The Washington herald., 1918-02-21
WALTER DENIES
BEING HOLD-OUT.
Old Fox Does Not Expect
to Have Any Trouble
with Smoke King.

News Note-Kansas City. Feb. 20.
lis Walter Johnson dissatisfied
with Clark Grifith's offer? This was
the rumor given credence here. At
any rate the famous pitcher has
not yet signed up with the WASH
ington team. He admitted this on
a visit here today.
This does not mean that Walter
johnson is a hold-out- Johnson de-
MED a story printed a few days ago
in which he stated that he was a
holdout, and claimed that he did not
think that he would have any
trouble in coming to terms with
the Old Fox. Although Walter de-
nies being a hold-out he will not
deny the fact that his contract calls
for a reduction in salary this sea-
son.
The Old Fox stated last night that
ne did not believe Walter was pull
ing any of the hold-out stun. and
that there would be no trouble be-
tween himself and the smoke bail
king when signing time drew near.
In speaking of the hold-out ques-
tion 4 Old Fox said: This talk
of hoIdouts is not as bad as those
New York newspaper boys desire TO
paint it. Our rules call for all play
ers to be under contract at report
ing time for training. and until then
no one can call any one a hold
out even il the player admits be-
ing one himself. One thing is GER
tain. though, l will not take any
player South with me who has not
signed. They know this and 1 ex-
pect to see them all in line
The Nationals were sure hit ter
rfble blow yesterday when It was
announced that Sammy Rice, the
only 800 hitter Of the Nationals. had
enlisted i'm the Great Lakes Naval
Training School and will be missing
from the Grifmen's ranks this sea-
son. Rice failed to equal the quail
fcations of the first draft and fin
ished out the 1917 campaign with
the Nationals, but the new draft
board saw fit to place him in Class
Al in this second issue, and in
stead of waiting to be called he
volunteered to once more take up
the navy life which he followed be-
fore becoming a member of the Nor
folk club of the Virginia State
League.
The Old Fox appeared a trifie wor-
ried in regard to Rice, as he claim
ed that he had not heard from him
for some time. but in his patriotic
manner he said: IF Uncle Sam
needs my ball players he can have
them and expect / will have to go
along the best ! can on youngsters.
If Rice is gone 1 am sorry to lose
him, but we all must realize that
it is war time and do the best we
can with what We have"
The Old Fox intends to steal
page out of the book of George Stall
lings this season. He announces that
Eddie Ainsmith will be asked to do
practically all of the catching for
the Nationals the coming season and
that Walter johnson, Doc Ayes.
Shaw and Harper will Tivide the
pitching. Stallings won his great
campaign with practically three
pitChers-James. Rudolph and Tyler
and one catcher. Hank GOwdy.
Griffith has only eight pitchers un-
Ger reserve Besides the big four
mentioned. there are Dumont, Ying-
ling. Craft and Waldebauer. Only
Dumont and YinglinG have had ma
jor experience. OF these it seems GER
tain Dumont and Craft will be call
ed by the draft. In any event. Grif-
fifth will stand pat on his staff. If
the big four can stand the gam it
will work in rotation regardless of
the other quartet. The Old Fox in
tends to utilize his reserves in soft
spOts and emergencies