New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

? That this is so is shown conclus5.,
by the alacrity with which the r,.a
of both major leagues are signino ,o,s
contracts. These documents wer.
mailed out until two weeks aco I''
already far more favorable resno,.~
have been received than was tho 49,
even in normal times 1t is 1uite t,n.
that majority of contracts alro.a..
promulgated were from minor leacn.
talent eager for chance for ajnc >.
fast company. But so far no ser;on,
threat of "hold-ou from the ,Oo,.
illustrious stars has been heard and
stars as a rule overlook no mode "s
press agenting themselves before tba
public. '4'
Indeed. it is reasonable to suoOo,.
that half the signed contracts ,bs.
have been received by major leac,n
clubs have as yet not been announeo5
publicly. The willy magnate apprer;'
ates the value of publicity. lie IN.
preciates also that with the great win.
ter meetings left behind there will hs
some drab and dreary weeks before
the clubs start south Wherefore be
is rot wasting all his publicity am.
munition in one volley, despite which
the array Of talept as announced al.
ready shows the major league clubs in
general better fortified than for soma
time thus early in the season.
Early Start for Browns
1919 eligibles bulletined ALREADY.
full half dozen of these veterans. *
in the best shape of the sixteen major
league clubs so far as known The
worlds champion Red Sox. however.
are running close second. About
ten Giants have either signed or ac-
cepted terms. The Yankees have made
few announcements as yet, nor have
the Dodgers, but neither Managers
Huggins nor Robinson is in town, so
it is reasonable to suppose that the
names of number OF eligibles Of
both clubs are held back for the time.
Detroit, Cleveland, Washington and
Pittsburgh have all announced at leas.
half dozen signatures to date.
Connie Mack, too, has talked six Of
his Athletics into the fold. Comiskey
and Gleason have lined up almost
enough for White Sox nine In spite
of the fact that jim Vaughn, Leslie
Mann and Hollocher are reported
"hold-out" combine, the champion Cubs
have made real progress toward the
work in hand.
All OF which leads TO the presump-
tion that economy toward salary re-
adjustment was effected by minimizing
the roster limits of the big esguers
rather than by means of wholesale SAL
AIRY slashing.
The National League seems to have
picked ur a real live wire and smart
business man in George WASHINGTON
Grant, the new president of the Boston
Nationals. Already the big boss of The
Braves has captivated both the Boston
ropulace ard the scribes as we'll and
the old Hub is buzzing in the hone that
it may root for two real teams again
this season.
Grant has shown sound business
sense by announcing that hereafter eN-
oept on holiday afternoons. all grand
stand seats will be sold at the fat rate
Of rs cents plus war tax. This will
make available some 1900 seats IN The
immense horseshoe that were reserved
at 81 each before. The new megnate
believes in giving his steady patron an
opportunity to sit as closely as possible
TO the playing field
Idea for Ebbets
This is an idea which our genial
friend the Squire of Flatbush might
copy with excellent result. At Ebbei5
Field there is a paling that cuts of
about half the grandstand and the i5-
cent patron never gets much closer
than good long range spyglass distance
Of the noble athletes.
George Wharton Pepper, the noted
Philadelphia lawyer and there are sup
posed to be no better lawyers than n;
Philadelphia brand), viii act as che,
! counsel for organized baseball in o.
Tending the suit for 100000 DAM
ages brought by the stockholders Of ne
Baltimore club of the defunct Federal
League.
1t was Mr.. Pepper who conducted ne
defence so skilfully that the ong'~
of this case was withdrawn from 'l'
courts of Philadelphia. Mr. Pepper ~ ~
all the Federal League dope at ns
fingers ends, because he acted in d.
the suits involving National League
clubs with whilom Federal League
players and established a batting aver
age OF 1000 in the bargain.
Mr.. Pepper viii be assisted by fenls-
min F. Minor. American League cOus-
sci. who is also president OF the mssn.
ington Americans The case WI. "
called before the Supreme Court OF 'a'
District of Columbia on March u hsA'
The Red Sox have released Heniss
Wagner, former brilliant shortstop 81.
later chief adviser and coach. =
said Wagner Will go to Cleveland O.
assistant to Lee Foil
Ray Keating, a pitcher of the la, isn,
KEGS coveted by the Braves. has I.ss LtSs
! given permission TO arrange sui'Ns;;s
terms with George Stalllngs lof D'
transfer to that team.
New Orleans Results
rh,t raee g,no-,car. o.ds purse s'so 'osss n
10 10. ! TO .. out. first. Nile l14 tars
tTroXcrl. 10 J. - /. even Seeoai., AL
-. io7 (Murphy). 10 to l. 10 r.s.sa,s. J. % r. 10
Mouu'ioy aud Rib also s.-.
Second race three year ods and upTag'
ing. purse. $500 five and a half ilrioas' = X
Ccmskey ll3 1Rlccl 20 l. 70 ,, sg
first. Reilloc. III tDroxerl. 10 !. "a 4 q
.. second. Spokane Queen. 40 {, asSlat,.,, T.,
.. even to = third Time. o. ,,.i s.s''r nm.