The Washington herald., 1917-02-10
'GRIFF MUST have
EVIDENCE ON HENRY
Will Not Consider Ban Johnson's State
ment Unless He Is Shown in
Black and White.
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

.
John Henry. the veteran catcher Of the
Nationals, will probably be canned from
the American League when that organiza-
ton holds its meeting in New York City
Wednesday.
President Ban B. johnson. of the Ameri-
can League, gave out statement from
Chicago yesterday that the major league
magnates would vote the Washington
club a sum of money and order the Ma
tionals to give John Henry his walking
papers as result of this players al
legged activities in behalf of the players
union.
"Henry has been writing letters to ball
players urging them not to sign contracts
and to stand by the Fraternity and stand
pat" said Johnson. His actions have
not been to the best interests of the
league"
He added that action in the case proba-
bly, would mean Henry's expulsion from
organized baseball.
such players are undesirable in our
league" johnson said. THE Washington
catcher has written practically every
player in the Fraternity, urging them to
remain loyal to the Fultz clan and not to
sign until given the word by the presi-
dent Of the Frat"
Ban Johnson went further, and stated
that the American League and most of
the minor organizations would ignore
pleas to settle the difference now ex-
isting between organized baseball and
the Players Fraternity.
80
Manager Grifith, of the Washington
! team, when informed OF President John
sons statement. said he would have to
learn just what Henry has done before
he could say what his attitude in the
matter would be.
'Tf II can be shown that Henrys ac-
tivities in behalf OF the Fraternity have
been detrimental to the American League
or to the Washington club no one will be
| more in favor OF ousting him that /. But
I want proof Of the charges against him.
IF he has written in his capacity as
Washington representative of the Fra
ternity. only to members of the local
club. urging them to stand by the Fra
ternity l cannot see that his offense Is
so serious I will not resent this. But
If he has exceeded his authority, II he
has written to the players of other teams.
urging them to refuse to sign contracts
until permission is given by Fultz. then
will consider he has overstepped the
bounds and should be summarily dealt
| with. l will know better how to Judge
Henry when the evidence is produced at
the league meeting In New York next
week. I've got to be shown. that's ALL"
IL was dlnlOsI a reduy-Inaue rdCt early
yesterday that delegates to the annual
meeting of the United States National
| Lawn Tennis Association in New York
would take the action that will make
! Maurice z. Mclaughlin a professional
when they convene at the Waldorf.
The only chance to overcome the solid
front that will be presented in the East
will be for the Western men to win oyer
the few clubs in this section who have
not instructed their delegates
The amendment to the bylaws will
make any tennis player who engages in
the sporting goods business a profess
sional, following the example set by the
National Golf Association when it made
Francis Ouimet and other prominent
golfers professionals.
1t begins to look vrey much as though
the 5oo-miie race held annually under
the auspices of the American Speedway
Association, will be staged Memoria!
Day, at indianapolis.
The hackers of the famous Hoosier
Speedway got themselves In bad with the
association clan by refusing to agree to
maximum amount of prize money
$50. o.ooo-but stated that they would give
as much as they pleased. There has been
a fight against the Indiana promoters
by other speedway hackers that were and
still are in bad way financially. they
not being able to ever over-bid the
Hoosiers for this greatest of all auto
classics, with a result that Indianapolis
has not been in the field for the event
and racing has been anything but sue
cessful.
Those men who opposed the Indiana
track owners have seen the handwriting
on the wall and they have agreed to
allow the indianapolis promoters to hang
up such prizes as they see fit, and 1t is
very easy to see that in doing this they
have practically conceded the event to
the Hcosier track.