The Washington herald., 1917-07-01
LEAGUE MOGULS TOOK
WATER With M'GRAW
Club Forces Little Giant Into Sign
ing Statement, Seeing Visions
of Fo9el Case.

The pugnacious spirit of John J..
McGraw was alone responsible for the
recent troubles WIN the Nauonal
League, John X. Tener and several
New York newspaper men.
His fiery temper broke loose against
Umpire Bill Byron in Cincinnati, and
for plugging Bill on the beak he drew
a heavy fine and suspension. The
action Of President Tener in filming
and suspendins McGraw was like
tossing oil on a blaze. Once again
McGraw's temper flared up. and cor
respondents with the Giants printed
interviews in which he was quoted as
saying some very harsh things about
Tener. the umpires and the National
League in general
Called on the carpet by the league
directors, MCGraw denied statements
credited to him in a written statement,
which dIscredited the stories sent
home by New York writer's, and got
him in decidedly bad with the scriOes,
It was out Of the frying pan and
into the fire for McGraw, but it is
said that he admitted heavy pressure
was brought to bear which resulted
in HIS signing the statement that ap-
peased the National League. and as
this is generally accepted as the
straight" of the affair. it Is only
natural to conclude that McGTaw said
everything that was credited to him.
McGraw is working for the New
York Baseball Club. He IS permitted
to do practically as he secs fit in
everything and is rated as one of the
most capable men in the game. But
when the National League, headed by
President Tener. called McGraw's S
hand, the New York club had visions
of another Horace Foyer case, and
persuaded MCGTaw TO take what ap-
peared to be the easiest way out.
The signed statement handed over
to the directors by NCGraw made a
closed book Of the case insofar as
official action BY the National League
was concerned. But it did not ap-
pease the New York sCribes, who were
put in a bad light, and their actions
in the matter have been generally
supported by nCutrals who know all
angles Of the case.
The net result Of MCGraw's state
ment, therefore, has not been a very
nutritious mOrsel for the National
League to swallow. The manner in
which the case was handled placed
the League in a rather unpleasant
light. 1t made the league look riG!C-
ulous, and il has cngendered the be-
lief that if MCGTaw took water
when he signed his statement the
National League took water along
with him.
McGraw's troubles in the National
League have been numerous because
of his fiery spirit. Last September
he startled the baseball world by aC-
cusing his ball club OF tossing off
games to the Brooklyn Dodgers. At
least he was quoted to that effect.
and later denied that he had meant
what he said. At the time the base
bal public looked for drastic action
on the part of the lcacue in the way
Of an investigation. But the investi-
CATION, if there was one, never was
made public. and it is said that the
league decided the best course was
to let the agitation die out. The same
system has been applied to the recent
incident. and, to say the least, it has
been blow to the straight-laCcd old
league
Nothing that has happened in the
lively career Of MCGraw has ever hurt
him so much as his reputation OF the
newspaper articles credited to him.
He would rather have taken a licking,
it is said. than TO have signed the
statement, but ne works" for the
we" OIh ttuos ana Jne NCW Oih
club thought it best. as did the league
directors. No one who figured in the
case, with the exception Of McGraw,
seemed to give a tiuker's rap what
the newspapers would think or how
the corresponds would feel. 1t
was a case Of the newspapers be
burned. And the attitude hasn't es-
capped the notice of the baseball public
by long shot, because the whole
case was as plain as the map CT Old
Erin on McGraw's face, and the public
read between the lines.