Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-15
JOHNSON DONS WAR PAINT
Says American League Will Not
Tolerate Election Of Ward.
WRITES LETTER TO HERMANN
Placing New York Lawyer at Head
of National League, He Says,
Means Break I'm Peace
Pact.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE American
league simply will not tolerate John NJ,
Ward being elected president Of the Ma
tional league to succeed John A. Heydler,
according to Ban 3. Johnson, American
league president, who arrived in New York
yesterday. If he is elected, said Johnson,
it means war. As outlining his position in
the matter on the eve of the National
league meeting, Johnson gave out a letter
which he has sent to August Hermann,
chairman of the National commission, who
was Instrumental in ending the war be-
tween the National and the American
leagues in 1903. The letter, which is dated
Chicago, November 30, and addressed to
Hermann at Cincinnati, says:
When information was brought to me
from an authentic source that John M.
Ward was seriously considered for the
presidency OF the National league, II oc-
casioned me much surprise and raised the
question as to the sincerity OF purpose Of
your organization. Since the organizing of
the peace pact and the creation Of national
agreement, organized base ball has moved
along in a broad straight channel with
moderate friction.
Chief objection to ward.
The chief snag encountered was our eff
fort to recover Player George Davis after
he had been awarded to the Chicago Ameri-
can league club at the Cincinnati peace
conference. Mr.. Ward, acting as the at
tUrney for Player Davis, drew up the orig
inal contract with the Chicago club. 1t
was a three-year agreement, iron-bound
and riveted. At a subsequent date Davis
signed another contract with the New
York National League club. The New
York club sought to retain Davis regard
less Of the Cincinnati award, and, in fact
did use him in one game. despite a vigorous
protest from the American league. The
Chicago club was finally obliged to go
into the courts to enforce its contract, and
John M. Ward represented the player in the
proceedings.
Davis was checkmated, but the Chicago
club did not have his services during the
entire season. The cost of litigation to the
Chicago club exceeded $1,000 The entire
transaction was clearly conspiracy, and a
wanton violation of the peace pact entered
into at Cincinnati. American league inter-
ests must be considered and weighed in
the construction of the National commits
sion each year.
1t is far from our purpose to say or even
suggest, who the National league should
elect as it's president, but common sense
and the interests of other parties to the
agreement should be considered IL the
present cordial relations are to continue.
The u~nbounded prosperity the game has
enjoyed during it's persent government
should serve as a safety valve to any pre-
judicial act that might tend to destroy a
healthful, sound and s~portsmanllke condl-
ton in base ball.
NAAA NAs rs
johnson announced tonight that he was
opposed to Charles W.. Murphy-Wards'
chief notwithstanding a dictator in the
base ball world.
His policies are far from being in line
with the ideas of the men who have been
working for the development of base ball.
said the American league president, 'and
would be ruinous to base ball If allowed
to continue. The American league desires
to continue on friendly relations with Itf
rival. but cannot do so II Murphy is &c
dictate the policy of the National League
and elect a man who has consistently tried
to tear down the fabric we have estab'
lished.
Mr.. Murphy stated, I believe, when HI
first arrived here, that the American
league was in favor OF a longer schedule
and that all our club owners advocated 1t
1 have talked with every man who has 6
financial interest in our teams and can
noe find anyone who desires to have III
play 16s games during the campaign.
Mr.. Murphy also has insinuated that thu
junior leaguers are attempting to dlctat,
who shall be elected president of the Ma
tioLal league. This is wrong. but we ar
surprised that the National-league clul
owners should try to remove from offic,
a man like John Heydler. More Heydlerf
4 are needed in the base ball business. H
n is thoroughly honest, trustful and know
a cor ditions Of the past. We have not SAT-
\ that the National league should cleo
: Heydler, but we think that great harm
v will come to the national game IL the clul
: owners don't"
: Attempt to Bride Umpires.
! Concerning the case of the attempte,
bribery Of the umpires in the play-off gam
between the Chicago and New York Ma
tionals on October 8, 1908, Johnson said to
. night that new evidence was sent to hir
s last summer. He will present this to hi
5 colleagues on the National commission 70
: review.
' Johnson is not altogether satisfied tina
: when the National league turned over tn
affidavits in the bribery case to the Ma
u floral commission all the papers in tn
i case were not sent along. At that tim
a New York physician was accused an
was made the scapegoat. Johnson think
that the physician was merely the rer
c resentative of The Man Higher Up" an
he believes he has evidence that wi
= enable the National commission to go afte
x this Individual.
It The political end of the National leagu
meeting has overwhelmed the trading sid
49, a2WAa NJ Hon "a