Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-05
JOHNSON IS SIGNED
BY GR|FFSFOR 1919
No Word Yet From Rice or
MISUNDERSTANDING Camp
Decision Due This Week.
SPRING TOUR HANGS FIRE
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.


of wholesale salary slicing to be in
dulged in by the magnateS i'll bring
ing the business of base ball back to
normal basis, they have been leo
TO expect stubborn resistance from
the stars of the game against having
their stipends cut They have recog-
nized in the positions taken by some
of :the outstanding athletes-Cobb
and Baker among them-maneuvers
calculated to assure maintenance of
the fancy figures they have been
drawing.
Under the circumstances it would
have occasioned no surprise if some
difficulty were experienced in getting
Johnson into line. but, due to COM
bipation of astutenesS and optimism
on the part of Manager Griffith, APP
prehension on this score is removed.
Signed Two-Year Contract.
When contracts for the 1915 season
were sent out conditions brought
about as result of the war made
prospects for base bail none too
rosy. There was no definite assurance
the leagues would be able to go
through with their schedules. Besides
the mogulS had decided that long
term contracts We're no longer in
vogue. Papers calling for one years
service only were the things But
Grin figured it would be impossible
for the Huns to hold out a year
longer. and that the game would
boom in 1919. He considered it good
eusiness policy TO sign his star hurler
Tor two-year period.
No word to this effect was forth-
coming a the time. In fact, this is
the first announcement of it. but the
papers submitted to Johnson called
for his services through the seasons
Of 1913 and 1919. The Kansan signed
en-: so headlines to the effect that
~Johnson Demands More Money" or
Walter Is a Holdout will not liven
the sport pages this winter.
Little Baking Expected.
johnson is the only Washington
player who is under contract. but
stsrin does not anticipate having any
dfdfculty with the others. With the
demobilization of diamond athletes
in the service expected shortly and a
player limit in effect. all giadiators
sexcepting those of the very highest
ability will realize that halky tactics
VIII get them nothing. They will
have the option OF accepting the fair
Price list or continuing in their late
seegentiai but much less remunerative
employment
None of the Washington players is
On position to advance the free
agent argument being employed by
eolne of the stellar lights of the pro-
feosion to bolster up their claims for
go minded. At the close of the alb
bxeyiated 1918 schedule some of the
eXAers gave their players a ten days
1ce OF release to forestall any at
DIT to collect salary for the origi-
nfE long season. but according to
1gzE mol do this. the Nationals merely
148g notified that owing to eondi-
f1qHs over which it had no control
bNaeball could not be played and their
14$1ces would not be required beyond
Sertafn date.
No Word From Rice.
~ the Washington PLAYERS now in
'f4es service of Uncle Sam the two
M8R highly prized-Rice and Menos-
kQrhave sent no word as to the
1ffhood of being discharged in
t4B to play ball next season Both
80 now overseas. but Griff is conf
'q1eH they will be mustered out so as
to- pc on hand when the campaign
B#t4 under way.
4ri Yingling. the southpaw pitch
eEelugger, and Molly Craft. youth
IN aspirant for regular job with
IN right already have been
'rsfe6sed Horace Milan, Joe Leonard
aAh Val Pieinich, all members of the
NY, expect to get out shortly
M4fh the exception of Lavan, there
sts4Ho question about any of the 9TH
- upon whom Grin is banking being
Available next spring Johnny has
ptbmfsed to inform his boss within
Two weeks whether he intends to re-
t3A TO the diamond or stick to bat
t1skhips. "
Decision on Augusta Due.
Gfifhth may know definitely this
wax whether Augusta, Ga, again
VIII be the scene of the Nationals
sMmg training. With the date for
thk .opening of the league season set
fog April %. he has abandoned the
p14n he had under consideration for
g9ffing the boys in shape at the
Georgia avenue grounds.
e9e intends 70 return to Augusta if
mslts. and to this end will confer
Wednesday, with II. H. Bell. one of
thy sproprietors of the hotel at which
the team was quartered last spring
q, who represents the owner Of the
bssf park where practice is held.
Gaf arranged by wire for Bell to
eeo11e here for a confab.
q: May Tour With Giants.
Whether the Nationals will eneage
In transforming trip with the Giants
pr3r to the opening of the season de-
pe4ds upon the result of negotiations
ToW on with the management of the
New YORK club. If such a tour is ar
RAGGED for the McGrawmen and Griffs
IL will start with a game in Augusta
onsApril IL, which is the date Griff is
ng9ring on for pulling UP stakes in
the southland. Other games in the
cssolinas and Virginia would be ar
n the trip with the Giants falls
thtpugh Griff will take his team home
direct from Augusta and play exhibit
tIons with the eastern teams of the
Nstionai League. Two with the
Giants, for Saturday and Sunday,
booked for the local park. They viii
betplayed regardless of whether the
foHr with the Giants pans out Unless
thS Griffs do hook up with the New
York team on their way north they
win not be engaged in diamond COM
lar anywhere in the sunny south ex-
cent at Augusta The pilot has learn
edtthat exhibitions with minor league
outfits below the Mason and Dixon
dine do not pay.
= Commission to Mark Time.
What the national commission hopes
tosdo at its meeting in Cincinnati to-
morrow is not known. 1t is pretty
well understood that the election of
chairman will be deferred until
the joint meeting of the majors in
NSF York week after next. AS mat
IeHs now stand. Garry Hermann has
bean Endorsed by the American
League, while President Heydler of