NO BONUS MONEY
FOR JOHN KLING.
MURPHY TRIES AGAIN TO GET
HIM BACK.
Cub Catcher Refuses to Return, So
His Boss Says Other Players
Will Keep All of
$10,000.
Johnny Kling and Charles Webb Murphy, owner of the Chicago Cubs, have had another understanding. This time it does not suit Mr. Kling quite as well as it might, but Charles Webb seems to be getting even for Johnny refusing to return to Chicago to play with the world's champions.
This understanding was reached yesterday in a conversation over the telephone between Murphy in Chicago and Kling here. Murphy simply called up to inform John that the $10,000 bonus money the Cubs were to receive for winning the world's championship last year would be given out today and also to inform Mr. Kling that "The Boys," meaning the Cubs, had decided to count John out of the coin division. He incidentally mentioned that he would like to have Kling return to the Cubs this year.
That announcement about the disposition of the ten thousand did not suit Johnny in the least. He was a member of the Cubs all of the season of 1908 and did just as much to win the world's championship as any member of the team. Had he gone back this year there would have bee no question but what he would have received his share of that money. What he has done this year should not deprive him of salary he earned last year, in his estimation, but Murphy seems to be using this method to get even and if he wants to get even with Kling there is no better way. Murphy informed his former catcher that he would have another talk with the boys today and that John might be counted in after all, but John is not expecting to receive any of the coin.
It was quite a long conversation they had over the telephone. Murphy asked Johnny to return this year if things went to suit him. Murphy did not like that answer and extended an invitation for John to come to Chicago and see the game today. This was rather mean of Murphy to ask John to watch Moran do some star catching and John took it that way, so he refused to accept the invitation. When the men hung up their receivers Murphy had not succeeded in getting Kling to return to the Cubs, but he made sure of keeping John's share of the $10,000. Kling expects to hear from Charles again today.
