Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-20
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

II there were no players strike in the
of,ing. Despite the rumpus Dave Fuitz
has kicked up with his talk of a walk
out and the action the Players f'rater-
nifty has taken in seeking to become
affiliated with union labor. the office
machinery of the Nationals is working
as smoothly of yore.
The base ball strike situation? I've
forgotten it," Manager Griffith said to-
day. THE proposition never has been
worth one-quarter the publicity gwen
IL. and if it hadn't come up in the win
ter time when news is scarce. little at
tention would have been given to 1t.
TT has furnished the fans and stove
league members something to talk
about in the dull season. but wait until
March and see how soon it is forgotten
fright now there is absolutely no
difference in the progress made in ar
rAuCemeuts for the coming season imam
there was last year. or any otner year
at this time We haven't any salary
differences to adjust that amount TO
anything, the matter OF a couple Oh
hundred dollars being all that stands
I'm the way of any of the boys signing
their contracts. These little conten-
tions may be expected to bob up, but
they always have been ironed out and
they Will be tins year
Establishment by organized base ball
of 4 home for aged base ball players
probably will he considered before the
1917 season opens. according TO ban
Johnson president of the American
League.
such a home could easily be estab-
lished and maintained" says Johnson
1T might he feasible to give part OF
the world series receipts to such a
nd OH, probably
he induced to. contribute to the fund
Several benevolent organizations have
homes for the aged and I think base
ball players should have one.
No action has been taken on the
proposition as yet. but johnson says
the subject has been discussed in
formally by certain major league club
owners and it is expected the proposal
will he submitted to the club owners
of the American and National Leagues
soon. Joe Cantillon's Minneapolis ath-
letes should hail the proposition with
joy.
President Dunn of the Cleveland
Americans denies that the threatened
strike would seriously cripple his club.
According to Dunn practically every
member of the Cleveland team has
signed a 1917 contract. He admits that
Bobby Roth. who is member of the
ball players fraternity, has not signed.
hut says he expects to come to terms
Fred Mitchelrs job as head coach of
the Harvard base ball squad. which he
gave up when he was appointed man
ager of the Chicago Nationals, has
heen given to Hugh Duffy, old time big
league player and manager. Duffys
appointment by the college base ball
committee is announced by Fred Moore.
graduate treasurer of the Harvard
Athletic Association, and will become
effective when approved by the asso-
citation.
Several dozen applications for the po-
sition were considered many being
from veteran players who have drop
ped out of fast company. Duffy has all
the qualifications necessary to insure
his success at Cambridge. He played
in the outfe1d for nine years on the
Boston National League team and since
then has managed teams in Milwaukee,
Philadelphia. Providence and Chicago.
At present he is principal owner and
Eastern League.
Hans Wagner's job is in danger
again. President Dreyfuss of the
pittsburgh club yesterday announced
that lFoyd Farmer. an outfielder, and
Wesley Siglin. an infielder, have been
traded to the Portland club of the Pa
enc Coast League in return for Charles
w ward. shortstop. Wagner has
seen recruit shortstops come and go
with the Pirates for more than a dozen
years. and it is not believed that news
or the latest acquisition will in any
way mar the veterans honeymoon.
Nick Altrock. the leather-lunged
member of the Nationals is a business
man now. having forsaken the stage.
AFTER being bool-ed for a week in Chi
Cages suburbs. Nick. who draws pay
from the Washing 'on club for keeping
MS teammates in G BOD humor and incl
ddentai,y coaching the young pitchers.
Of hal
vaudeville star. Ills reasons for Civ
ing up his effort to elevate the stage
are set forth in the Chicago Tribune:
You see. I'm not a White Rat"
Nick is quoted as saying 80 the
vaudeville managers are awfulIy nice
to me and don't try to make me work
Now. j see the ball players may have
To go on strike. so | thought I had
better get regular job. i signed with
the sporting goods store as a demon
strator 1 suppose I'll have to show
the amateurs how to wear base ball
uniform. 1t looks better than the stage
stun to me. and il I'm success at DEM
onstrating / won't need to worry IL the
boys do go on a strike"
George Sisler. who. Barney Dreyfuss
says. ought to be playing for his Pitts
burgh team. and who is acknowledged
to be the most versatile player in base
ball. may be given different "regu-
lar assignment with the St Louis
college in Michigan and Joined the
browns for tryout as a pitcher. he has
played a number of different positions
In the infield and outfield. all with con-
summate case and grace. lie appeared
at first base for the Browns in "A great
majority of the games last season, but
report has II that he is slated for the
outheld next season. Fielder Jones real
izinE that his young star stands much
more chance of being injured playing
the initial sack than he would in chas-
ing flies in the garden.
IT Mana ger Jones goes through with
the plan he is said to be contemplating
the vacancy may be allotted to Gene
Pau.et. the Little Rock. Ark, high
school boy, who was given a try-out
with the New York Giants. Paulet has
been in the Southern League for the
last three years. He has made quite a
reputation a batter in this organiza-
ton. and also is said to handle himself
cleverly ut first
Although the records of games won
and lost show Jack Majors to have
been absolutely the worst pitcher in
the American League last season. Con-
ME Mack plans 10 use him as one OF
his regulars this year. In 1916 Nabors
won one game and lost twenty. but a
close study Of the statistics for the
season shows that he really did better
work than Elmer Myers, another Of
Maci's youngsters who was one of the
sensations of the league Myers was