Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-29
snecIal Dispatch to The Star.


Special Dispatch TO The Star.
CHICAGO. Ill, July 29-The recent trou-
bic between Ban Johnson. president of the
American League. and several minor league
magnates. which received check at Cleve-
land, Ohio over "a week ago through in
Junction proceedings by Howard Crit
feths Of the Eastern League, will be aired
again when a meeting OF the national COM
mission Is held at Cincinnati August Is.
President Johnson has requested Chairman
Gerry Hermann to call the meeting on the
date named.
The impression has gone forth that this
Is a personal fight of Ban Johnson's against
the minor leagues Of class A rank. but
such Is not the case. 1t has been taken up
by the national commission, the highest
tribunal in the base ball world. although
some Of the original charges were preferred
by Ban Johnson. From the information at
hand the major leagues are determined 10
ind out all about the alleged secret al
Iiances that were formed last spring be-
tween the class minor leagues for the
purpose of lighting the major leagues in
way-that Is. they intended TO make war
against the maj ors on the drafting laws
etc. and IL necessary go still further
IL seems that everything was progressing
nicely until the minor league delegates
tackled the Southern League about join
ing them. and there trouble right
away. as the Southern people declined to
have anything 10 do with the proposed pro-
teCtiVe movement for the big minors. The
idea was that once the class A leagues
combined the small minors would be
obliged 10 join them and ask for protection
or b. subject 10 raids by the class A
leagues and not get any compensation
whatever for their players At that time
there were four leagues ready for the move
ment-the Eastern. Western and American
Associa ton and the Pacific Coast League
the Souehern League baking. 1t was fig
ured that the ators would then be forced
10 grant the demands of the minors
garding the drafting of players which was
TO be no more than one player from each
club al a cost OF $1,000 per man. Then the
minors could demand Whatever price they
desired for other players the major league
clubs might wish TO purchase However.
II Is said that one OF the members of the
secret alliance became aDDrehensive about
the success OF the move and gave the whole
snap away to President Ban Johnson. Then,
too, there were charges made against a
couple Of the secret alliance delegates by
President Kavanaugh and Owner Joyver
OF the Southern League. That was when
the commission began to get busy ard
make inquiries. The magnates accused d.
rectly are George Stallings and Howard
GTliftthS OF the Eastern League and George
Tebeau of the American Association. w.
H. Watkins and 7. ]. Bryce. also of the
association, are accused of being interested
In the movement. but no direct charges are
made against them. The Pacific Coast
League is also included in the list of med
EcsOme leagues.
President Johnson in Earnest.
President Ban Johnson, when seen by
The Star representatives made the follow
ing statement: This Is no joking matter
at all. Base ball is too big a business en-
terprise nowadays, especially in big
leagues. to have a lot of men conspiring
TO harm the men who nave thousands of
dollars invested In this case we have
the proof that these magnates tried to
form secret alliance against the major
leagues. and we mean To nip II in the bud
and teach the COnspirators lesson they
VIII not soon forget. L cannot say Just
what their motive was, but I do know
they were in secret alliance against us
and had Planned to have each club of the
several leagues put up $500 a season for
the purpose of establishing a war fund
with which TO fight the majors on what
ever the proposition might be. They even
went so far as TO threaten to take away
some Of our stars. using the war fund for
the purpose. Such move would be both
ridiculous and suicidal to them but
nevertheless, they planned that way.
There Is no necessity for a secret alli-
ance II the minor leagues wish To remain
under the national agreement.
We have given the accused parties until
August - 10 answer the charges and clear
themselves Of the same. or show just what
their intentions are. falling to do so, they
will be declared outlaws and all protection
VIII be withdrawn from them. Mr.. Tebeau
says he will set me out OF business. Well
/ guess the Louisville Kansas City-Denver
magnate had better watch his fences, as he
Will need all his diplomacy to keep them
together without talking OF putting out of
business l guess he will be very tame be-
fore the commission gets through with him
He Will have to show his true colors.
know nothing about any charges against
Messrs. Watkins and Bryce although they
are accused of being in the alliance. We
want to treat the minor leagues fair, and
the draft laws which were presented TO the
minors last spring were fair in every partic-
ular much more liberal than ever granted
before. but Mr. Tebeau and his hackers
tried TO bulldoze the majors into his way
of thinking. but failed. i say again that
Mr. Tebeau had better look after his many
interests or he may run against snag."
Mack Backs Up johnson.
Connie Mack. head of the Philadelphia
American League club. and a very conserv-
alive, base ball man. thinks the minor
leagues are making a mistake in trying 10
ask for concessions that the majors do not
see ut to grant at this time. Let the
minors try the rules suggested by the COM
mission for year and see how they work
asd then n they cannot agree, why IL Is
time 10 ask for another conference" said
Connie. That talk about putting Ban
Johnson out Of business is foolish" contin-
ued Connie, and Mr.. Tebeau had better
consult the magnates of the American
. Ledsue before making such crack. Ban is
entirely satisfactory TO the magnates and
will continue at the head of the league and
no such threats as made by Mr.. Tebeau will
have the slightest weight-in fact he had
better look to his own welfare"
The American association magnates have
little 10 say regarding the affair but the
chances are that they will get together be-
IOre the 18th OF August and decide upon
some course TO pursue toward the commits
sion One thing Is certain-severai of the
associat ton magnates do not want any
trouble with the major leagues although
X any OF their number should be disciplined
By tka commission they would be forced to
Il h,. -