Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-23
JOHNSON FOR CLEAN GAME
President Of American League Long
Advocate Of High Grade Ball.
BOSS MORE OR LESS FEARED
DiHciplinRrian Is strict on Evil
Doors and Makes Them Toe
the Mark-Makes Rules
Against Kicking.

the Mark-Makes Rules
Against Kicking.
NEW YORK. Aug 22.-Byron Bancroft
johnson, president OF the American
/ league. has been strong advocate Of
] clean base ball ever since the days when
he wrote pieces for a Cincinnati news
/ paper. johnson. by the way. was a noted
Journalist long before he became sport
ing critic. Born In Ohio. he was educated
In the public schools and at college. after
which he became cub reporter. lie
made rapid progress. one OF his best hits
being the description Of a lynching bee
over IN Kentucky. which placed him at
tho head OF the staff OF the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette.
Johnson covered John L. sulliyan's
fight wits Jake Klirain and Jim Corbett
with splendid results. lie became so
deeply interested In sporting events that
he took entire charge OF his department.
lie soon turned TO the national game and
became widely known as fearless critic.
IL was Johnson's hobby even then TO
score the kickers and rowdies on tho CA
mond. for he believes that base ball
should be free from unsportsmanlike tao
tics johnson was the leading base ball
scribe IN Cincinnati when Charles A.
Comiskey was appointed manager OF the
Reds by the late John T. Brush. Commy
and Ban became bosom friends and to-
Rether they originated the plan 10 or
ganize another major circuit 60 divide
public patronage with the National
league.
Doubled I'm.
When Comskeys engagement with the
Cincinnati club ended Johnson doubled up
with the "old Roman" in forming the
American league. That was nearly fif-
teen years ago and the circuit was con-
fined to western cities. The scheme was
so successful that Johnson conceived the
idea of expanding the new organization by
taking In the present eastern cities. Co
miskey rolled up a fortune as owner Of
the Chicago White Sox and johnson was
elected president OF tho new league for
twenty-five years at an annual salary
said TO be t25,OOO.
Clean base ball" was Johnson's motto
from the outset. and he has fought on
those lines ever since. Some persons call
him car, but not In the sense of
unfair, bullying dictator. johnson Is a
mild hammered. even tempered, keen
witted man who means Just what he says.
lie believes in a square deal. At no time
has he been accused OF dishonorable meth
DDS In managing his league and In serv-
ing as a member of the National commits
sion. He II highly regarded by every club
owner In the major and minor leagues
who have perfect confidence In his In
tegrity.
johnson IL Feared.
johnson Ia feared by evil doors. He Is a
strict cisclplnarian. and the players in
the American league are well aware of
this fact When he announced that he
would close all American league parks
and suspend salaries II the ball players
went out ON strike. those who know
johnson intimately were sure that ha
wasn't bluffing. IL the strike had not
been settled at the last moment, John
son would have made good his threat
and Il Is generally believed that many
OF the American league players would
have refused to obey the order to walk
out
The success OF the American league can
be ascribed to Johnson's courageous lead
ership. lie has ruled with an iron hand,
but always for the best interests Of the
sport itself In supporting his umpire
staff he has displayed characteristic
loyalty. He never has waveTed In carry
ing out his policy that has made the
American league games immensely popu-
lar.
In Detroit recently several Washington
players lost their heads Morgan, the
young second bsseman. threw a handful
OF dirt In Umpire SheriGan's eyes and
received a blow in the face from that
veteran official. Catcher Ainsworth not
only assaulted Sheridan, but also climbed
into the grandstand TO punch fan.
johnson hurried 10 Detroit from league
headquarters In Chicago and investigated
He suspended both players. but cid not
penalize the umpire. Why7 Because
there was sufficient proof that Morgap
alone was to blame for starting the
lutte confidence in sheridan.
Refuses 10 he Influenced.
In spite OF the wild threats OF another
PLAYERS strike q Sheridan was not
severely disciplined. the American league
boss decided the case In accordance with
his own IDEAS refusing to be influenced
IN any way In short, he proved to the
players who are members OF the frater-
nifty that he didn't intend TO allow them
20 run the sport He had weakened in the
slightest degree discipline would have
been thrown to the winds.
THE umplres are honest and human
says Johnson. "and they do their level
test. They cannot please everybody when
they make close decisions. They render
there decisions as they see the plays re-
sRrdless OF the consequences and they dis
play commendable fearlessness. The
rules passed by the two major leagues
prohibit kicking against rulings which are
based upon judgment An umpire cannot
reverse such decisions. Only In the cases
OF techecialites can the captain of n
team protest to the umpire. Then II It
is found that decision has been mado
contrary TO the rules the umpire must
reverse himself
I'VE have made the rules against kick
ing so plain that there is no alternative.
Players who find fault with rulings by
umpires behind the plate or on the bases
are out of order and should be sent 10 the
bench. Base ball couldn't live day with