The Washington herald., 1922-04-11
FANS WELCOME
"zEB" MILAN AS
CRIFFS' MANAGER
500 Loyal Rooters Turn
Out to Honor Him at
Wardman Park Inn.

w 90 u n
J. Clyde "Zeb" Milan, manager of
the Nationals came into his own
last night.
Approximately five hundred fans,
most of them loyal rooters who fol-
low the Washington Club through
out the season, whether it's going
good or bad. turned out to wish the
Tennessee Flyer good luck at a
banquet given in his honor at
wardman Park Inn last night. The
class of the Capital socially, FL
nancially. automatically and every
other way was arrayed around the
festive board when Frank ]. Hogan,
local attorney and king of toast
masters. called the noisy diners to
order. chased the walters to. their
crap-shooting hangout, and began
introducing the speakers of the
evening, all of whom had come
there to honor the new manager OF
the Nationals, the dark-horse of
the coming American League PEN
nant race.
Miiaa Guest Of Honor.
Milan, of course. was the princI-
pie object of attention. He sat be-
tween Griffith and Hogan. And.
judging by the questioning look on
his features. The Flyer seemed un-
able to realize that every one of
hA 10 n
come there to honor him and show
their respect for him both as a
Southern gentleman and a leader of
men. By this time, however, Milan
must realize that every fan who at
tended last, nights official recep-
ton" has his personal welfare at
heart as well as the welfare of the
Washington Club.
Following a precedent set long
before Milan ever saw the sun
bronzed hills of Tennessee the
official reception" started off
with eats. And the eats. again fol-
lowing long established prece-
dent, started off with soup. This
last was la Senator Pepper. Pass
ing the celery, olives. assorted nuts
and etc. we come to casolette of
sea food, a la Clyde Milan. From
there on there were the usual
things until BISCUIT, Ban Johnson.
was served. Ban wasn't there. but
the BISCUIT (plain ice cream in
EnglishD was quite as good as II
he had been there.
Sen. Pepper Lauds Milan.
When the diners had finished
Toastmaster Hogan introduced the
Of Ii,
had left business cares and wor-
ries to attend the banquet and ex-
press their best wishes for the
success of Milan's first season as
a manager and their faith in his
ability to get the best efforts out
of an unusually good squad OF ath-
letes.
Senator George Wharton Pepper,
OF Pennsylvania, was the FIRST speak
err of the evening. Senator Pepper
has long been associated with
Americas national game. He was
chief counsel for organized ball
in Its fight against the Federal
League. and probably will be again.
as the hGht IS not vet over and is
due to come up in Washington this
week.
Pepper assured the fans and
Milan that he believed the FLYER
would be at the top, or near the
top. of the heap when the race Is
over in October. He added. how.
ever. that whether or not the Grifrs
finished in the first or second diyi.
sion. or IL they. finished at all, he
is certain that the Nationals un-
der Milan will play the game clean
and square and that the order OF
finish makes no appreciate differ.
ence as long as the manner Of
playing Is above reproach from a
moral standpoint.
BILLY" RsdenberC. Representa-.
tive from Illinois. followed Senator
Pepper. BILLY" left his home STATE
during a hot primary campaign IN
come and add his bit to the honors
heaped at Milan's feet. The Illinois
Representative is one Of the Ma
tionals' most loyal rootcrs. Rain
or shine. win or lose. Billy" is
out there cheering the Nationals
he does that. he said last night.
because he believes in the Griffs
and also because he believes base
Dali to be the greatest sport in the
world for Americas youth.
ID. c. Commissioner. Fall Down.
He added a tribute to Milan as
player and as gentleman
Milan Is square; he is a clean
player" said Rosenberg, and
know that the Griffs will always
be In there on the level with this
Southern gentleman leading them
The three District Commission
ers were scheduled to speak bu,
they passed a city ordinance at the
last minute forbidding any D. c
oncial to make after-dinner
speeches.
Rabbi. Abram Simon and Rev
James Shera Montgomery both as
sured the fans of their faith in the
Griffs' new manager and their be-
lief that he would lead the best
team Washington has ever had" to
ultimate victory.
Raymond Hitchcock and a number
of other. entertainers from local
theaters closed the reception to the
Griffs' new manager with selected
acts from shows now running here.