The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-19
THOMAS u LYNCH
 HEADS LEAGUE Former Umpire Is Chosen to Succeed John A. HeydIer HEYDLER MADE SECRETARY Salary of Secretary Is Substantially Raised and Heydler Is Put Back at His Old Work For Three
 Years.
.HEY6LER MADE SECRE TARY

Years.
 New York, December 1s.-(Special.)- Thomas J. Lynch of New Britain, Conn.,, is president of the National League of Professional Baseball clubs. He was unanimously elected by the eight club presidents as the first compromise candi- date mentioned by John T. Brush, owner of the Giants. John A. Heydler. who succeeded the late Harry c. Pulliam in mid-season last year to fill out the va- cancy until the present election, was the unanimous choice of the owners for the position of secretary-treasurer. MT. Heydler was elected to the office for a term of three years at a handsome in- crease in salary. Heydler's election was one of the terms under which MT. Lynch accepted the chair. The adoption of schedule for 16S games next season and the reelection of Charles H. Ebbetts and Barney Dreyfuss to serve with the presi- dent as a schedule committee, completed the business of the league, which ad- Journed to meet Tn February on the joint schedule conference.
  came like clap of thunder from an azure sky. When it became evident that there was no possibility of breaking the deadlock in sentiment between John M. Ward and Robert W. Brown, both sides were more or less willing to compromise. The attitude of B. B. Johnson, president of the American league, against MT. Ward had doubtless something to do with the switch of policy. Various caucuses 1.a11 lofa I@rf1 r.fernf md rl morning at the Waldorf. To avoid the in- advertent internal strife which the dead lock would have precipitated August Hermann and Barney Dreyfuss, staunch- est supporters of John A. Heydler, agreed that they would accept any compromise candidate the opposition might name on condition Heydler was reserved for the office of secretary treasurer. and that his salary be advanced so materially as to heal the wound to the pride which re- turn to the lower office might imply.
 Richter Mentioned.
 When a compromise was practically agreed upon 1t was the general belief that Francis Richter, editor of a baseball weekly, would be the selection. Indeed. much had been intimated tn Mir Rich ter by a party who had been most ardent in the campaign for John Ward But
 
 revolutionary movement, had taken a hand in the game. They proceeded to nominate Mir. Lynch and the election fol- lowed so quickly that if there was any serious intent to honor Mir. Richter he must have been overlooked in the shuffle The league proceeded immediately to clean up the slate and John A. Heydler. who, of course was recalled after the meeting to sit in the chair, did not Know hfnor f,, eJ,4, the election had gone.
 It is now generally believed that the | majority of the National league club owners have been in favor of length ening the schedule from 154 to 16S games i for some time. The unanimous adowion of the longer period of play with prac- tically no discussion pointed to such harmony as to indicate that August Hermann had been an advocate of the scheme for years; Barney Dreyfus has always been willing to try anything that might prove of benefit; Charles Ebbetts and Charles Murphy have been very out spoken in the idea for months. while | Brush. Dovey and Robinson had no ob- lection As 1t is the players are al- ways under contract until October IS of each year, and the schedule will be so arranged as to close on October 14
 Fourteen More Games.
 This will give the clubs 14 games in about 10 more playing days, will give the tailenders a chance to try out their young material thoroughly after the mi nor league seasons end, and 1t is be- lieved will improve the attractions gen. erally as there will perforce be many more double-headers than usual It has been pointed out that during the past several seasons the weather haA invar- iably improved after the usual close of the season and that mid-October had been the most genial baseball period of the season. Of course, the league can always go back to the original 154 games if the longer schedule is found unwieldy. There is of course possibility of iris l tion between the two leagues on this new hitch in the schedule. The Anfc> ican league has adopted a schedule of | 154 games for next year Tn all proba- | bility the two circuits will commence | hostilfties about the same time, around April 15. Neither league, of course, can stand for its rival cutting in any earlier l than that But where the rub comes is matter concerning the annual world S championship series. If the American league schedule should conclude as usual, about October 4 the champion ship team would be idle for some 10 | days or more before the worlds cham 1 pionslip, while the National league win ners would be playing practically ev- cry day.
 Lynch Is HeydIers Friend.
 Mir. Lynch is a bosom friend of John A. Heydler, the man whom he succeers in office.
 Lynch appreciates the value of Heydler to the league and would not hear of him being sacrificed.
 T am not closely in touch with base ball at the present time.. declared Pres ident Lynch, when informer of. his cleo ton this afternoon Naturally it will take me some time to get my hand in. 1 But I have the utmost confidence in Mir. 1 Heydler and with him to advise me I do not see how I can go wrong You may take 1t from me if my electors believe I will not back up the .umpires they are sadly mistaken. With Heydler and I 1t will be u1npres first, last and alwaysIf they are in the rigk. of course We have both been thrS<>T1 the mill ourselves and there will be no back ing water