The Washington times., 1917-01-13
"John Henry viii Be Treated
Like All My Other Players"
Says Griff.
OLD FOX, REMAINS SERENE
Declares Talk Is Cheap in Janu-
ary and Dear in April for
Athletes.
~ LoUTs A. BOUCHER.


bit excited over the reported assertion
Of Ban Johpson's that John Henry
will be driven from the American
League unless he gives up his affilia-
tion with the Baseball Players Fra
ternity.
'T want to say once more what I've
been saying all along that this move
of the fraternity is merely blum,
remarked the Old Fox today. 1T
doesn't cost any mony to talk In the
winter. But 1t does cost money 10
talk In April That makes amer
ence.
'There viii be no discrimination by
me in treating with any of my play
ers. This goes for John Henry, too.
I shall treat him just as ! do an the
others. Ban johnson cannot drive
Henry out of the league merely for
Belonging to the, fraternity. He would
have to drive all the others out WIN
him.
May Lose Money.
At don't believe that my players
viii refuse to sign for the coming
season, but If they are so foolish
let them 90. I'll be better on without
that type Of q player on my ball club.
GFurthermore, no player on my
club can report at Augusta unless ne
has signed q contract. I shall oroer
all the unsigned to stay where they
they are. II a player decides to holo
out to the last moment, say on tne
opening day fthe regular season ana
then report in poor physical conoltlon'
1 shall bench him under suspension
and fane him to the limit allowed IN
this league. That goes for al lot
them"
Eaaier to Get Players.
Manaxer Griffith insists on saying
that the Fultz plan of calling strike
will fall to the ground and that the
fraternity will collapse before the
season begins
81 refuse to take this talk serious
~" he explains Here we are racing
.SuItz. He demands that the majors
n something out of their power TO DO.
We have nothing TO do with the minor
leagues. We cannot yield 70 tne -iFa-
,ernitv IN this demands of theirs
Fhat shows the injustice OF the play
ers.
GHoweyer. IL the players do really
go through with their strike, WHAT
will they do? We have plants worm
,nywhere from 100000 to sl'O0o,OOO.
we can go ahead and get players
somewhere for one season- It's easier
FOR the clubs to train players uan Lot
the rebellious players to hnd plants.
!rh,rlr ar that over and you'll see I'm
right"
John HenFy's Position
1olr Henrv's name has crept into
the newspapers because OF his energy
in pulling players into line for the
fraternity. The Washington catcher
q wintering at his home in Amherst
lass. where he has gone into the poA-
making business. He is expected TO
=e present next Thursday IN Boston
At the meeting. Of players residing In
<ew England. It is this activity on
ais part which leads Ban johnson 10
ieclare warfare on him.
GHenry, or any other players in the
American League, who refuses to sign
a contract because of the fraternity"
avs Ran. will be barred We pro-
nose TO lay a strong hand on Henry
and others like him.
aThe American League has been fair
with its players and will continue 10
he fair without the assistance OF
FuItz. The fraternity president must
ne driven from baseball. The Amer.
icnn League is against him.
Borders on Conspiracy.
President John K. Tenef, Of the Ma
tional League. says that "a sympa-
Ghetto strike Of major league players
hacause OF minor league grievances
borders on conspiracy as defined by the
clayton act. ,
.aThfs strike IL a great injustice con-
tfnuss Tener. The Nauonal League
.I.vers have absolutely no grievance.
snd We always have conceded them all
they asked.
..ks the public knows how well the
,,,avera. are treated. cannot sec how
hey can hope to have any public SYM
+ataY-"