in the following
statement some very significant rea-
sons:
IF we had ignored the Feds they
would have thrown up the sponge, but
their ball parks would have been idle
and many players would have been
on the market, SO that a new bunch
of promoters could have started an
other league. a-.
That would have caused more trou-
BILE, and the game would have been
seriously crippled.
by securing control of the Feds
parks and players, however. organized
base ball made a deal that killed of
to come. Would-be promoters must
build parks and get players before
they can harm us, and that will burn
up fortune.
ment of the Feds guaranteed better re-
suits than if organized base ball had
starved them out. That is why 1 be-
came one of the peacemakers."
Hermann is to lose his position
though he did much to bring about
he w a q yog
says. was blessing for the game. as
it probably will serve to prevent
another war for some time.
Fred Toney, whose brilliant pitching for
him one of the stars of the National
League. is holding out for more money
and has not yet signed his contract for
next season.
Toney was drafted by Brooklyn from
Louisville, but the Brooklyn club refused
to pay the draft when the case came up
before the commission and Hermann
offered to take Tohey off Of Brooklyn's 8
hands, which proposition was accepted.
The letter which Hermann wrote to
Toney inclosing next years contract
has Just been made public and isiin-
teresting.
January 8, 1915.
Fred Toney, Esq. 327 Deadrick street,
Nashville, Tenn.
Dear Sir: 7 am sending you inclosed
contract in duplicate for the season of
1916 calling for $4,000. which includes
the compensation to be paid you for
the optional privilege. This, you will
notice, is a very material increase over
the salary you received last year. You,
no doubt. are aware of the fact that
peace has again been established in
base ball and that players salaries will
be subject to closer regulation than
they have been for several years past.
The Cincinnati club, however. does not
want to take advantage of this situa-
ton; in fact, we appreciate very much
the splendid work you, did for US last
season and hence offer you the increase
provided for in the contract herein re-
ferred to. We also desire to call your
attention to the fact that had it not
been for our action last spring the
probabilities are. having in mind the
attitude of the Brooklyn club, that
your services may have again reverted
TO minor league club and that we
also paid you salary in full last year,
although we did not have your services
until several weeks after the season
opened and then were required to wait
until you had yourself in proper shape
before you were in a position to deliver
actual service. / sincerely trust that
the contract offered you will be salts
factory and suggest you sign both
copies. keep one for yourself and re-
turn the other to this office Respect
fully.
(signed) AUGUST HERMANN.