Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-24
Tim LYNCH CAN
FEEL PROUD Of
HIS GOOD WORK
National League President Was
Not Given Fair Chance at Head
of Old Organization.
By Sam Crane.

nth Governor John X. Tener
Nj the next president of the
w National League and Will
bert Robinson manager OF the Su-
nsrbas. two old timers are again
broYght together in baseball, and the
snort will be the better for 1t.
In the passing of Tom Lynch,
thnugh it will be well to give him
the credit that is his due. Under
circumstances and conditions thai
made il impossible for him to make
ary new plans or to become force
mi executive of prominence, still he
mas filled the important office with
becoming dignity, much more so, III
fact than some of the magnates or
the league have shown.
Harry Pulliam, by his personal
characteristics made himself much
more prominent as president than did
either Nick Young or Tom Lynch,
bu. II is a question with me if the
latter did not give even more salts
faction and better results than did
the lamented Pulliam.
1t was Harrys disposition to get
into the spotlight and stay there. In
this he succeeded, but 1t is doubtful
if all the hurrah and excitement that
surrounded his regime was as bene-
fetal to the league and baseball as
Lynch's more quiet and sedate &C
ministration.
Johnson Has full Power.
Ban Johnson has been foremost in
baseball and has made the American
League prominent not so much by his
force Of character as because he was
made the real boss of the younger
orga nization, and was given full
sway and power
There is a whole lot of difference
in being the president virtually for
life than from year to year, as was
Lynch. Under the same handicap il
is doubtful if Johnson could have
established the reforms that he has.
although | acknowledge that he is d
very smart person and the man for
the position, His personality has
lots TO do with his success and that
of the league, but possibly Lynch
would have branched out and in
stalled reforms had he been given the
swing-lhe power. But that was
never accorded him, and he felt that
he was kept under the bushel, am
he remained hidden there.
I would have preferred to see
Lynch make regular visits to the
cities in his circuit and see person
ally how his umpires were doing,
and that he failed to "mingle" as he
should have with the club owners
was held against him.
Took Things for Granted.
Lynch took it for granted that mis-
umplres could not be wrong. He was
elected president on that issue-and
nothing else-to straighten out the
M mir to- c
ent in supporting the fellows OF
DAYS of the game.
He stuck to his umpires through
thick am thin, and he can not bo
blamed for that, possibly. 1t may
have resulted all for the best that he
did so, for If he had listened to all the
kicks made and released any of his
staff by reason of the fault found
with them that would have been an
entering wedge that would have
meant chaos.
The National League started wrong
by eIectlng its presidents for only
one-year terms. Good ma tured, easy
going Uncle Nick" Young, although
ne was head of the organization for
twenty years or more, was fearfu'iy
afraid of strife, and he avoided It At
every opportunity He was a mere
hgurehead; but, nevertheless, dear
Old soul, who was completely wrapped
up IN the National League and the
game
League Has Prospered.
They say of Otis Crandall that he
would be twice over the valua ole
player that he is If he would hold
MS head up'-that is, be more chesty.
AND that has been the trouble with
I9m Lynch as president.
II can be said of the latter's ad-
mihls,ralion, though, that the spot
mas had its most successful days un-
DER It He can look back to his term
Oh office with pride and satisfaction
Lynch did come to the front when
ne set his foot down against Horace
Foge and his scandalous talk. The
cum nation of Fogel was one thing
tthat will stamp Lynch's regime as
historical and little less momontous
Tor the well-being of baseball than
NEen William A Hurlbut, of Chicago,
VINO, while president, stamped GU.
'tookedness by blackisting those
payers who were found guilty Of It.
n.1T 1om