Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-10
HERMANN FIRM IN
STAND FOR HEYDLER
Says War Will Follow Should
Ward Be Elected Head of
National League.

:. NEW YORK. December l0-''We will
stand together or fall together.
) Thus spoke August Hermann, presi-
dent of the Cincinnati National base ball
! club and chairman Of the national COM
. mission in reference to the reelection
: "f John A. Heydler. the present presi-
dent Of the National League.
If Heydler falls. then the whole board
Of directors should fail. Heydler has
/. been backed in his rulings in every In
stance. The board is composed of Muir
ply, Ebbets, Dewey and myself. Blame
if any, reyolves on the shoulders of all
of us. If of us is guilty of any
Z. wrongdong, all of are.
Hermann was incenSed over the fact
that Charles Murphy had taken up the
cudgels against Heydler.
A Square Man.
Il think l was the first National League
magnate who said anything detrimental
to Nh Heydler. continued Mr.. Herr
mann. Il did not think John big enough
for the position. Since then our relations
on the national commission have forced
me To change my views. ! believe
Heydler to be the squarest of men, and
know he Is working only for the adj
vancement of the best interests of the
game.
IF it should happen that only one vote
he cast for Heydler at the election next
week, that vote will come from Cincn-
natl. and that vote will go from the first
ballot to the last. No compromise can
didate will do for me.
Ban Johnson is not bluffing when he
says he will not sit on the national COM
mission with John NJ. Ward, should that
gentleman be elected to head the National
League. i know Johnson as well as, any
man, and am certain he is in earnest If
Ward be selected / can see nothing in
sight but another base ball war. For five
years we have built up the structure
known as the supreme court of base ball.
At times We have had minor arguments,
but we have come to look on one another
with confidence That confidence should
be continued by the preservation of the
present membership of that board.
No Syndicate Ball.
Il do not countenance syndicate base
bali, although 1 have In a way been
mixed up in it. Some time ago 1 came
to the financial rescue OF Philadelphia
at a time when it looked as though the
Phillies were about to throw up the
sponge. But l did 1T without view of
gaining control of any other team than
Cincinnati. AS matter of fact, / lost
$4,000 by the deal, but the eight-club
circuit was preserved. That was all
was after.
For the last five years the two major
leagues have worked together in perfect
harmony. Johnson has showed me his
reasons for objecting to John NJ. Ward
canTot say what they are, but these rea-
sons / consider good and sufficient for
his antagonism. There is no question but
that the American League will back
johnson up in his stand. If certain of our
membership persist in Wards candidacy
and elect him as National League presi-
dent it will be a sorry day for organized
base ball.
A tanning bee was held at the Waldorf
last evening. Besides Mr. Hermann there
was President Heydler, who had long
confidential talk with the Cincinnati
president. Also Secretary Fred Knowles
OF the New York club. Clark Griffith,
manager of the Reds, and other we'll
known base ball men. Billy Murray of
Philadelphia is also in the city, but he
had nothing to say about his position in
the new Philadelphia deal.