The Washington times., 1917-02-16
GRIFFMEN TOPLAY
JOE TINKER'S CLUB
Date with Columbus Brings
Total of Exhibitions Up to
Fifteen.
SCRIBES TREATED POORLY
Given Five Cents Worth" of In
formation After American
League Meeting.
BY LOUIS A. DOUGHER.

NEW YORK, FEB. 10.-MandBeT
Griffith will take his ball club to Co.
lumbus, Ohio, on April s to meet the
outfit handled by joe Tinker. This
will necessitate the teams hopping
from Washington to the Ohio capital,
but the Old Fox thinks that can be
done.
Walter johnson has been promised
to work for at least three innings
against the Columbus club. Manager
Tinker believes that, with but three
days to go, Johnson may be willing
to pitch five innings, although Tinker
will not advertise him for this dis
tgnce.
The Griffmen will be home April 3,
meeting Georgetown and the Philadel-
phia Nationals for four games, rum
ming to April 9. The addition of the
Columbus date means that the Grifts
will play fifteen exhibition games be-
fofe the 1917 season opens.
The Commission Acts.
The National Commission had an
unusually long session yesterday. At
the close very little was done. Garry
Hermann untangled himself from
long beer long enough to say that
everything had been turned down,
except that minor league clubs would
not be obliged to turn over purchased
players until they were willing"
Next summer, II a major league
club buys a minor league player and
wants an immediate delivery, this
cannot be guaranteed. II the minor
league club is satisfied to turn over
the player, well and good, but If the
minor league club is-not satisfied, the
player bought will have to remain
where he is.
Meeting n FiZzle.
The meeting of the American League
proved a fine flzzle. Ban johnson
came down to the lobby Of the Hotel
wolcott, glared at the assembled
scribes. and then disappeared. Later
on everybody was informed that the
American League was in session.
After something like five hours the
scribes were invited to ascend to the
heights of the hotel, were ushered
into the rooms occupied by the lords
of the league, and then given about
5 cents worth of information. This
is typical of the American League, at
that, so why should any one COM
plain?
Will Build Monument.
Secretary Harridge announced in
carefully moduIated tones that the
league agreed to erect a suitable
monument in Boston to the late
Timothy H. Murnane, one of the old
est baseball writers in the business,
who passed away recently in Boston
Harridge also said that the league
Endorsed heartily the remarks OF the
National League concerning the dead
and gone Players Fraternity.
"As for action against players iden-
titled with the fraternity, nothing Will
be DONE" said Harridge. "The Ameri-
can League playing contract settles
that argument 1t says that no dis
elimination will be used against any
players for affiliations with the fra
ternity."
Breaks With Fraternity.
or course, the league broke official
iy with the fraternity, fathered by
Dave FuItz and slaughtered by Ban
johnson. With the union dead and
buried. the American League proudly
"severed all relations with the frater-
nity," charging it with breaking all
the rules Of common honesty ana
decency.
Dave FuItz had promised to visit
the Hotel WOlcott, if only TO prove
that he had gone down with colors
flying, but he never showed up NO
one shed any tears about that, elther'
come to think OF it.
Many major league players and ex-
major Ieaguers were at the hotel.
They were waiting for Fultz and were
disappointed in not seeing him.
About Those Contracts.
One thing has been settled about
those players contracts. No more
will players be given ironclad con-
tracts for two or three seasons. Dick
Rudolph, the Braves pitcher, was
holding out for $1,000 for two years,
with a contract carrying no ten-days'
release clause. when he signed up
Il was for one year at 81 500 and the
contract carried the customary re-
lease clause In other words, the
magnates are once more in the saddle.
"The whole thing was bOtched by
Dave FultZ," said a prominent major
Lacquer to the writer. For obvious
reason the player does not care to
have his named used. eve went into
this night for one thing-to better our
selves. We signed pledges for that
reason. The first thing we knew, we
read that a strike would be called be-
cause the major league r1aEuates
would not assist the minor league
players. That isn't what / signed for,
know that. SO ! took no more in
terest I'm the matter. 1t meant moth
ing to me-"
Both big leagues, though announc-
ing nothing, have adopted similar con-
tracts. Every player will be held to
one-year contracts and each contract
will carry the usual ten-day release
clause.
"COnnIe, Would Umpire.
"Wid" COnroy, who used to play
with New York and Washington be-
fore the marrow of his bones dried
up, would be an umpire. Ban John
son has practically promised him a
chance in the big show, IL he will go
out into the bushes and prove his
worth. So now ConrOy is looking for
a berth as a minor league umpire.
The international League is loaded,
or he would get a trial in the Bar
row circuit