Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-07-17
Major Leagues May Unite
With Ban. johnson on / op

Z
The two major leagues combined
with Byron Bancroft johnson as the
president, is within the possibilities OF
the near future. The idea originated
with President August Hermann of
the Cincinnati club, and already looks
good to a majority OF the 16 clubs that
go to make up the party of the first
part of the national agreement.
In short. the idea is to have the two
present leagues run by vice presidents
with MI. johnson as the president OF
the combination at a salary of $4,000
Il year. Then with the major Leagues a
party of the first part, and the National
association (mnors), u party of the
second part, represented by their re-
Spective presidents on q national com.
mission with August Hermann as
chairman. developed a working force
in organized baseball that willtsfully
protect the property rights OF all inter-
ested.
With IT. M Sexton representing the
minors and Ban johnson the majors.
baseball would be in the hands of the
two ablest men in baseball today and
both the majors and minors would vel
come Mr.. Hermann as the third party
on the commission.
WOULD PROTECT ALL
A combination OF this kind would
fully protect the best interests OF base
ball and make secure the great in
Nestments In those cities. building, or
already built such as PittsburG, New
York and st. Louis. Cleveland and
| Detroit will start in soon to build
plants only second to Pittsburg and
Philadelphia. Washington and Boston
will soon follow In the same line. Gin
cinnah has already a first class plant.
while Chicago, will ia strong on ball
parks when Contmislley has finished his
new home for the White Sox. which
Will be ready by next spring With a
a man OF MIR. Johnson's marked ability
and absolute strength in baseball at
the head OF affairs, it would take a
strong. combination to oppose him sue
cessfully.
1t would be possible and feasible IN
some cities. to play the games at one
park, where two clubs are located in a
city such as Boston, New York, Phila-
delphia and st. Louis With noncon-
tiicting schedules and games every day
for six months the public would be-
come familiar with the fine homes OF
the clubs and the expenses would be.
much less for the clubs Interested
The chances for new leagues to break
into Chicago or Pittsburg would be les
sened, and the annual talk of "outlaw'
leagues would soon be a thing of the
past all over the country, for the new
combination would strengthen the
hands of the great minor organization
that has grown very powerful during
the last three or four years.
BENEFIT TO THE NATIONALS.
While on the face of the proposition,
It might seem that the American league
was getting q shade the better of the
move. and might be the one anxious to
see Mr.. Johnson at the head of the
combination with Mr.. Herman all pow
erful this Is not So however. The
American league has for eight years
enjoyed rrs| remarkable executive brain
of a born leader. and the magnates of
the National league are ShreWd bust
ness men and are looking to their own
protection and can realize how their
interests would be protected and their
property become more valuable with
the new combination.
In II. NJ Sexton of Rock Island. the
president of the National association.
the minor leagues have nothing to fear.
from combination as above mapped
out. It's absolutely for the best in
tercst of baseball that the major
leagues work in harmony. and still
more so that the majors work in mar
mony with the minors. VINO control
the game outside of the u cities con-
trolled by the two major leagues,
II is safe to say that inside of two
years from now at least s10,0oo,000 will
be invested in the two major leagues
alone. taking baseball plants and play
iers, twice that sum will be invested
in the minor leagues, covering the
territory from Maine to California. 1t
Will therefore take strong characters
to handle the business. for a break
means trouble for ali. and the lead
crs must be good politicians as well
as good business men.
GREATEST OF GAMES.
the dream of lotus eater. All other
games and pastimes are mere sparks
from the red-hot iron on the anvil. It's