Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1913 — JOE JACKSON ALTERS VIEWS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JOE JACKSON ALTERS VIEWS

Two Dollars Per Week Raise Satisfied Star Player at Start of Career — Now Wants SI,OOO. That a baseball player can rise more rapidly in his profession than any other human being is the belief of Ben Smith, partner of Hugh Jennings in vaudeville. While in Cleveland recently Mr. Smith related an incident supporting his belief. “Joe Jackson of the Cleveland club is holding out for a raise of SI,OOO in salary,” said Smith. “When I read that I remembered the incident of Joe Jackson’s first raise in baseball. He was playing with the Greenville, S. C., club six years ago, having been taken out of a sawmill, where he had

been earning $2 a day. The’first time he went to bat as a professional he struck out. He blamed the spiked shoes, and the next time he went to bat in his stocking feet and hit the first ball over the fence for a homer.

“He went aolng after that getting -a home run at least every other day, and the fans were wild about him. One day his pal, a fellow named Kelly, asked Joe what salary he was getting. Joe proudly told him sl6 a week. “‘You’re a big chump,’ said Kelly. ‘Why don’t you hit the boss for more pay? Get to him and tell him you want some real money.* “Joe finally summoned up courage and called upon the boss. He returned to Kelly all smiles. “ ‘Did you get it?’ asked Kelly. “‘Sure,’ boasted Joe. “ ‘Well, what are you drawing now?* “Joe glanced around to make sure no one was within hearing, leaned toward Kelly and in a stage whisper announced: ‘Eighteen.’”

Joe Jackson.