The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-22
PRESIDENT BAN JOHNSON.
The Most Prominent Figure in the
Baseball World


Just how the most interesting figure in
/ baseball is Ban johnson, president of the
American league Who appears to hold the
key to the baseball situation. Several
newspaper critics have minated that
johnson. while apparently beli1gerentr Is
really hand-in-giovA with the National
league magnates and that peace jubilee
will soon be held between the two oppos-
ing organizations.
Nothing OuId e fUT,ner rom The truth.
PresidenC Johnson is working or he best
aud all the time WINE not courlhS
tight with the National league, he Is pre-
pared to take up the gauntlet should IL be
thrown down and tight to the bitter end
IN the interests of ms organization.
The American league executive has one
ambition, that OF seeing the American
league the equal in power and strength of
the National league. This has been ms
one aim and desire for the last three or
four years. He deserves success, for he
has been true to his friends and loyal in
his efforts to build up the organization
of which he is the head
When Ban Johnson was elected presi-
dent Of the old Western league in the fall
Of 49, he was sporting editor OF 9, en-
cinnati paper that was not friendly to
President Brush and the Cincinnati Ball
club. lie hesitated about taking the po-
sition, as Mr.. Brush then controlled the
Indianapolis club OF the Western league,
but he finally accepted.
The first year of his presidency the~e
was no friction. The Western league not
only lasted throughout the entire season,
but almost every club made money. Mr..
ming the affairs of the league.
Each year he was granted more author
ity, and his position became more thor
oughly established. During the last three
years he has had almost absolute control
of the league, and in several cases has
practically controlled INDIVIDUAL clubs and
dictated the entire policy or the league.
Several times he ciashed with the owners,
but almost invariably won his point
Unfortunately for both Johnson and the
Indianapolis club, the breach caused by
the fight on Brush and the farming Sys-
tenn was not entireiy healed and there
was feeling of mutual distrust. This
often worked to the disadvantage of the
Indianapolis club; but Johnson kept along
his straight and narrow path, knowing he
was right, He fought the Brush control,
feeling that no Western league club
should be dominated by National lesyue
influence.
Johnson grew with the league. only his
development was somewhat faster. a
year ago he took the first step toward
making the Western league an organiZa-
ton of national Importance in baseball.
the time was ripe, and he saw the oppor-
tunity. Even then he was forced to at
tend to internal difficulties while broad
ening the scope Of the organization.
The affairs of the Detroit club were in
an unsatisfactory condition, and threat
ened to entangle the entire organization
in the difficulties. domestic and other
wise. of Van Derbeck and his wife. Pres
ident johnson took a hand in the affair
3&d handled 1T IN mastery manner.
Not only did he extricate the league. out
he succeeded in putting the club in the
hands or new and substantial owners. In
that transaction he showed himself not
only a good business man, but also
diplomat
O. q O.
While engaged in this work he found
time to bring Cleveland into the new cir
cult and interest the best people of that
city in the new baseball venture. Both
in Detroit and Cleveland his efforts were
highly successful. Before either of these
affairs was settled, however. President
johnson made his first bold bid for indie
pendence by announcing that his league
which at the fail meeting had dropped
the name of Western and taken that of
American, would put club in Chicago
the following season. with or without the
National leagues consent.
This move caused a big stir in the base
bail world, and dire failure was predicted
by many for the pugnacious president
Once more Johnson was successful, but a
war was narrowly averted by President
Hart of the Chicago club giving reluc-
tant consent Had it not been for John
son the old Western league would have
been still drifting along an Indifferent,
uncertain minor organization.
Last fall President Johnson struck out
boldly, ard soon after the close of the
regular season announced that the Am
eTican league would invade the east. re-
build its circuit and hereafter would con-
slider itself on a par in every way with
the National league. So far he has ac-
cOmplished everything he started out to
do, and more, as he did not at first con-
template entering Boston, at least this
year He has proved equal TO every
emergency and shown himself capable of
commanding every situation which con
fronted him.
While there is committee appointed
to arrange the details of the expansion
movement, that committee will do lust
what President Johnson suggests ne
viii control the policy of the new organi-
zation, and it rests with him more than
with any other man in the country
whether war clouds darken the baseball
horizon next season, or the big leagues
jog along contentedly. each doing what
it can TO strengthen the sport He has
asked for peace. but If the older mag
mates insist he fe aTx- e.,
commodate them along that line
Ban Johnson is the man of the hour in
baseball. and is clearly entitled to the
position which he has won