The Washington herald., 1917-03-04
Cubs Trainer. Mike Martin.
Unable to Procure Rec
tilted Spirit.


Rain and unfavorabIe weather are not
the only things that are Weighing
heavily on the minds Of the washlngton
piayers now In the training camp At
Had Nike Martin, the clubs trainer,
ever dreamed that he was 10 be denied
the use OF that greatest Of an pain ana
stn-muscle eradicator alcohoI-tt n
doubtful whether he would have been
30 enthusiastic over the Georgia city az
q training ground.
Martin, In a telegram 70 Manager
Griffith yesterday. Informed the Ma
/ tional's chieftan that he had found it
impossible TO purchase alcohol. in
, medium quantities. for use as a rub" on
the players. without the rectihed spirit,
Mike believes that he might just as well
pack his grip and hike back TO Cherry
dale.
It seems that Martin. Sfter receiving
this setback, Immediately called upon
one Of Augustus leading legal lights and
ELECTED the information that by the pro-
visions Of the Georgia liquor law, Il
would be possible for each and every
player In the camp to receive by ship
ment. one-hsH gallon OF alcohol each
month.
with this information. Mike wires the
Old Fox TO express one-hslf gallon to
camp party. Grin, not being acquainted
with the fact that President Wilson yes
terday signed the ''bone-dry" law, which
becomes effective Immediately, was under
the impression that IL would be all right
4 to follow out Martins suggestion.
As II now is, IL viii be impossible to
ship alcohol to the athletes and Il would
seem that the only possible way in which
they can procure Il will be for tan
to Join church. The new law provides that
Eve gallons Of spirituous liquors can be
purchased every twenty days by an es-
| tablished church for sacramental pur-
poses. Whether the use Of II by MEM
bers OF the congregation as q rub" would
be construed as sacrilegious or not. is the
next question
/ In the meantime Il looks very much as
though Martin, II II is procUrable, will
| have to resort to "moonshine." the next
nearest substitute.
| ssss
While the majority of sport writers
| throughout the country are picking the
Boston Red SoX as contenders In the
coming American League race. the facs
| should not be overlooked that too much
prosperity and the aging Of several Of the
stars Of other seasons may weaken tho
Bean-eaters OF 1917.
George Foster. Carl Mays. Ernie Shore
| and Bzbe Ruth should show, collectively,
a far better brand OF hurting than that
| which they served up last season. Dick
HoblitzeIl experienced his best year of
seven during the past campaign. and 8;
is not reasonable to expect that the vet
eran is in for another banner season.
Jack Barry. IL the worries OF the man.
agerial Job do not weigh too heavily upon
his mind, should be as good as he was in
1915 and 1916 which, by the way, Is good
enough for him to hold down the key
stone sack on any team around the cir
cult Should Barry fail he has yoUnE
| Janvrin TO fill his place, a player that
has shown more than average ability.
At short Everett Scott should be q vast
ly improved player over the Scott Of 1916
but IT n at the hot corner that Barry
will probably be confronted with his fire,
worry. Father Time Is slowly but surely
closely pressing Larry Gardner.
| Dufy Lewis played a better than aver
age article Of ball during the 1916 drive.
but then II must be remembered that
the Red Sox left fielder has probably
passed the zenith of his career Clsr-
ence Walker will hardly improve. while
Harry Hooper Is defying time
Behind the hat the Champions are
strong in numbers. Cady Thomas. Az
new. Wilder and Devine are the receiv-
ers that will battle for regular berths
lCady. Thomas and Agnew. although fair
performers are not figured with the
ranking backstops Of the league.
With practically every other club max.
ing shifts that can not help but "a
strengthen them during the coming cam
paign, Jack Barry faces a herculeau
task in again grabbing on the gonfalon
Whether he will pc ayIe to land his
first time out win depend upon Dam.
| Fortune