The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-16
CAN NOT AGREE.
Selection of National League President
Still In a Tang1e.

New York. Dec. 16.-"Whose who" in
the affairs Of the National baseball
league for the coming season was the
sole topic of discussion today when the
magnates of that organization met to
select a president. All signs indicated
stormy meeting.
Overnight conferences did not seem
to develop any progress in bringing
about q solution of the tangle in the
National leagues affairs.
Pittsburg, Cincinnati and Boston are
holding out for the reelection of John
A. Heydler and Barney Dreyfuss, head
of the Pfttsburgs, says that Stanley
Robson Of ST. Louis has informed him
he will not vote for John NJ. Ward.
though not indicating that he will stand
by Heydler. New York is making the
fight for Ward. and John T. Brush.
owner of the local National league club,
it was said today feels that If Ward is
thrown down it will be a victory for
Ban Johnson, president of the Ameri-
can league, and that in such an event
the National league would become sub
servient to the interests of the Ameri-
can league.
Il will vote for nobody but Ward y
said c. H. Ebbetts of the Brooklyn club.
When the magnates went into session
Heydler was backed by Cincinnati, Bos-
ton and Pittsburg; Wards adherents
We're New York. Chicago. Brooklyn and
Philadelphia
Preliminary to the meeting Ben
Shibe. one of the owners of the Phila-
delphia Americans. and Charles w.
Murphy. president of the Chicago Ma
tional league club. engaged in a wordy
Indianapolis player, whom Shibe claim
ed he had drafted and Murphy had
captured by unfair MEANS
Murphy protested he had acted fairly
in the matter and the argument was
becoming heated when friends inter-
vened.
For the first time in many years
John T. Brush attended a National
league meeting. Assisted by friends he
left a sick bed and was brought to the
readiness to fight for the election of
Ward for president
When the eight league presidents
convened for their session President
Heydler withdrew.
The first ballot for. president of the
National league developed the expected
deadlock. Four votes-Philadelph
New York, Brooklyn and Chicago
were cast for John M. Ward; while
Pittsburg, Boston, ST. Louis and Gin
cinnati voted for reelection of Presi-
dent Heydler.
Mr.. Brush suggested a compromise
candidate, hit Ebbetts and Murphy de-
ciared against any one but Ward. Their
declaration was followed by a general
discussion.
The absence of Stanley Robson
from the Early deliberations of the
council started a rumor that he had
been kidnapped by Heydler's opponents.
The latter's friends sent out scouts
and Robinson was found and hurried
to the meeting before the first ballot
was taken.
John M. Ward in remarkable
statement this afternoon threw a new
light on the contest for the presi-
dency. Mr.. Ward said:
'As you know the first ballot re-
sulting four votes for Mr.. Heydler
and four votes for myself. and I think
I am justified in saying that the fu-
ture ballots will indicate a pre-
arrangement. The second ballot
believe will result in four votes for
myself and four votes for r. w
Brown of Louisville.
"a third hallot will be taken with
the same result and then the mag
mates will undoubtedly agree to let
the election stand over with Mr..
though the league rules provide that
an election shall take place at this
time. Then the magnates will select
three of their members. and this
triumvirant will practically govern
the organization"
The national commission meet and
took action on the game between
Pittsburg and Chicago last summer
when, following a decision by Umpire
KLEIN, the Chicagos forfeited the game
and President Murphy verbally
assailed the umpire. The commits
sion decided against Murphy, who
agreed to make a full public opo1ogy
to Mr.. Klein.