The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-08-07
NATIONAL GAME
MADE JOHNSON
President of American League
Had Very Rapid Climb

Baseball has made many obscure
men wealthy and prominent and the
biggest Of these, physically and poll
tlcally, is Byron Bancroft Johnson,
president of the American league.
When baseball reporting on a Gin
cinnau newspaper, answering to the
name Rubber Skull" which had been
bestowed by other baseball writer's,
Johnson recognized opportunity as il
came along. secured a Glove hitch upon
It's off foreleg and was hoisted to fame
and financial ease.
Johnsons opportunity was G. A.
Comskey, then manager Of the Reds.
which team was owned by John Il.
Brush, also owner of Indianapolis, i'm
the Western league. Comiskey was a
baseball genius and Johnson realized
the fact, as he has demonstrated ever
since
Comiskey pulled Johnson 10 high
places. AS Johnson was after" Brush
Comiskey induced the latter to make
his friend president of the Western
league. Then Comskey bought st.
Paul also a Western league club.
The expansion bee was buzzing
around "Commy" and he placed a
team IN Chicago, starting the baseball
war with contract jumping. big sal
aries and piratical methods. With the
coming of peace the American league
ktrn with l'nmiSlxaN hraina
Charlie SOmers OF Cleveland as fnan-
'ial hacker and Johnson as president.
Johnson introduced Mexican justice
To baseball; his trials without defense
proving the supreme court a piker. He
Furnishes PLAYERS upon an umpire's re-
port without hearing the players side,
Just as easily as he puts the con in
contracts, Johnson suspends a player
with no more investigation than a tele-
gram from the umpire whose feelings
have been suffled.
great starter but poor finishes is
the falstatiian executive. He started
the ticket and umpire scandal inves-
nsations. bat the only finish the public
M" was SO smeared with whitewash
mat 1t was not recognizable. Ii is
SAID, though, that the end suited John
son. as he obtained what he was after,
very much as IA politician does, and his
pet expression, for the good of the
game answered a multitude of peril
nent questions
'ohhsons salary has climbed from
'oVVo a year to $4,000. or so the AM
erlcan league magnates say without
blushing.
Johnson prides himself upon being
'he dictator of baseball. AS president
Vi MS league, he il a member of the
national commission, and the third
"'eu'Der thereof is August Hermann of
,"'clhhati who votes with Johnson.
"e'ause this gives Johnson unlimited
power which he knows how to use
anu ne Keeps Hermann jollied until the
"e'o oil many beefstake dinners, wears
perpetual smile.
-, 'o"ilsoh Is credited with forcing G.
W. Murphy, who worked with John
"'n III Cincinnati and now owns the
oops' To give Joe Tinker to Cincinnati
"'u permit Frank Chance To go to the
.'"''rican league by threatening to tell
solle things he knew.
go '"'S Is called politics" by some and
u'p'ofhacy BY others. There IL an
".r name for II not mentioned I'm
polite circles.
lW'ce Johnson has quarreled with
p,l NNey' and while the scrap lasted
-" never looked the same. Being
,''' ioVer Of peace, he was always
~ 10 nave friends bring about
, ,a festival at which he and
I mentor mentor renewed old ways.
!, me comiskey enjoys his health
w," VIII continue to be a baseball
no., pu' II Is sad To think what would
10 retire. '"