The Washington times., 1917-02-07
BasebaII's Boss Looks for Good
Season, Even If War
Comes to Land.
APPLAUDS LOCAL LEADER
White Rats, Peeved at Players,
Will Prevent Their Obtain
ing Charter.
BIZ poUIS A. DoUGHER.

@OOuL II ban johnson is quite sdIls-
fled with the baseball situation.
That's what he said yesterday after
noon during his short stay in the
Capital.
"The players have been led astray,
that's all" said the boss OF the Amer
lean League, when asked for his Of
heial dope on the impending strike
Of the major leaguers. But they're
waking up. They'll all be in line.
81 am particularly well satisfied
with conditions here in Washington.
Mr.. Griffith has been on the job every
minute, and Washington fans will
be surprised to see how many reg
ulars will report when Griff gives the
word.
Expects Good Year.
Il hardly think there will be a war
Involving this country. but even IL
there is, baseball will not die. Indeed,
only universal conscriptiop can pre-
vent us from enjoying a good year.
In 1898. when thousands OF young
men were serving Uncle Sam, baseball
flourished just as much as ever.
The Washington club ought to
have much success this year. Griffith
Is taking his players to an excellent
training camp, Augusta, Ca, and
every player should be in perfect con-
dition by the time the season gets
under way.
Now that peace is coming to base
ball, l look for Washington fans to
rally around their team again. Griff
has a good team, certainly one of
the most promising in the league. You
know, there Is SO little difference
between the first and last teams in
the American League that il is i'm
possible to predict a winner. Washing
ton might win it, IL things break
right for the team.
WGn Attend Meeting.
The schedule meeting Of the two
big leagues comes next week, in New
York 1 shall be there. Of course.
Our league meets on Thursday, Feb
ruary Is, a day later than the Ma
uonal League. 1t is likely that the
baseball world will witness a great
peace session. too, next week. for we
cannot take this players strike seri-
ously."
President johnson was on his way
from Dover Hall, Ga, where he has
been spendin' a few weeks hunting
and fishing on Til Huston's country
estate, to his home in Chicago. He
was closeted with Manager Griffith
for more than an hour and then left
for the Windy City.
Waite Rats kicking.
II the American Federation of La
Dor declines to grant Dave Fultz's s
fraternity a charter. it will be be-
cause the White Rats. composed Of
actors. is kicking and demanding that
the players seeking protection be-
come affiliated with their organiza-
ton. 1t is not thought likely that
the players will ever agree to be
elassed as entertainers rather than
athletes.
According to a prominent member
Of the White Rats, who was speak
ing yesterday with Bill McBeth, of
the New York Tribune. the actions of
several players serving in vaudeville
akits have soured the union.
Just say for me and the White
Rats" squeaked he, that the hard
boiled eggs Of the baseball profess
sion queered their own game. We
saw quite a few OF them in our game
about as many as could make repu-
tations enough from the worlds
series to attract public attention
And they were all the same.
They Wanted Everything.
TT wasn't enough for them to hos
the bills" went on this big boss Rat
They insisted upon having the stal
dressing rooms and most all the kale
Then they refused even to condescenc
10 consider such a thing as joining
the Rats or even OF treating oul
members like human beings.
While these lads were little tir
rods in their actions toward the res
oT the show, from the Harry Lauder
comparatively few exceptions they
were not at all popular behind thu
curtain. ,-. ia,
,1r;ns' aS the scene shifters cal
themsmelves." he continued, and wer'
not better liked by props, parity ne
cause of their generally superior ar
and partly because OF their refusal u
come across with a bit or coin 10
the little things every performer ha
to have done for him.
"In other words, the stage me
ch.nIcs and that crowd generally ar
a1reed that the only organization L
which the ball player. as class, j
entitled to admission is the Order o
Hard Boiled Eggs"
Seek College starr.
Two of Dartmouth Colleges sta
pIayers are being sought by BIZ
league teams.
Capt. Connie Murphy has been Of
fered contracts by the Yankees
Tigers and Pirates He Is consider
ing the terms and has yet to decid
what TO do.
The Pirates and White Sox ar
angling for Reese. Dartmouth's slug
ger.
Evidently Jack Barry, the new man
ager of the Boston Red Sox. think
his catching stan needs bolsterina
for he has opened negotiations wit
cleveland, offering Joe Wood 70
steve ONeill.
II Wood can pitch next summer q
he did before quitting, he might q
in we'll with the Indians. for the
need good pitching material On tn
other hand, ONeill is Cleveland's bes
hackstop. and Lee Fohl may thin
twice before letting him go befor
ne obtains a successor. II Barr
throws In one Of his backstops, tn
deal may go through next week ]