The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-25
Fourth Member of Last Years
Club Sends Signed Con-
tract to Boss.
OLD FOX BUSY SOCIALLY
viii Address Two Gatherings
on Baseball in Virginia
Next Month.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

BY LOUIS A. DOUGHEhs
One more member Of the 1916 Grirrmen
has signed up for the coming season,
his contract arriving at Manager Grit
fith's Office late yesterday.
With johnson, Milan. Morgan, and
Foster working out wartime contracts
ed FIaherty. former Eastern High
School twirler, and four 1916 players in
line, the Old Fox IL sure of having at
least nine men ready for the jaInt to
Augusta, Ca. next month.
No word has yet come from Hank
ShanlIs since his return to dear old Mon
AGA, but Manager Griffith does not ex-
pect any for few weeks.
VIII Be Kept Busy.
The Old Fox has accepted two invita-
tons from amateur baseball orEaniza-
tons. On Febrary he will address the
Alexandria County A A., which will
hold a smoker at Clarendon, Va Two
nights later he will be principal guest
of honor at the annual banquet of the
Cardinal A c.. at Alexandria.
You bet I'm going over to Clarendon"
laughed Griffith today. who knows, I
might dig up a promising young player
out Of the team some day. You never
can tell. II can help to boom baseball
across the river by talking to the Alex
Andria county boys, I certainly win do
So
"And then that banquet with Sylvester
Breens bunch down the river-I
wouldn't miss that for fortune. Some
Of the hottest rooters we have out at
the ball park every season are Alexan-
drians, and I'm going to meet them
again next month. Maybe III be tempt
ed IN nredfcf RornethinR"
AbOut the Application.
Concerning the application OF the
Baseball Players Fraternity for q
charter in the American Federation
OF Labor, Il is rumored today that it
will be denied, on the ground that
the players did hot seek It until the
contemplated strike appeared to be q
hopeless move.
President Gompers, of the A. F. of
l.. says that the application is being
given thorough consideration by the
executive committee, and that no de-
cision Is expected until Saturday or
Monday Of next week. The labor
heads are investigating all conditions
surrounding professional baseball
players.
Players Are Talking.
are coming statements from promi-
nent players. and the general opinion
Is that contrary to President Fultz's
blasts, there is anything but a united
desire for strike.
Hank shanks, the Grifmen's utility
player, admits that he IL against a
strike So do Johnny Lavan. the
Browns shortstop; Bob shawkey.. the
Yankees pitcher; Dode Paskert, the
Phillies' veteran outfelder; Joe Benz,
Eddie Cicotte. and Claude Williams,
the White Sox pitchers; Bobby Roth,
the Cleveland outfelder, and Al Dem
area the Cubs pitcher.
More than forty American Leaguers
are already signed to wartime con-
tracts running through the 1917 cam
paign, and almost every day comes
word of others signing. Two
Brownies have signed up for the COM
ing season, defying Fultz's orders.
Some Are scrappy.
The National League seems to have
some players who are scrappy, though
most of their complaints are against
salary cutting.
Gus Getz, the Brooklyn third base
man, has returned, unsigned, the con.
tract rendered him this winter. He
was cut down $500, and he doesn't
relish this treatment whatever. He
now Joins the other disconnected
Dodgers-Zack Wheat. Casey Stengel.
Chief Meyers, George Cutshaw and HI
Myers.
More National L.eaguers than Amer
lean Leaguers seem to be drilling
along with Dave Fultz, though many
are kicking against dwipdling salary
players.
Contradietx Fultx.
John H. Farrell, secretary of
Shs National Association Of Minor
Leagues, coutradicts Dave Fultrs
statements concerning the treatment
Of Manager Crystal, of St Thomas,
Canada, and calls Fultzs efforts in
behalf of the players "schoolboy
Fourth of July oratory"
In many cases the national board
carried on its dealings directly with
the players, and not with FuItz, as
head Of the fraternity.
This Is where the shoe pinches,"
says Farrell. "Fultz's statements are
gar5Ied, regardless OF the frequent,
meaningless flights OF schooIboy ora
tory about such conditions as the
Crystal case being tolerated in q free
land"
Crystal, managing q Glass c team.
got into trouble with q player, who
charged that he had been released
:, without notice or pay. The national
Board first ordered Crystal to pay the
player fve days salary out OF his
own pocket. Later investigation
showed that the player was a notori-
GUS contract jumper, playing under
an assumed name. Crystal was imme-
diateIy declared eligible, and his SEN
;ence lifted.
Farrell claims that Fultz was IA
eriIiar with these facts when he insti-
tuted legal suit against the national
board. although at the time the whole
case had been settled satisfactorily to
Crystal.