The Washington times., 1919-12-14
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

Clark C. Griffith viii next Satur
day become president of the Wash
ington American League Baseball
Club. A directors meeting will be
held at the headquarters of the club,
in the Southern Building. and the
old regime, a source of dissatisfac-
tion for several years to most Cap
ital fans, will pass away.
What 1 want to stress most said
Griffith today, lis that my policy as
president of the Washington club
win be Washington first. last. and
all the time, with an absolutely
square deal to everybody / believe.
from my knowledge of conditions
here. that this is the most welcome
news Washington fans can receive
The new ownership will spend
money at once to make the club
pennant contender. No pennants can
he bought. but it does take money
TO buy players OF class. We have
the money, and will use II to the
best of our ability. 1t is my ambi--
ball club. 1 shall not rest till / have
succeeded"
Fans Are ChatterfnG.
wherever baseball fans gathered on
this rainy Sunday. they chartered
about the shift in the Washington
bail club Everywhere were heard
words of praise for Clark Griffith
and an expressed belief that, at last
the club would be going somewhere
besides November"
The new deal. involving something
like 100000, brings into baseball
a thirty-third degree fan in William
NJ Richardson, who Is associated with
Clark Griffith He is a grain mer-
chant of Philadelphia and a close
friend ofShe Shibes and Connie Mack.
Griffith and Richardson have pu--
chased enough stock to give them
four-ffths of the total. The Noyes
interests and the shares held by Ben
Minor, Harry Rapley, Keane and
Walsh have BEEN taken over by the
purchasers. All remaining shares
may be sold at SIS a share, an ad-
vance of s. per share on the par
value.
However. IL the remaining share
holders want to drill along with US
they may be assured Of square
deal,'' said Griffith today. Indeed i
would like some of the men to hold
If they wish"
LOCK, STOCK a0d barrcl.
Clark Griffith and william NJ.
Richardson have bought the club lock,
stock and barrel They have as
suned the present Indebtedness of
3le0.00o upon the property, based
upon the new park.
A complete reorganization will be
effected next Saturday at the first
meeting of the new owners. Grit
nth will be chosen president and
Richardson vice president Other Of
fces remain to be filed 1t is an
nouneed that the entire business per-
sonnel will be changed before the
1920 campaign sets in.
The Griffmen may train at Tampa,
Fla. instead of at Augusta, Ca. The
arrangement for spring exhibition
games between the worlds champion
Cincinnati Reds and the Grifs may
cause this shift in training plans for
the Washington club. Details have
Yet TO be completed.
MeBride May BE Boss
Though II is early, George Mcbride
may become manager of the Washing
ton club. II is known that Griffith
relies much upon Mcbride, trusting
him implicitly and admiring both his
baseball brains and his general per-
sonality.
Clark Griffith began his baseball
career in 1887. He was star pitcher
and manager of Charlie Comiskey's 5
American League champions in 1901.
Griffith went TO New York as manager
Of the invading Highlanders. remain
ing there until 1909. when he became
leader OF the Cincinnati Reds.
In 1912 Griffith came to washing
ton as part owner and manager. He
has remained here ever since. He
now intends living in Washington
for the rest of his days. As manager.
Griffith has been more successful than
any other man before him in the
Capital He numbers his friends lit
orally by the thousands. and they are
all with him in his latest venture.