The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-04
ANOTHER ACT ADDED TO
TICKET SCANDAL DRAMA
In Two Scenes, One Written by
B. B. Johnson, and the Other
BY John T. Brush.

The exchange Of courtesies between
President Johnson, Of the American.
league and President Brush, OF the
New York Giants club continues.
Here is letter from Johnson TO
Brush:
When the subject OF handling the
worlds series this fall confronted the
commission | suggested that the sale
Of tickets be placed In the control OF
the officials of the two contending
clubs. II anything went amiss, they
would be held accountable. This posi-
ton was taken for the reason that
thought the clubs were better inform
ed and equipped to meet local condi-
lions, and could cater chiefly TO those
who had been their main support dur
ing the regular championship season.
When | arrived in New York the
night preceding the day for the open
ing game OF the series, was con-
fronted by members OF the press, who
demanded to know what action would
be taken by the commission relative
10 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.
I'm the few succeeding days. from
information brought to me. was
firmly led TO believe that the leading
ticket brokers OF New York were
abundantly provided with tickets and
in consecutive sectional numbers.
at 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 sufficient TO have sold the
capacity OF the Polo grounds for the
three games. It IL a matter of record
that the management OF the New
York club turned back as unsold for
the second and third games between
1000 and 1900 tickets. What steps
were taken by tine New York club
10 notify the public that these tickets
still were on sale? The press an
nounced that all the reserved seat
tickets for the series had been sold.
"A number of leading New York
papers insist that there should be an
investigation. It appears to me you
are most vitality interested in this
matter and should court an inquiry.
II there has been any wrong doing,
some one in your employ has been
culpable and IL nevolves upon you
personally TO investigate.
The national commission probably
would have much difficulty In getting
at the facts. Our chief aim Is TO pro-
tect the public from graft. and we
should work together for that pur-
pose. Respectfully,
"B. B. JOHNSON"
To this, Mr.. Brush replied
"In this, my reply TO yours of Nov.
1, do not wish for an instant to lose
sight of the main and only issue,
which is that the newspaper articles
credited to and not denied by you
state that you would have investigat-
ed the ticket scandal in New York,
IL you had had the consent of Mesrs.
Hermann and Lynch, wherein II was
charged that some one in the New
York club service handed out to the
ticket spectators 5000 or 5000 tick
cts at an advance OF 81 each, and
that notified you In my letter OF Oct.
2S, that you need not walt one minute
for the consent OF Messrs. Hermann
and Lynch, but that you could begin
an investigation at once and have the
full cooperation OF every employe or
the New York club to aid you in your
work.
You have information | do not pos
sess. which gives you an advantage
in developing the facts. To ask the
New York club to investigate itself
and sit in judgment as Judge and jury
upon it's own case would be like ask
ing the national commission to in
vestigate IFS own failure to suppress
the lniquity of ticket scalping in New
York and Philadelphia If II knew how
and had the power and knew that the
evil was being done.
I'm saying this, no offense to the
national commission is intended.
Respectfully,
JOHN T. BRUSH"