The Detroit times., 1914-02-02
Edited By
Ralph L. Yonker
Fullerton Tells Hotv John Henry Descendant of
The Famous Patrick. Grated and Saved Baseball
BY HueA FULLERTON.

Just how near organized baseball
ue American and Natlonsi leagues
came 20 utter wreck aud ruin and
how thc overthrow of The autocrauc
power OF the national commission VAS
as erted, feW know.
The man who prevented this cat
aclasm was bis quiet John Henry
descendant OF Patrick Henry, and
catcher for the Washington Baseball
club But for him the national com
mission would have played into the
hands of the Fcderals. and driven hun
lreds OF their best players 10 the
outlaw league.
This is the story
The Federal league had been quiet
~ planning Us comprehensive cam
paign II was striving TO secure the
sympathy and active aid OF the play
ers' organization The National aud
American league owners and the ma
tiOnal commission pOoh.poohed the
idea OF a rival league The ball play
ers, through their president, Dave
FultZ had made certain demands OF
the national commission which after
scornfully rejecting Fultz, grudging!y
agreed TO permit him 90 appear be
fore its august body Fultz and Il.
b. Johnson are bitter foes Johnson
AZ first refused TO have anything 20
do with anyone represented by FultZ,
but finally consented 10 hear com.
mittee OF players, and 10 let bNltz
come with them. Among the men
chosen by the players 10 represent
them was John Henry
No one ever heard John Henry
make IA speech His oratorical et-
forts are confined TO an occasional
remark 20 an umpire. lie was not
supposed 20 make a speech
The players representatives and
the national commission met The
result was that instead OF discussing
grievances, the meeting became a
personal row between Johnson and
Fultz. The commission was willing
To grant certain demands, the players
ready to yield others But the feud
OF Fultz and Johnson prevented. Ad-
Journment was taken. Both sides
were in despair The Federal league
gloated.
A dinner had been arranged At
that dinner the feud flashed out again.
Johnson spoke, excoriating FNIltz.
Then arose John Henry. The fire that
ran through the Henry blood when
Patrick cried for liberty or death
surged up again. John did not pull
any OF that. There IS no way to
Judge the future but by the past, and
Judging by the past. what have We
seen in the conduct Of the British
ministry 20 Justify those high hopes.
etc." stun. He leaned forward over
the table. knuckles down and said:
we did not come here 70 hear
what Johnson thinks OF Fultz. or
what Fultz thinks OF Johnson. We
came representing 600 major league
ball players--to get the answer 10
our demands. And we are going to
get them"
John had told the national commits
sion where IL got Off just as clearly
as his revered ancestor, Pat, told
King George The delegates, who
were preparing to go home and report
failure, were summoned 10 another
conference. Again the feud started.
Johnson and Fultz baked agreement
Then up rose John Henry again. He
told the national commission few
things. He talked two minutes. From
that time on John Henry dominated
the meeting. and In one hour the
agreement was reached
Not until the Federal league com
menced Its wild raid upon the leagues
did the powers OF organized ball
know the full danger they faced, and
that John Henry. catcher, had saved
the major leagues from wrecking
Themselves