The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-15
BASEBALL WAR
IF JOHNSON
BACKS STAHL
His ObstinaCy Threatens Serious Breach in
National Commission Unless American
League Owners Call a HaIt-ReaSOn-
able Kicking in Opening Game.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

That the peace Of the baseball world
Is seriously menaced at the present time
does not appear 10 have been realized
by those who read Garry Herrmann's
telegram of Saturday night saying that
as chairman of the national commits
son he had not been able TO get his
colleagues 10 vote on Jake Stahl's ap-
peal 20 the commission 20 have Wash
ington sell or trade him.
Eferrmann's telegram is a polite way
Of lodging the issue. AS matter of
fact, Hermann is convinced that there
is absolutely nothing in Stahl's appeal,
and il is believed on very good grounds
that Harry PuInam, president Of the
National League. another member of
the commission, thinks the same way.
The only vote Stahl would get would
be from Ban johnson, the third member,
president OF the American League, who
is accused by the Washington club
owners Of having deliberately framed
it up with StahI to deprive one Of the
clubs In his circuit OF a valuable asset.
Game in Danger,
Johnson's vote was thus probably pre-
determined before he went to the COM
mission meeting in Cincinnati a week
from last Saturday. He is believed 20
have inspired the appeal, and would
naturally vote for it. Hermann is di-
rectly opposed to the whole thing Pull
liam was not at the meeting.
Johnson, with his usual clustering,
bulldozing methods, is believed to be
holding cut and demanding that the
commission make a ruling which would
strike blow at the root OF the re-
serve system and tend 70 throw the
game into the chaotic state which pre-
vailed before organized baseball came
into existence and when there was war
between the big leagues, Hermann and
puIliam. being endowed with human
intelligence and craftsmanship. are not
Inclined TO be made fools of for the
qualification Of Johnson vanity and
desire TO hutt into the affairs Of every
club in the country, regardless of the
fans, the players, or the men who have
their money invested
Other Two Show Intelligence.
Ordinarily, Hermann and PuIiam
would simply get together. exercise that
human intelligence with which they are
blessed, outvote johnson, squash Stahls
appeal and let il go at that, the public
being unalz-are that Johnson had tried
to make the commission ridiculous, but
The Times exposed JOhnson's hand in
an exclusive story from Cincinnati last
Monday Now Hermann and PUlliam
are anxious TO keep the peace and let
Johnson down gracefully, hence they
ask whether the club and Stahl can
patch up their differences without the
necessity for a formal decision from
the supreme baseball tribunal. but
Johnson can't see that and is stil hold
ing 10 his original position of forcing
through for his own personal gratifl-
catin an appeal which menaces the
sport.
Baseball law is a thing apart. and
il is a safe bet that a fair proportion
of the decisions of the National Com
mission would not stand in the courts
Of the land. This is well known, and
FOR years IL has been the policy Of play
ers and owners 70 avoid whenever pos
sible any appeal to the courts, all hands
preferring TO settle their differences
among themselves in a sportsmanlike
way. Johnson knows this, but Is not
influenced by any ordinary human con-
sideratiOns and IL is the general opin-
ion in Washington that in order TO carry
his point and bend the Washington club
10 his will be would not hesitate to
disrupt the National Commission. throw
all baseball squabbles into the courts
and precipitate a general and ruinOus
war-if the club owners in the American
League are idiOtic enough To keep him
IN his job as president and give him
an opportunity for such a step.
Will Owners Lick His Hand?
Washington. Chicago. St Louis. Bos-
ton. and Detroit, have all had bitter
Experiences with Johnson's browbeating
and the followers of the game are Won
deriug whether or not the owners of
the franchises in those cities are will
ing TO sacrifice not only their property
but their self-respect in order 10 tickle
the cOnceit of their hiEh-salaried en-
ploye who delights in making them look
ike a lot Of whipped children in the
eyes Of the public.
While no one wants 10 see return
to the old days when every baseball
game was delayed and likely To degen-
crate into q riot because the players
made a row over every close decision
by the umpire. yet there are times when
a protest or an explanation is reason