The Washington herald., 1918-05-05
BAN JOHNSON
PASSES BUCK
Puts 1t Up to the National
League to Scrap with
International.

N. J., but the silver haired leader
Of the Washington club gently side
stepped the issue because OF q
scheduled exhibition in Providence.
r. J., with the Boston Braves.
Developments of the past week
show johnson passing the buck to
the National League. and President
Tener lined up the Phillies and
dodgers for a battle at the former
outlaw holdout.
johnson passed the buck because
he was not ready to fight the new
International League. President
Farrell, of the newly born circuit
protested against the major leagu-
ers staging games in his territory.
This protest came early in the week
when Johnson had scheduled the
Yankees and Boston Red Sox for
a battle in these swamp lands Of
New Jersey.
Ban B. was given another chance
to slip gently out Of the picture,
when he was informed that the Red
Sox had booked an exhibition game
at Patterson tomorrow, and with
his usual diplomatic manner, he i'm
mediately passed the lemon along
to John X. Tener.
Because the new International
threatened to jump the reins Of or
ganized baseball. the scheduled
game has been cancelled. and it now
appears as IL it will be tough going
for the majors to derive financial
benefits from the obligations which
they assumed with the Federal
League when the Sinclair-Ward
1ANY
Upon learning today that or
ganized baseball had withdrawn
from New Jersey, for time being.
the Old Fox gave his opinion on
the plan. Griff cannot see where
1t would be fair play with Farrell's
league for the major leagues to In
wade the new leagues territory.
In speaking of the proposition the
Foxy Polit said: II am satisfied
that organized baseball is attempt
ing to play fair with the new In
ternational League. Give Farrelrs
circuit a chance and IL they get go
ing we will be compelled to look to
some other sources to clear our In
debtedness to the Federal League
stockholder.
But once the league wabbles ]
do not blame Johnson. Tener or any
one else for cutting into their ter
ritory and especially in Newark as
this spot would no doubt draw rec
ord breaking Sunday crowds. Re-
member now. that the major leagues
have supported the old 1nterna-
tional for a long time and 1t Is no
more than right that we should
cross over when they get going bad.
Personally I first want to see them
given the chance to come through.
~
Griff's tribe leaves tomorrow morn
ing for Baltimore, where Jack Dunn's
Orioles, of the new international
Leag will be played at the Cen
tlemen's Driving Club Park. Captain
George Mcbride will in charge OF
the party, as the Old Fox made a
hurried business trip to Washington
last night and will not rejoin the club
until Monday, when the final game
of the series is booked with Connie
Mack's white Elephants" Mollie
Craft and Jimmy Shaw are slated to
work in this game against Dunn's
Orioles.
Griff will send back either his king
pin, Walter johnson, or Jimmy Shaw
against the Athletics in this final
game of the series Monday. Walter
has been carrying the brunt Of the
pitching burden this spring. but the
Old Fox is anxious to annex this final
battle of the series and push the Kan
sas Cyclone into this battle with but
one days rest.
The Old Fox was a trifle peeved to-
day at the Schedule Committee of the
American League, as 1t appears that
the western clubs were "hogging' the
! Sunday dates in the West. Accord
ing to the list of games the Cleve-
land Club, which will be playing
Saturday, will jump to the Sixth City
for a game next Sunday with the
Chicago Club.
The White Sox are playing in the
Quaker City on Saturday. 1t will
be remembered that last season each
Of the Eastern League clubs were
given a chance at these Sunday
dates in Cleveland, but this year the
Western moguls have Grabbed the
party.
Five games are scheduled for the
Florida Avenue bailiwick this week.
The Nationals will open the first
home series with the Boston Red
Sox on Tuesday. Barrow's league
leaders will hold forth in a three
day stay. while on Friday the first
invasion OF the West will be made
in Lee Fohrs Cleveland Indians, who
are scheduled to finish out the week.
Eddie Charity and Georgie Du
Mont said farewell to their team
mates after the game this afternoon,
as this youthful pair of benedicts
will start doing their bit for Uncle
Sam, in the Bethlehem shipbuilding
plant, at Harlem, Del, on Monday
morning. They left tonight to as
sumo their duties.
Harry HarpAr twisted his right
ankle in the Nationals sixth in
ming when he slid into the first sack
and was forced to retire under fire.
Trainer Martin nursed the injured
member along and expects to have
the lanky southpaw in shape to face
the Boston Red Sox in the home
game Tuesday.
PENNSYLVANIA GETS