The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-11-04
ROW OVER TICKET.
SCANDAL IN NEW
YORK GAME
Johnson and Brush Clash
Through the Mails.
LETTERS ARE MADE PUBLIC
American League President Says Al
legged Crookedness was in
Grants Office

Chicago, Nov. 4-President John I.
Brush of the New York National
league baseball club gave out copies
last night OF very pointed letters he
has exchanged with B. B. Johnson,
president of the American league, rel
alive to- tt" alleged scalping of tick
cts to the worlds series of baseball
games, particularly the alleged culpa-
bility of the New York National lea
que team in the matter President
Johnsons letter to Mr.. Brush, which
was an answer to a communication
demanding an investigation of ru-
mors of collision between the New
York club and the scalpers, is as
follows
When the subject of handling the
worlds series this fall confronted
the commission, | suggested that tho
sale of tickets be placed in the con-
troll of the officials of the two con
tending clubs. If anything went
amiss, they would be held account
able. This position was taken for
the reason that | thought the clubs
were better informed and equipped
20 meet local conditions and could ca
ter chiefly to those who had been
their main support during the regu-
lar championship season
when / arrived in New York the
night preceding the day for the open
ne he
fronted by members of the press who
demanded to know what action would
be taken by the commission relative
TO the ticket scalping scandal At
that time ] had no information that
there had been any trouble over the
sale OF tickets to the worlds series.
In the few succeeding days, from in
formation brought me, | was firmly
led to believe that the leading tick
ct brokers of New York we're album.
dainty provided with tickets and in
consecutive sectional numbers.
1T seemed to me this condition
could not have happened unless there
was collision between some one in
your office and the scalpers. The
demand for tickets in New York was
suihcient to have sold the capacity
OF the Polo grounds for three games
IL is a matter of record that the man
agement OF the New York club turn.
ed back as unsold for the second and
third games between 1000 and 1900
tickets. What steps were taken by
the New York club to notify the pub
Tic that these tickets still were on
sale? The press announced that all
the reserve seat tickets for the ser
les had been sold.
number of leading New York
papers insist that there should be an
investigation II appears to me YOU
are most vitality interested in this
matter and should court an inquiry
II there has been any wrongdoing.
some one in your employ has been
culpable and 1t deyoves upon YOU
personally to investigate. The nat.
lonal commission probably would
nave much difficulty in getting at the
facts. Our chief aim is to protect
the public from graft and we should
work together for that purpose.
Respectfully,
b. b. Johnson"
To this Mr.. Brush yesterday re.
Piled
In this, my reply to yours OF Nov,
ember l. do not wish for an instant
to lose sight of the main and only
issue which is that the newspaper
arucles credited to and not denied
oy you state that you would have in.
vesugatcd tho ticket scandal In New
YORK IL you had had the consent NJ
messrs. Hermann and Lynch. where.
In II was charged that someone In
new York club service handed out 10
tne ticket spectators 5000 or 5000
tickets AT an advance of 81 each, and
tnat notified you in my letter of DC.
toDer "a that you need not wait one
minute for the consent of Messrs
hermann and Lynch, but that YOU
could begin an investigation at once
ana have the full cooperation of
every employe OF the New York club
10 aid you in your work.
tou nave Information DO not moss.
ess' which gives you an advantage IN
developing the facts. To ask the New
Iork club to Investigate itself and
SIT IN judgment as judge and iury nm.
on lts own cause would be like ask.
ing the national commission To invos.
ugate It's own failure TO suppress tho
inquiry OF ucketscalplng in New
YORK and Philadelphia II Il knew how
and had the power and knew that the
evil was being done In saying this
no onense to the national commissIon
Is intended. Respectfully,
A. John T. Brush.
MT. Brush is III at a Chicago hotel
ana mis- delay In answering Mr.. John.
sons letter he attributed TO that fact
us condition was such yesterday
mat he was not allowed TO discuss
the letters. ND''