The Washington herald., 1917-02-09
JOHNSON IS NOT in
FAVOR OF THE STRIKE
Smoke Ball" Hurler Does Not Sympa-
thize With Move of Fultz Clan.
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

BY JOHN A. DUGAN.
Pitcher Walter Johnson. the smoke-ball
twister Of the big tent" is greatly op-
posed to the players strike. In a letter
to Manager Griffith the other day the
big smoke declared that the players
would make serious mistake IL they
went on the strike and that he was not
in sympathy with the movement Of Davy
Fultz's clan.
Johnson went further and stated that
the players were not only hurting the
great game but that they were also in
Juring themselves with the talk of strike
and that the sooner the show down ar
rived the better he would be satisfied.
Walter Is anxious for the sound of the
opening gong. and tells the "old Fox"
that he is anxiously awaiting for re-
porting time on March Z.
Eddie Flaherty, the big right-hander,
who Manager Grifith will take to
Augusta, Ga, with the youngsters on
February q intends to get something
of jump on the other rockies" by
starting in training next Monday.
F1aherty will leave here Sunday for
Franklyn, Mass, to train with the Dean
Academy team. Eddie will practice in the
indoor cages at Dean and will use their
wonderful outdoor running track which
the New Englander can boast OF.
Although Manager Griffith is not In
favor Of letting his players work out in
this go-as-you-please style he granted
F9aherty this permission. The "old
Fox" desires his young pitchers to come
under the watchful eyes of Mike Martin,
but he believes that Eddie will be greatly
benefited by his workout at the
Franklyn school.
Ollie ChilTs days as a member of Ban
his place will be filled during the coming
season by George Moriarty, the Tigers
former third sacker.
Chill while perhaps not the worst off,
cial that has ever visited the National
Park, seldom II ever was at his best
while working in this city. with the re
suit that he was constantly being panneo
whenever he put in an appearance. Ihe
criticism which was heaped upon his
head came from the players as well as
the fans.
As a Judge of plays around the bags
he was particularly good, but when II
came to calling them as they rified across
the plate he was at distinct disad-
vantage especially so when a catcher OF
more than ordinary bulk was receiving.
His short stature made 1t practically i'm
possible for him to follow the course OF
the ball. with a result that his decisions
on pitched balls in a great many In
work.
The diminutfve umpire not only got
himself in bad with Griffith and the Ma
tionaI players but all around the circuit
there was considerable adverse comment
upon his work. and the announcement
of his release by johnson has been an
ticipated for some time.
Fred Hartman, although he failed to
win the Winnipeg-St. Paul dog race, Is
receiving more congratulations and at
tention than perhaps is being accorded
Albert Campbell, the winner. This only
goes to show that Americans. as a sport
public, never overlook a game loser.
II is said that Hartman has received
purses spontaneously collected for him
that are believed to exceed in value the
prizes won by Campbell, and in addition
to the interest aroused in his feat of
finishing. despite the many handicaps he
was compelled to overcome, has resulted
in quite a number Of theatrical offers for
him and his dogs.
Hartman is a graduate OF Massachu-
sctts Institute OF Technology and has
followed assaying in the far north. 1t
has always been his desire to establish
n research chemical laboratory and it
would not be surprising if he was to
apply the money which has been given
to him toward this end.
Fred smith. otherwise known as ''KIon-
dixie" Smith. Of the Eastern League.
boasts of a record that perhaps few outer
gardeners can come within a mile of
touching
Playing with Springfield. Smith in two
seasons participated in 1S3 games and
cleanly accepted 401 chances without the
semblance of an error. Any time an out
fielder can show 4O1 chances without a
truthfully be said that he has been play
ing to protect his fielding average.
Percy Haughton and John McGraw are
infringing upon one of Connie Mack's
original baseball copyrights. Last sea-
son Mack had about fifty or sixty young
steTs working out at his park each day
the team was away.
Now Haughton intends to pull the same
stunt and McGraw is going Mack and the
Braves president one better by taking
10 Marlin every younsster who wishes
to make the trip at his own expense.
In the past the Giants pilot has been
besieged each year with numerous re-
quests from ambitious amateurs who were
willing to take in the training trip with
out one cent of expense to the club
Believing that there might be n chance
Of picking up some diamond star in the
rough. NCGraw has finally consented to
allow those boys who wish to take the
trip at their own expense the opportunity
of doing so at Marlin
Duke Paca Kahanamoku suffers ex-
CruciatinGly from two American mistakes.
One is the misprounciation of his name
the other the prevailing belief that the
Duke" prefix Is title
Duke is a given name, just like John
or Henry he explained. II never hear
my last name pronounced twice alike by
strangers. Most persons merely humble
It. To pronounce Kahansmoku correctly
give the broad sound to all the as and
accent the second and fourth syIlabIes
as il it were spelled Kah-hah-nah-mo-
Soo."
Connie Mack has come TO the conclusion after
trying out q number Of young collegians that base
ball and track athleics have nothing in tnmrnnn