The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-02
President Ban johnson Takes a
Fall Out of McGraW.
Also Hands a Hot One to John
Il. Brush of Gotham.
A SIGNED STATEMENT.
Writes OF the. Fall Championship
Series of Baseball.
Thinks 1t Was q Blessing when
the BaItimores Fled.

Chicago, Aug president B. B.
johnson, of the American Baseball
league, seeing in the proposed world
tours of the New York and Chicago
teams of the National League way
to dodge a series of games in the fall
between the champion teams of the Ma
tional and American Leagues, issue a
statement which in part is as follows:
1t may seem unreasonable to enter
into a discussion at this time of a
series of games next fall between the
champions of the American and Ma
tional Leagues The attitude and de-
clarations made by certain club owners
of the National League relative to these
games make it imperative that the
American League should clearly define
its position in the matter. In our ef-
forts to bring about such a series OF
games we are not furthering any per
SonaI interests, but are striving solely
TO comply with public demand
The series for the worlds champion
ship last fall awakened interest tom
the Atlantic to the Pacific. and was
productive of more good in its advance
ment of the national game than any
thing that has happened in many years
From surface indications il is apparent
that the two clubs who are factors in
the National League pennant race pro-
pose to dodge the issue. In their blum
derfng work they weigh lightly the
of our great national sport 1t was
that disregard of the public that
brought the National League and base
bali in general to such low ebb In
popular favor some five years ago.
Personalities should be thrown aside
in a controversy of this nature, but for
the good of baseball and in fairness
TO the American League certain facts
should be recited. McGraw's accusation
against the American League and my
self as president is the latest of a ser
ies of vicious attacks and unfriendly
actions toward our organization by
John T. Brush.
No thoughtful patron of baseball can
weigh seriously the wild vaporingS OF
this discredited player who was canned
out of the American League The true
caliber of the National League CLUB
owner is disclosed when he attempts
to take refuge behind such an irrespon-
sible character as McGraw. 1t is, in
deed. a loathsome bird that befoulS its
own nest. The incidents of the last
fortnight prove beyond fear of contra
diction that there are two OF three of
that species in the National League
In 1902 McGraw sold out boots and
baggage to the opposition and under
cover of the night skulked away to
New York i'll company with John t.
Brush. the gentleman who had acted as
the go between. in the discreditable
transaction.
In all my experience in baseball can
safely say there was never such a
Of 1901 and 1902. 1t was a blessing TO
the American League when that crowd
of incurs bles slipped over the breast
works and fled to the camp of the ell
envy
At a meeting of the joint schedule
committee of the American and Nation
al Lea CUES last spring a motion that a
worlds series be played this fall, put
by Chairman Hart, was carried unan-
imously. The bold declarations made
at that time by the president of the
Chicago National League club are at
strange variance with his policy of to-
day.
Now Chicago joins with New York
I'm plan to send the clubs to Australia
or some other remote part of the globe.
Instead of looking forward with pride
and pluck to participating in the most
important contest ball clubs can en-
gage in. the players and managers OF
these teams are encouraged to go on a
pleasure jaunt. Americans place the
proper estimate upon the claimant of
a championship of any branch of ath-
letics who will not contest when chal-
lenged, and the efforts of Brush and his
minion to blind the game patrons to
their motives and purposes will not
succeed.
Sound craftsmanship and not a sor
did spirit influences the American
League in a desire to make the worlds
series and other interleague post season
games a feature of each year. There is
a public demand for these tests of the
relative strength of the rival major
leagues and we are content to submit to
them. B. B. JOHNSON.