Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-22
GR|FF TO Be BUSY
i At JOINT MEETING
will Take Check Book to New
York to Snare New Players
for 1919 Nationals.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

nv DENMAN THOMPSON.
Doping the 1919 lineup of the Ma
tionals is occupying the attention VI
a lot of the fans now. With the ar
mistice signed. the boys being re-
leased from war service. n every
thing, the bugs are deriving consul
erable satisfaction from contemplat-
ing a Rice Milan Menoskey outheld
placing Leonard at second, lurlne
Lavan back to the shortfeld. ETC.
It's A seasonable indoor sport, ano
relieves the mental stress occasloheo
nv irving to make a bush league sal
arv meet a Christmas list OF major
proportions. But all self-constitu'eo
managers would do well to defer dell
mite decision on the batting order I'M
til Griff gets through
Clark Calvin has some rather COM
prehensive plans to put into eHec'
during this era of reconstruction
He's as full of ideas as visitor TO
Baltimore. They're good IDEAS. too
he admits it. But what they entail or
whom they concern Will not De
known to a certainty for some three
weeks.
Anxious inquiries elicit the infor-
nation that plans are on foot ttneS
all seem to travel that way: 1t tax
'em so long to get anywhere) to Dol
ster up the club Stereotyped aho
non -commirtal? Quite so. but there's a
reason.
Propaganda Occupies Grif.
Tho man who located Hal Janvrin
in the wiids of southwestern Army
camp when his own bosses, FraZee
and Barrow, didn't know where ne
was, has grown cautious. he is gong
to lay down a barrage of investga-
ton in a way of preparation for the
charge and then go over the top a.
the joint meeting in New York next
month and snare his prizes
In other words Criff is engaged in
propaganda work. His activities will
not bring him before the Senate in
vestigating committee. however. In
fact, it is to avoid giving aid and
comfort to the enemy that he has
adopted his policy of reticence.
Il am trying to shape conditions to
meeting" is the way Grif puts 1t
That's as near as he comes to &C
knowledgins the propaganda part
of it.
At a meeting of the board of di-
rectors of the Washington club two
udNS aSO Ine HlldIlCidl airs Oh the
organization were gone over and adj
justed in such manner that the Ma
tionals will not have to turn a deaf
ear to deals proposed involving cash
as well as material. feh, Griff will
carry a check book along with his
ideas when he invades the metropolis
January Is. With the new fountain
pen Santa will bring him Wednesday
a vista of potential possibilities is
opened.
Janvrin Deal Hangs Fire.
Thus far the negotiations for Hal
Janvrin have not progressed beyond
the seed-sowing stage. Griff has sub
mitted list of players for Boston to
ceived no reply. There the matter
stands. The manager knows nothing
of the report that the Yankees are
after Bert Shotton. The fact that
Morgan was through locally was
known before the close of last season
quest for base ball material for tbs
q. S. S. Mississippi vouchsafes the
Information he expects to sail from
New York after the holidays for Cuba
by way of Norfolk. Johnny was not
definite on the subject of playing ball
next year. but, according to Griff. did
not say he was through.
Val Picinich. the youthful back
stopper who is expected to supplant
Eddie Ainsmith as first string catcher
for the Griffs next season. comes t.
bat with a communication announcing
that he has requested his discharge
from the Navy and expects to get il
shortly. He is looking forward to the
return of warm weather and to dom
ming mask and mitt.
Another communication, from Hack
ensack. n. J., conveys the information
Of hiS In 10
Gated a pitching prospect who prom
ises to develop into major league
material in eighteen or twenty years
This infantile phenom is George
Brewster Harper. He is said to be q
lefthander.
List to Johnny Evers.
along with Ty Cobb among the not.
ables who recently returned from
overseas had much that was inter.
esting to say. but nothing more sig
nificant than this:
Naturally I've been out of touch
with base ball here. but all that stuff
about the soldiers being down on the
game because eight or ten fellow:
jumped to the shipyards is too silly
to talk about They're as keen fol
base ball as ever. and it's my opinion
that once the owners get through
talking ana the players get out or
the diamond. base ball will boom a.
never before. Our boys in khaki ant
blue are just crazy to get up in the
stands again"
Cobbs statement that he intends t.
break away from base ball. that h.
is tired of 1t. need not be taken yer,
seriously. in view of the fact tina
in the same interview he said he as
sumed that the ten-day release motto,
given him last fall made him a fire.
agent; that he has no legal string.
on him now. Cobb knows wha
would happen II he sought to sigr
with any club other than Detroit
He also knows how to go about paw
ing the way for a fancy salary aftel
q long-term contract THIS out