New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-11
EBBETS SERENE
AMID ALL TALK
OF BIG STRIKE
Flatbush Squire Declares
Salary Adjustment Alone
Can Save Game

Hot Springs, Ark, Feb. 10.-lf any
member of the Brooklyn National
League team has returned his con-
tract unsigned, together with a request
fer raise in salary, that fact is not
being made public by one Charles Eb-
bets, president Of the Superbas' organi-
zation. By the same token the head
Of the National League pennant win
ners doesn't indicate by any increased
wrinkles or nervousness that he Is
letting the probability Of "holdous
worry him.
I, IL well known that some OF the
Brooklyn team have not returned their
contracts. One report has IL that
eleven of the players took exception
TO this years document, but the Squire
isn't giving out any information on
this point. In fact, Ebbets has been
so busy playing golf, taking the baths,
riding over "Uncle Sans" mountains
since he came to this noted Spa, that,
while he has done an immense amount
of work relative TO the club and It's
spring training in this city, what the
players have written to him and what
he has told them in reply is belng
more carefully guarded than was the
now famous note President Wilson
sent some weeks ago, which material
lied into the leak" scandal. lnere
is no leak" where Ebbets' CORE
spondence is concerned, and he is as
non-committal as the Sphinx on TINS
subject. All he said in reply to POM
bardment of queries was this:
Will Play safety First
Let me tell you this: The time has
come when the big league CLUBS WIZ
have to adopt a strict policy OF re,
trenchment. We have got TO nave elehC
clubs TO make the league. well, just 10
sure as the sun shines, four OF thoSe
clubs are going TO be IN the SECOND u
vision, and when they get into the sec
ond division they face loss, hnahcial-
ly. That is positve-the second DIVISION
clubs play the losing end OF the game;
Now, that is a bright prospect lsn ~
No one knows what clubs VIII De III inc
second division. No one can tell. ~
"If this country goes to war WIN
Germany il will mean big loss to the
national game, so far as gate receipts
90. and the men running big league
teams will have to use every precau-
tionary measure TO safeguard them
selves against financial loss. IL Is no
easy matter to run ball club, either.
ii am not going to give out any state
ments relative to those who have re-
fused to sign contracts until get BACK
in Brooklyn. | am going to attend the
meeting of the National League at the
ldorf-Astoria, New York, Tuesday,
February 10, and | may have something
TO say on this subject; but there are
certain angles and features | want to
look into when | reach home. | have
closed all negotiations for bringing the
team to Hot Springs for its training
this spring. We will have headquarters
al the Eastman Hotel. The exact date
for our arrival will be given out when
/ reach home, and will be some time be-
tween March and IL, but just who
has signed and what the situation IS IN
this respect | decline to state until l
get back East
Sam Agnew Arrives
Sam Agnew, one of the star receivers
for the Boston Red SoI, officially
opened the training season here TINS
week, when he arrived and penned his
name to the Majestic Hotels register.
Sam stated that while the other mem
bers of the Red Sox would not be here
until March z, he determined to come
this early, get the advantage Of course
of baths and have ar edge" on his col
leagues.