Evening star., 1918-02-10
GR|FF PLANS TRADE
TO HELP NATIONALS
Goes to New York Tomorrow
Prepared to Dicker for New
Playing Material.
THREE LEAGUES TO MEET
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.


Ii the expectations OF Manager
Griffith are fulfilled a trade that
will rival for interest among
local fans that attending the eN-
change of Gallia for Shotton and
Lavan will be consummated with
in few days. Griffith makes no
secret of the fact that he is III
the market for material to
strengthen his 1918 array. and
freely admits he will jump at any
chance to acquire talent calcu-
lated to better the prospects OF
the Nationals in the coming race.
However, he courteously but
firmly declines to commit himself
as to what particular line OF en-
deavor the athlete he has i'll mind
follows, whether it IS second
basing, shortstopping or what.
Neither will he intimate from
what section of the circuit the
performer will come, much less
name the club now fostering him.
The fact remains that the local pilot
has ideas, and well-defined ones. too. re-
earding the value certain player Oh
established reputation would nave IN a
Washington uniform, and it is no VIOLA
tion of confidence to say that ne rs
willing and prepared to give up two
possibly three. players now on the local
roster in exchange for him.
whether Griffith will be successful
in engineering the deal he has IN mind
remains to be SEEN. The answer VIII
Tomorrow, or Tuesday at the latest,
Grifith will go to New York, where
this week a series of conferences OF
great Importance to base ball VIII pc
held. With scores of the leaders of the
game gathered in the metropolis, the
Washington helmsman Will hnd a Ter
tile field for sowing his seeds OF eio.
ouence and If something does not sprout
before the clans pull up stakes and
quit Manhattan Grifh will be grievously
disappointed.
international Meets Tomorrow.
The first of the three meetings which
promise to have such an importanI important
pastime will be held tomorrow when
the International League magnates
convene at the Hotel Imperial Tues
day and Wednesday the owners OF the
National League will hold sessions at
the Waldorf and Thursday the Amer
lean League moguls will get together at
the Hotel Walcott.
The principal business before the In
ternational League will be the question
of whether operations will be sus-
pended for the period Of the war or the
organization continued with a smaller
circuit and shorter season the out
look for the league is at best doubtful.
The prospect for proceeding with
league of six clubs-PJrovidence. Roch
ester: Newark. Baltimore. Ioronto
by the action of the Providence stock
holders in instructing their representa-
tive to vote for suspension unless the
majority of the clubs desire to continue.
The question OF Sunday base ball IN
New York state may, after all. decide
the fate of the league. however. and
decision may be postponed until after
the lawmakers at Albany act. The bill
legalizing Sunday ball thus far has
met with little opposition. and is re-
garded as having a good chance of
passing. In case it is decided to open
for business again a successor to Pres
ident Ed Barrow, whose resignation,
taking effect tomorrow, was rendered
in December. when the club owners
chopped his salary from $500 to $500.
will be elected. James Price and Arthur
Irwin are the leading candidates for
the job.
Fed Suit May Be Settled.
In addition to adopting the 1918
schedules and talking trades the major
league owners will have plenty of other
business aside from that of a routine
I'll -,,t Ill
attention will be devoted to the pro-
posed settlement of the impending Fed
eral League suit. the former hackers of
the defunct circuit promising to have
IL withdrawn if organized base ball
pays certain specified amounts. in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the
peace agreement. Plans for collecting
the war tax of 10 per cent on admis-
sions also will be discussed. with the
likelihood that If the government in
terposes no objection 80 cents will be
charged for bleacher seats and So cents
for those in the grandstand. the odd
pennies over and above the admission
and tax to be turned over by the club
owners to the Red Cross. The trans
portation problem will come in for care
full consideration. and a new rule pro-
viding for the playing of double-head-
ers the day following postponement
even if occurring in the first series,
also will be earnestly advocated. The
National League may pass rule to put
muffler on the loud talk of deals with
large amounts of cash involved, which
recently have tended to create dissatis-
faction among both players and own
ers not benefiting by them. The PLAYER
question also will be taken up but
President Tener's circuit is not expect
ed to follow the example of the Ameri-
can League and lift the player limit
Manager Griffith yesterday completed
arrangements for an exhibition game
with the Phillies at Camp Sewer.
Greenvil1e. S. C.. on Wednesday, April
10. This makes three games the Ma
tionals will play at Army camps An
other at Camp Lee, Petersburg, Va, for
Thursday. April IL. is pending.
( Wants IT & tn Ross Rov;no