Evening star., 1919-05-13
ROBERTSON DEAL.
DECISION TODAY
will Be Passed On as N. /.
Moglis Meet to Increase
Player Limit to rs.
GRIFFS IN 15-!NNING TIE
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

BY DEN MAN IdOm ISON.
NEW YORK. May 13.-'rhe first step
toward increasing the player limit III
the majors from twenty-ore to TWEEN
ty-fivc will be taken today when the
moguls of the National League meet
at their headquarters hare. 0Sten-
sibly the reason for the conference is
to apportion the Sunday games which
now are permissible here. but which
were Illegal at the time the schedules
were framed. Assignment of theSa
choice dates. with attendant large
crowds and greatly increased receipts.
will he made. of course. but it wilt he
Ia minor matter in comparison Win
the action to make it possible for
each club to carry four mere players
than the code now allows and the
real big business Of the daE-fnal
disposition of the Robertson dead.
II is at this confah that Clark Grtf-
fith's hopes to strengthen his lean 50
as 10 make it q real, live. remnant
contender. viii either be realized or
dashed. BY the time The poWwoW is
finished it is almost assured some
kind Of a deal will have been con-
summated. Whether il viii incluGe
the Washington club is uncertain. bat
rGriffth admitted today that at no time
since the trade for the Giants out
fielder first was broached had he been
so sanguine of its success.
The NationalS' boss declines to discuss
the ins and outs of the situation, but
from an authoritative source it is learn
ed that if President DreyfuSs can be
provided with an nfielder and good fly
chaser can be found for the Braves. a
deal involving four National League
clubs. in addition to Washington, will be
put over before sundown.
This is the way the land lies: The
original triangular swap whereby I.avan
goes to the Cardinals. Robertson is sent
to Washington and Gonzales is turned
over to the Giants will be augmented by
the sale for cash of Outfielder Walton
Cruise of the Cardinals to the Boston
Nationals. President Grant of the
Braves having made this condition to
his waiving on Robertson. 1t is known
that Branch Hickey of the Cardinals is
willing to let Cruise go. so the only re-
naming problem is to dig up an in
fielder who will satisfy Barney Dreyfuss
of Pittsburgh. The Pirate chieftain has
promised to take the ban off Robertson
If capable guardian for the inner
works is furnished him. The Giants and
Braves between them are expected to
solve the problem 1t develops that the
Chicago Cubs finally waived on Robert
son when the deal was broached before,
and that club is not expected 10 inter
pose any objections this time
But here is where the Griffmen may
lose out Branch Hickey already has
quoted price to the Giants on
Catcher Gonzales. and has intimated
ne wSi give McGraw title to him in
exchange for Robertson ami 5000. If
worked in this way no interlea que
waivers would be necessary. Cruise
could be sold TO the Braves and Drey-
fuss left to dig up an infielder as best
he may. Griff will be on hand. He
is not eligible to attend the meeting,
is he is affiliated with a rival league
hut may be invited TO step in. in
which event it is assured all the elo-
uuence and persuasive powers at his
command will be utilized to bolster
him team 8 offensive with an outfield-
er of the slugging type of Robert
son.
Increasing the player limit will not
mean as much to Washington as TO
their teams. many of which would
I; have to let out several promising
players under the present rules The
Nationals now are one under the mark
OF twenty-one. When the restriction
is removed it will be the policy of the
club 10 comb the minors and sand lots
Tor budding material and give it u
thorough inspection. in the hope Of
finding an embryo star or two
Reducing the limit to twenty-one
was as much of a mistake on the
part of the moguls as the shortening
OF the season. Realization that they
were neediessly passing up good
money by starting the campaign a
week later than. Us;Iai came TOO la
Tor a change to be made, but they
are not going to be caught napr,j1g
On the other question. With the prac-
tice of farming players no longer
practicable under the new relations
existing with the minors, the ma
Jors, with low limit. would have
10 let tneir reserve talent go, with
no strings attached and possiblv
later pay exorbitant prices to. get them
back.