New-York tribune., 1920-12-05
Herzog Story
Gives Occasion
For Comment
EN-Ciant and Hendrix Have
Been Targets in Connection
With Camb ing Scandal
BY w. ]. Macbeth

There may or may not be grear
significance to a brief news dispatch
that came out Of Chicago YESTERDAY
1t conveyed the announcement mat the
Chicago National League club had
asked waivers on infelder Charles Her.
zog and pitcher Claude Hendrix.
Ordinarily-or unuer ordinary cir.
cumstances, rather-the announcements
might be expected TO create no ripple
Of surprise. even OF the mildest form
Herzog and Hendrix are veterans. pass.
ing into the shadows of major leacue
oblivion. Herzog, who served fourteen
years, was far from himself last sea-
son. a serious accident in the sprino
handicapped him badly and veterans
seldom recover from serious accidents
Hendrix has been knocking around al
most as long. He is 4 spitbal pitcher
and spitban pitchers. as a rule. wear
out their arms much wore quickly than
curve ball throwcrs.
But the passing Of Herzog and Hen
dirk If they are to be dropped from
the big league is no ordinary case Of
adieu to fast company. If they 90
submlsslvelY they must pass ont under
cloud. The names Of both have been
associated with that sharp practice
which has brought the game into dis.
reputc.
Not Opeply Accused
Perhaps Hendrix has not been openly
accused, but for a year or more his
name has been banded about even hv
prominent members OF his profession
who intimated he had associated with
gamblers and that certain reversals OF
form indicated the closest relations
with them. Herzog has been openly
accused. He has been accused directly
by pitcher "Rube' Benton, of the
Giants.
Official investigation has been made
of the charges Benton preferred
against Herzog. Neither President
John A. Heydler nor the Cook County
Grand Jury could determine which of
the two gave the lie. One or the other
Is dishonest. But neither should be
condemned without fair trial. The re-
lease Of Herzog may have followed the
natural course. But coming. as it does,
on the heels Of the Benton charges
against Herzog. the circumstances seem
we'll Just bit untimely, if not queer
Already there has been too much
covering up. One year ago Hal Chase
and Heinie Zimmerman were eased out
of the National League in this way. So
was Lee Magee. Not until the scandal
among the White SoX broke did it be-
come known publicly that these men
were rairoadcd for alleged connection
with gamblers and gambling.
There may have been an excuse for
taking the quiet way with Chase. Zim-
norman and Magee the White Sox
scandal had then not broken But
nothing but trouble can come of white
washing" or evasion now. Those in
control of baseball are confronted with
and running down crookedncss in all
forms. 1t is the only way to reassure
fandom
VIII Use Big Stick
There is no doubt that when he has
been invested with the authority his
office VIII command Judge Konesaw
Mountain Lands VIII be prepared to
use the big stick. Until such time It
must strike every one interested in
baseball. major league clubs would do
we'll to wait for the wedding out Of ex-
cess baggage, especially If the finger
Of suspicion happens to point n any
way against such.
1t would seem from what little has
been announced as TO next years
training plans mat the mayors lhIehn
to economic somewhat on training ex-
penses Both the Yankees and Dodg-
ers last week announced their teams
would go into training much later
than usual, not before March Z or :.
Which would mean only three weeks
of training before the Joint tour
Northward would begin.
Now comes hugh Duffy. the new
manager Of the Boston Red Sox, as a
champion of a like idea. Duffy club
Will train at Hot Springs. Ark. and
viii play y series with the Pittsburgh
Pirates, which viii also be encamped
at that city Pittsburgh FIR years has
observed the short training season.
The plans Of the Giants will not be.
known until Messrs. Stoncham and
McGraw return for the big meeting at
the end Of the week. it is safe 10 say
however. that McGraw viii sponsor
long training trip. He seldom sban'
dons any system that brings results
and the long season has always proven
=. !. IL J..