Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-21
CONFIDENCE IN JOHNSON
Shown Throughout Meeting of tn
American Baseball League.

Chicago, Dec. 20-American League
magnates, who have been in session
here for the past two days; left the
city, Saturday, for their various homes,
well satisfied with the session just
closed and confident of a prosperous
season for the coming summer
The feature of the meeting was the
demonstration of the great confidence
the league has in President johnson
and his methods.
1t is also proved that unless the I'M
foreseen happens, peace between the
National and American Leagues will
prevail throughout the 10 years of the
national agreement.
While the American League declared
in no uncertain terms their disapproval
of the foul-strike rule, and showed
plainly that they would prefer a short
err season, with post-season games in
stead of 154-game championship race,
from the attitude Of the magnates it
seems that neither one of the questions
will be allowed to cause q break be-
tween the two big leagues.
By adopting the form of contract uni
form with that of the National League,
Tic oiloWCu lIldl Lie lWo
major organizations are in harmony on
the vital questions of the game, and
that the two will work together to put
the sport upon a better paying basis
than it has been during war times.
That the American League will do no
cutting of salaries in the case of players
who are already under contract is GER
tain. This has all along been one of the
principles which Pres. Johnson and his
magnates have firmly upheld
The new contracts which will be offered
to the players, however, are almost GER
tain to name lower salaries than for the
past three years. This will give the men
who have money invested in baseball Il
better chance to make a fair percent on
their Investments.
The increase Of Pres. Johnson's salary
to $4,000 despite his vigorous protest
was in some respects the most significant
feature of The session At the close OF
the meeting on Friday night, and in the
informal conferences between the mag
mates, SATURDAY, the league owners al
ways had time to give unssinted praise to
their leader and offer new evidence Of his
popularity. In the years of interleague
war and in the present season of peace
the confidence in the leagues executive
has apparently always been on the in
crease.
Individually and collectively the mag
mates have never lost faith in Johnson,
and men like Comiskey. LOTUS, l<illilea.
Shibe, Farrell, Somers and others who
have been and are the backbone of the
American League frankly admit that the
uninterrupted success of the organization
is due almost entirely to the wise gener-
alShp of Johnson.
Comiskey ard Farrell, in speaking OF
Johnson, said that Johnson is now in fact
Il $4,000 man. but that 100000 annually
would not be enough to represent the
value which he annually proves himself
worth to the organization, which he mas
nursed from an obscure minor league to
that which is now perhaps the strongest
in the country.
The attitude of Owner Farrell in this,
his first regular league meeting, shows
that the organization is established right
in the metropolis. The New York owner
showed concusively that he is heart and
soul with the league, and that he Will
look after the Gotham interests of the or
SANITATION whether peace or war is on the
cards Oh Manhattan island.