Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-13
Bv w. j. McBeth.

n JEW YORK, July 12.-Ban john
M son used to be a real Moses to
his American League children.
He led them out Of the wilderness
of the war days into an era of inan-
cial milk and honey. But, like the
celebrated Duke of York, with his
storied ten thousand men, having
marched his forces up the hill, the big
car gives evidences of intention 10
march them down again. The green
pastures of the promised have failed
to satisfy. Ban hungers once more
for the wilderness. Mighty in war
the American League president
chafes under the mOnotony OF peace.
His restless soul. thwarted in It's
belligerency toward certain foemen
of the National League, has oeen
forced, on occasion. to seek a vent IN
interference with the henchmen of
his own domain.
Ban Attacks Birmingham.
The latest outburst of the American
League autocrat was directed against
Toe Birmingham, manager of the
cleveland club. Mr.. Johnson init
mated that in his opinion, Birming-
ham was no fit person to be in charge
| of an American League club. What
ever prompted the attack. 1t appeared
very ill-timed. In the few snort
months he had been in charge OF the
| Mans Birmingham had fashioned a
| remnant contender from an habitual
! second division aggregation. HIS
| club was very much in evidence as
! a potent factor of the struggle And
| as the public, after all, pays its good
| money in the expectation OF patron
| izing and propitiating results, Mr..
| M lnlIH hIlrT9 lG OF
| Endorsement to his attack on Biz
! mingham. Mr.. Johnson simply
raised against the popularity in his
own bailiwick the resentment of one
| more city.
Cleveland fandom is not likely
ouietlv to brook the official interior
ence of even the mighty Johnson with
a man who is making good in Its
opinion.
Birmingham. unfortunately, had
troubles of his own at the time;
eternal dissensions that could bes'
be Strengthened out in the clubhouse
Tho great Napoleon Lajoie objected
to club discipline when his manager
thought II to the best interests OF
ali TO give the mighty Frenchman q
rest. I,atoie went over Birmingham
head with a direct appeal to Presi-
dent Charles Somers, Perhaps, 1t wal
with the idea of throwing out him
/ to the boss a to his personal views
of the matter that Johnson expressed
himself in such emphatic disapprova
of Birmingham. However, II is quite
certain now that Ban Johnson anC
not Joe Birmingham Will be held re
sponsible for the shortcomings o
Cleveland, II the inside chickering's de
velop into open club warfare in tn
Forest City
johnson Knocks Live Ones"
For some reason, Mr.. Johnson ap
pears to have a penchant for pick
ing onto Tive wires" and indorsinl
dead ones" His meddlesome dis
! position has "Dutched" him in hal
of the American League cities. h
is about as popular in st. Louis a
scarlet fever in a nursery. For year
, and years he was openly accused
| in the Mound City. of trying to driv
Bob Hedges out of the league. Ono
, Hedges actually negotiated sale
But the prospective buyers failed I
make good the first payment, and tn
Browns reverted to the original own
) ership. Ban, at the time, took n
: | pains to conceal his disappointment
There are those in New York Dol
| | enough to accuse Johnson of enter
: | tanning kindred designs upon Fran
Farrelrs property. Charlie Comis