Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-02

VoIumlnous Chorus of Kicks
Due When Players See
Salary Cuts Made.
LAVAN SINCERE IN STAND
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

BY DENMA THOMPSON.
This Is the iUu before the storm
due TO break when some some $50
athletes. comprising the major league
array. have had time 20 diges, the
bad news written into their 1919 con-
tracts
FOR the average bah player failure to
get a raise is bad news and IL can be
said mat mighty few boosts In SAL
airy are . be handed out by the nog1is
this year On tne other hand stipend
cutting viii be more general and
thorough than at any time in the re.
cent history OF the sport. tine moRuls
who set the styles having decided
that the envelopes issued bi-monthly
shall be the same as 10 height and
width, but decidedly thinner. Partns
knives are an the rage with the lead
ers OF diamond society this winter 20
All Contracts Now Out
The time limit for the sending out
of contracts to maj or league players
expired yesterday. and by the end Of
the week even those living tn the
most distant sections of the country
viii know the estimate their man
ayers place on their ability. That
these appraisal of their worth viii
in q great majority OF instances -
totally al variance with the esteem
in which the performers hold them
selves goes without saying. Bah
players are like other mortais in this
respect except that in their case the
penchant for inflated valuation seemB
more general and much better de-
veloped. --
Determined TO Retrsnch.
Club owners will not Admit hayips
adopted an agreement 20 hold their
wage. lists dopzE ~ eertai. level. bur
they are "a ,.ccord on the question a
abolishing the exorbitant salaries and
long-term contracts exacted at the time
of the Federal League invasion. They
are making a determined effort to pr,rs
the business of base ball back On 9
sane financial basis. and they aim b =
make giant strides to this end by pay
ing the field hands what they arc worth
and no more Therefore the yelpS 0f
anguish emitted to swell the annual
chorus of threats to retire are expected
to be greater in volume and Of longer
dura ton this winter than ever before. '"'
Some Cuts Are Radical.
Practically every player has bsen
asked to accept reduction In salary.
and some of the cuts are quite radical.
The athletes themselves admit. though
not for publication. that they have been
ovcrpaid the past few years. They know
less money will be available for their
work, and they will accept less, but /.
they have a couple OF months to axsue ,
the matter and viii make good Use nf
the time in the hope that a compronise
may be effected. Judge and Shaw Of
the local club both probably are in this
class They are reported to have said
they will not sign at the figures offered. +
Judge is employed by q Baltimore ship
building concern and Shaw works FOR
a steel plant at Lebanon, Pa Both
play ball with teams representing their :,
concerns, and they have drnpped hints =
they Will give professional base hall the :.
ante for them. But both snux3oaIbtetiy -
will have their feet under the sahle at 8
that hotel in augusta next month. -
Lavan Sincere in Quitting. =
An Impression exists that John :
Lavan's retirement is merely another,
complication of the time honorexls =
dodge to get more money than YVES
offered for his services, but Gfiilfxh~ X
denies this. -
'Lavan is not trying To hold I'D the
Washington club" the manager said
Yesterday. TT would do him no s.ocsl :
if he did. j have offered him as larEe
a salary as I can afford to in justics =
TO the other players on the team and :.
the amount will not be boosted. Theirs I
is little doubt. of course. that Lavan :.
could be persuaded to play If inGuee- -
ments out of all proportion TO his
worth were rendered. burt this Wi II not :.
be done. j am convinced that Lavan s
is in earnest about leaving base hallJl ,
He told me ii was to the best inter- =
ests of his future that he quit ami Il :,
believe he was sincere -
-
No Word From Jaurrin. :.
To date nothing has been hea I'd =
rom Hal Janvrin. The Boston boy
raS been quoted as saying he would.
Welcome separation from the Red Sox
/ only for the fact that ii might ass
ure him . chance 10 play regufartv.s.'
instead of adjoining the bench most
# the time. but he has come through-
With no communication TO Washing lE
on. except the card he signed whcu-
lis contract was delivered by req
stored mail. So
There is little doubt of Janvrinss--
hility to make good with the Wash
ngton club. II encouragement from
he fans can assure IT. the new second-
Iaseman is bound to prove a .success.E
PATRONS Of the game in the capital
ave been clamoring for Rev Sec
nd Sacker for wears Th@y win give :