Evening star., 1918-02-23
CUBS FACE EATLESS
DAYS ON COAST TRIP
Notified They Cannot Have
Customary Special Trains
With Diner Attached.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

The day of the de luxe specials when
ball players Travelled in style behttins
bIoated bondholders has passed. The
necessity of utilizing rolling stock and
tracks for the transportation of war
supplies and equipment has struck a
severe blow at the ease and comfort OF
the athletes. Hereafter. under govern
nent control of railroads. upper berths
will not be used merely for the storage
of luggage and raiment. and hlsh-
priced pitchers and heavy-hittins in
fielders will. in many instances. have TO
carry their lunch in a shoepoX ins.eao
of strutting into palatial ca1e on
wheels when the first call for dinner
is announced.
Evidence of the greatly altered con-
ditions pertaining to the trahSpoi ~ ~
tion of big league ball clups IN tne
coming season from those that prevail
ed In former years is furnished in the
case of the Chicago National A-eaSuefs
who. this spring. again Will Journey
from the middle west TO the lac',tc
coast for their training. Last year tne
Cubs party consisting OF more thatl
seyenty-fiye persons, made the TRIP
from Chicago to the coast in special
train of eight cars, including oihe'' =
buffet and an observation car, ana al
side trips were taken
his wear President Weeghman mas
been notified that there Will be aVaii-
able for his party only two sieepins
TO a mail train, with no dining car
service over one road or sleeping car
space for the party over anotner ana
longer route, which, however, Will nave
dining car service.
business Manager craighead of the
club says the offer of two sleepers and
an observation car attached to mall
train probably will be accepted
Incidentally. Boss Weeghman has
taken steps 20 make sure that none OF
his henchmen will enjoy the outing to
Pasadena unless obligated to play ball
He has notified those of his players re-
garded as holdouts thai unless they ac-
cept terms with the club before the
start for the camp ia made early next
month they will have to look else
where for means Of earning their live
lihood this year.
II shall not be bothered with holdouts
this season." Weeghman says. We did
not make any big cuts in salaries de-
spite the war. The majors cannot af-
ford to pay enormous salaries and the
players should be made to understand
the situation confronting the club own
ers."
Lieut.. John Lavan, U. S. n. R., prac-
ticing physician in the winter months
and from April to October shortstop
extraordinary. Is due to arrive in
for a conference with Clark Griffith re-
garding the emolument to be paid him
for performing with the Nationals this
season. Failing to reach an under
standing through the medium of cor
respondence, Grifith suggested Lavan
come hero to discuss terms. his suit
against President Ball of the Browns
and his prospect for being called into
the service of Uncle Sam.
1t is believed Lavan will be free to
play ball for at least a part of the
coming season, and although the in
fielder has been Quoted as saying he
will not sign contract until his ac-
tion for $4,000 damages against the
head of the st. Louis club is settled.
Griffith believes it would be to Lavan's
advantage to do SO, and Will try to
convince him that signing with the
chances of winning his court suit.
which is based on the allegation that
his character has been damaged. Griff
today said he felt sure Lavan will have
signed as a member of the Nationals
before he leaves Washington.
Still another veteran of base ball has
announced his intention Of essaying a
comeback in fast company this year.
Mike Doolan, who for ten years was a
fixture with the Phillies, until he
jumped to the Federal League in 1915,
mas signed One-year contract with
the Boston Braves. The enlistment of
Rabbit Maranville left a hole in the
Hub fnf1eld that gave Doolan a chance
to return to the big show that he was
quick to grasp. as the International
League, in which he managed the
Rochester club last season, is on the
rocks and about to founder.
Although never good hitter, the
former Villanova College star was one
OF the best shortstops in the country
when In his prime. being a remarkable
nelder and thrower. Doolan has done
considerable travelling since he hurdled
organised base ball, going first to the
Baltimore Feds, then to the Chifeds.
where he was when the base ball war
ended; and then from the reorganized
CUBS TO the Giants. who sent him TO
the southern League in 1915, where he
remained until last season, when he as.
sumed the reins at Rochester. If
Doolan can staye off the Charley
horse" that ended his stay in Chica 81
ne Will play alongside Buck Herzoe in
the Braves infield this summer.
a nfty-dollar pot for the Griffith ha,l
ana pat fund was contributed the other
night at the fourteenth annual dinner
OF the Philadelphia Sporting Writer'S,
Association. The money was raisad
through the medium of selling smokes
TO the 100 members and friends in al
tendance at the spread, which was
patrlotic IN character. and known az
war economy dinner"