Evening star., 1926-12-27
Deposed Managers Due in
Today to Give Their Side of
Base Ball Scandal"
JUST WHAT CAN BE DONE,
HOWEVER, is NOT KNOWN
Case May Be Laid Before Post
Office or Justice Departments.
No Appointments Are Made.

The two central figures in base
balls latest scandal-Tyrus Raymond
Cobb. late manager of the Detroit
team, and Iris Speaker, formerly
pilot of the Cleveland Indians-were
due in Washington today, according
to press dispatches. presumably pre-
pared to lay before Government Off
cialS their side of the case which has
rocked the sporting world because or
the enorInity of the charges of gam
bling against them, and which vir-
tually forced a pair of outstanding
diamond leaders to resign as man.
ayers shortly after the close of the
last campaign.
Although Cobb was reported to have
arrived in Washington shortly before
8 o'clock this morning from his home
in Augusta, Ga, he had not regis
tered at any OF the leading hotels, in
cluding the Raleigh. where the De.
troit club stops when in Washington,
and had not been in touch with Sena-
tor w. j. Harris of Georgia, a close
personal friend of the base ball star,
who expressed a, wish to see Cobb as
soon as he arrived in the Capital. and
one report had ii that he would not
get in until late today.
Speaker, who was said to have left
Cleveland late yesterday, about the
time Cobb was leaving home, had not
registered at Wartlman Park Hotel,
where the Cleveland club stays, or at
any of the other hotels.
Senator Harris said he did not know
what he could do for Cobb in Wash
ington when the fiery Georgian meets
him, but assumed Cobb had made his
plans for a campaign for reinstate-
ment before the bar of public opinion
and the base ball world and that some
action might be initiated in Congress.
May Visit Two Departments.
Early telegraphic advices said the
two former base ball stars were COM
ing to the Capital to lay their cases
before the Department OF Justice, or
perhaps the Post Office Department.
They had no appointments with officers
of either, however. The Justice De-
partment, 1t was pointed out, might be
asked to initiate a proceeding de-
signed to investigate organized base
ball as an alleged trust.
Any Post Office Department 1nyeSti'
CATION would be based on the letters
through which Hubert C'Dutch'0
Leonard, caused the scandal to
break Leaders in Congress have pub
licly expressed their sympathy with
Cobb and Speaker, but were in a
quandary as to just what might be
done to reinstate the two men in base
ball and in the eyes of the public.
Cobb and Speaker are said to- have
been involved in the fixing" OF
base ball game in Detroit, September
25, 1919. Letters involving the pair and
Joe Wood, a former big league pitch
er. were sold to the American League
during the Summer, by Leonard, who
refused to face the two former man.
ayers when they were given hear
ing before the base ball commissioner
early in the Fall. The entire case was
laid before executives of the major
leagues during the joint league meet
ing at Chicago 10 days ago.
Griffith Not Present.
Clark Griffith, president of the
Washington Base Ball Club, was in
Chicago, but did not attend the meet
ing called by Judge Lands, because
of a misunderstanding. Neither Cobb
nor Speaker had been in touch with
executives of the base ball clubs today.
Mr.. Griffith, although he declared he
would be "the happiest man in Amer
lea" if Cobb and Speaker are cleared
of the gambling charges, was inclined
to feel that there is more to the case
than is generally known.
Mr.. Griffith said he did not know
of any reason for Cobb and Speaker
coming to Washington and scoffed at
lIlc luCd VI AAASIil0IhA6
to investigate base ball as an alleged
trust. He said an investigation of
this phase of the national pastime
was made some years ago and base
ball was cleared of the trust charges.
Cobb left Augusta with expressions
of confidence Of his fellow citizens
of the Georgia city ringing in his
ears and with an official vote of conf
dence rendered him by officers of one
of the large civic organizations. In
addition a banquet for the former De-
troit manager is being planned.