Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-13
WALTER is SIGNED
. FOR 1882 CAMPAIGN
Grih's Action RefuteS Rumors
Nationals Are to Have
New Leader.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports EDITOR, The Star.

YALIEH PERRY JOHN
M SON, manager Of the
v v Washington ball club
since the start OF the
1929 campaign, again will super
wise the activities of the Nationals
afield next season.
Announcement to this effect to-
day was forthcoming from Presi-
dent Clark Griff1th, following a
conference with his pilot at To-
cal headquarters. The agreement
reached was for a period of one
year and the contract will be
formally executed as soon as it is
drawn up. Pursuant to the Gus
tom Of the club no information as
to the amount Of salary involved
was given out.
Grifnth's statement, made immedi-
ately after he had gone into huddle
with his team leader in his Office at the
ball park this morning. sets at rest re-
ports current for some time to the effect
that Johnson would net be on the lob
when the annual trek southwark for
Spring training gets under way next
February.
Many followers of the team, un6ulv
impressed with differences which have
cropped up from time to time between
the pilot and few Of his players, who
conceived the idea that johnson might
be regarded as being deficient In dis
ciplinarian qualities.
Rows Were Overstressed.
Two run-ins with Fred Marberry,
veteran right-hand moundsman Of the
Nationals, one at the conditioning base
In Biloxi. Miss, last Spring and an
other during the progress of a game
here near the close Of the recent cam
paign, assumed unwarranted impor-
lance in the minds Of some Of the fans.
who also made too much Of a couple of
flare-upS occurring between some of
the players around midseaSon.
On the occasion Of both Of
his brainstorms Marberry promptly
and firmly was dealth with and the
wrangling referred to between the
athletes, In which johnson was
not involved. simply were conditions
only to be expected among any group of
high-strung players disappointed over
their inability to win as frequently as
they had hoped.
Virtual elimination Of the Nationals
as pennant contender against the
Athletics after the first six weeks or so
of the recent campaign and the slump
they encountered during the closing
days which resulted in them being
beaten out by the Yankees for the run
ner-up berth. taken in conjunction with
the lack Of harmony referred to. were
regarded by some as sealing the fate of
Johnson, but q preponderance of the
teams supporters were convinced Bar
ney had done as well as could be ex-
pected under the circumstances and his
retention at the helm proves the club
owner concurs.
johnson, after 20 years service as q
pitcher in q Washington uniform, In
which he set number of records, some
Of which still stand. and became some
thing of a national idol, received his
managerial baptism with the Newark
club of the Intern ational League in
1928. Harrassed by illness that neces-
STATED his absence from the bench
much of the time, Walter failed to
make an impressive showing that sea-
son.
Walter Has Made Good.
Signed to a three-year contract as
manager Of the Nationals the following
season. and in greatly improved health,
johnson Immediately demonstrated the
extent to which he had profited in
learning the intricacies Of leadership