Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-15
WAR NOW SOLE WORRY
Of BASE BALL WORLD
Dropping Of Feds Damage Suit
Clears Atmosphere-Elmer Smith
Resold to Cleveland.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

With the menace, II menace IT may
be termed. Of the Baltimore Feds nine
hundred-thousandd dollar damage sult
out of the way. organized base ball now
has the war alone as source of pos
sible Interference with its wonted pros
perity, and thus far 1t has not hurt In
terest in the national game except IN
this city, the seat Of the government
The powers that be in the base bail
world have contended right along that
the disgruntled hackers of the out
law" enterprise in the Monumental
city had absolutely no chance to win
the legal battle they instituted, but that
it should terminate SO suddenly and in
the manner in which it did occasions
some little surprise. The Federal
Leaguers must have become thoroughly
convinced from the trend of things at
the court proceedings in Philadelphia
that their cause was a hopeless one.
otherwise they would never have
dropped the suit Attorney Janney.
chief counsel for the plaintiffs. in his
statement to the court. asserted there
had been no settlement of the case.
Manager Griffith last evening com
pleted a deal whereby Elmer Smith.
the outflelder, was returned to the
Cleveland club, from which he came to
Washneto ton with Joe Leonard in the
trade that sent Joe Boehling and Dan
Moeller to the Indians. The deal was
an outright sale, with the purchase
price not made public. Manager Grif-
fifth, in referring to the deal, said he
felt that. with Shanks showing such
good form. he could we'll afford to dis
penSe with Smiths services. be as
serted that the money obtained would
be applied TO the purchase of young
PLAYERS but denied that any veterans
of the game would be added to the
roster OF the local club
Il am going to try and build up my
club with young blood Griffith said
Il have no intention of taking on any
old timers Any stories TO the CON
false. and are an injustice to the club
as we'll as to the Washington base ball
public"
Hugh Jennings and his fast travel
ing Tigers Will be the attraction at
the Georgia avenue PARK for -FOUR
games beginning today. Walter John-
son is due to work this afternoon
against either Boland. Detroits most
consistent winner. or James. Iomof-
row. the first half-holiday of the sea
son for the government clerks. George
Du Mont, Griff's sensational young
ster. will be seen in the box. HOWE
Ehmke is expected to oppose him. The
game will start at o'clock Should the
Griffs he so fortunate as to clean up
the series they will pass Detroit in the
race.
After the game Saturday evening the
Griffmen. fourteen of them. will hop
train for Akron. Ohio, where they will
play an exhibition game SUNDAY with
the New York team of the National
League. Griffith Is exceedingly anxious
10 win this clash. and has announced
he will use Bert Gallia against the
team now leading the RICE and gener-
ally picked to win the pennant in the
older circuit
Another boost for the movement in
stituted by Clark Griffith to supply
balls and bats for the soldiers of Uncle
sam in the training camps and behind
the lines on the battlefields abroad has
been received in the shape of tele-
gram from Billy Sunday. the evan
gelist, himself former major league
ball player The telegram, addressed
to Manager Griffith, who is a personal
friend of the local pilot. reads:
Have sent you plan to help supply
balls and bats for soldiers This is one
of the best schemes ] have heard Of, as
every army has hope for base ball.
Nothing is more appropriate VIII see
what l can do to help YOU.
As result of yesterdays postpone
ment necesstated by the combination
rail and hail storm that inundated the
grounds at Georgia avenue and the tie
contests Of Tuesday and Wednesday the
Griffmeu and Indian will have to play
three double headers on the occasion
of the Cleveland clubs next visit to
Washington Fohrs tribe is listed to
appear here for four days. from
W Wednesday to Saturday, July 25. 26. 9.
and IS, and the twin bills will be
booked for the three aforementioned
dates.
Henri Rondeau, a slugger in the