The San Francisco call., 1909-12-19
~ AND JEFF, LAST OF HEAVY WEIGHTS
I. ]. LYNCH MADE
HEAD OF LEAGUE
Deadlock Suddenly Broken by
Prearranged Selection of
Former Umpire

NEW YORK, Dec. 1S.-The deadlock
in the National league of professional
baseball clubs over the election of a
president was Unexpectedly broken this
afternoon by the unanimous selection of
Thomas ]. Lynch, whose name had not
been considered or publicly mentioned
for the position.
There is reason to believe the eight
league presidents held a.secret confer
ence, which did not end until ? o'clock
this morning at which the supporters
of John Ward of New York and Robert
Brown of Louisville came to an under
standing. 1t is understood each side
instructed John T. Brush of the New
York club to select a man whose name
had not been before the league as a
candidate. Brush consulted none of his
colleagues, but telegraphed to New
Britain Conn. for Thomas ]. Lynch to
come here at once.
Three ballots were taken. all of them
resulting in the same tie-four for
Ward and four for Brown. Then. ap-
parently by agreement, President Eb-
bets of Brooklyn read a letter from
Ward in which he withdrew from the
contest. At the same time STANLEY
Robson of St. Louis withdrew Browns
name.
Following the prearranged plan Brush
then mentioned Lynch, referring TO him
by his better known title king of
urnpires" The seven nnagnates quickly
seconded the nomination and the cleo
tion was made unanimous.
Ebbets, who had been one of the bit
terest fighters against John A. HeydIer.
who succeeded the late Harry C. Pulliam
as president, then nominated Heydler
for secretary-treasurer. position he
| has filled continuously for many years
even while president
Lynch is 81 years of age and was
| for a long time resident of Cincinnati
/ To the reporters he said:
The hardest thing the president of
| the league has to do is TO protect his
umpires, and l want the newspapermen
to help me. If you see an umpire that
you think won't do, come and tell me
and l will keep my eve on him. Don't
roast him. That does no good. / was
young fellow when Nick Young made
me an umpire and the first six games I
umpired were here in New York. three
with New York against Detroit and the
other three against Chicago
! Honesty and fairness-that is going
to be my policy as president of the
| National league. 1 know the game
/ about as well any one and / think
I have pretty good reputation. The
public, the players and the Umpires will
get nothing but square deal from me
and everything will be above board
Pop Anson, whom Charles W. Muir
ply had brought from Chicago believ-
| ing he would be elected remained at
I the Waldorf to the last and then de-
parted, silent, but soreIy disappointed.
The ma gnates did not specify the
dates of the playing season.
The spring meeting of the league will
be held in New York instead of Chi
cago as heretofore. This is the meet
ing at which the playing schedule is
arranged and announced.
Lynch, the new president. was an
| umpire in the National league from
1885 10 1901. with one or two years of
retirement sandwiched in that period.
His honesty and fairness became a
! 0yword with fans who continued to
remember him with respect even after
he retired voluntarily in 1901 to
manage the theater he owns at New
/ Britain. Conn.,
Johnson Satisfied
/ CHICAGO Dec. 1S.-There will be no
! baseball war. as b. b. Johnson, presi
dent of the American league. announced
| here today the election of Thomas
Lynch as president of the National
| league was acceptable TO the American
/ league.