Omaha daily bee., 1916-04-23
'BTG BAN" TO THE RESCUE
American League Prexy Inaugur-
ates Policy Of Help the
Weaker Clubs
WOULD BE BENEFIT, TO ALL

NEW YORK, April ~. Two prominent
base bali deals contaminated furnish
conclusive proof that ban johnson has
instituted new policy In the American
League The slogan of the organization
now n. help the weaker clubs" II 10
policy destined TO prove Of great
financial benefit 10 the eight clubs. in
diyidally and collectively. II IL policy
which should have been enforced soma
years ago, especially IN this clearing
house for base ball currency.
The deals referred TO are those whers-
by Frank Baker was cached in n yam
kee uniform and iris" Speaker became
tho property Of the Cleveland Indians.
When the Yankees we're negotiating for
the purchase Of BAKERS release from
the philadelphla Athletics there were
other club owners In the league who
watched tho progress Of the negotiations
with covetous eyca. To even the fur
thest removed outsider Il was apparent
that q restraining power held these
owners IN check, Otherwise they would
been in tho bidding. and the price OF
Bakers release would been sent soaring
beyond all limitz N reason and fairness
BY holding them back and leaving tho
field 10 the Yankees tho New York club
was enabled to procure Bakers release
for price greatly under what might
have been paid had Connie Mack been
permitted 10 auction the players release
70 the highest bidder
cieveIaBd's Comp Explained.
This new policy also explains how
Cleveland was able to pluck one Of bnse
balls most iugcious peaches. The Yam
kees were keen on the trail OF Speaker.
and clamoring noisly in the dust the
New York club raised IN It's efforts 70
land the player were ut least four other
clubs, the leaves Of their check books
waving temptingy In tho face Of Joseph
J. Lhnnin, president OF the Red sox But
big Ban warned them all back, and.
nnhampered, James Dunn. new president
Of the Cleveland club, was permitted to
carry on negotiations for the acquisition
Of speaker.
y was explained that the fans of Cieve-
land had virtually decided 10 boycott
the club when Joe Jackson was sold q
tho White sor last season and II was Inn
peratlve that the Indians procure another
star 70 take the place left vacant BY
Jackson's transfer TO tho clan Comiakey
This new policy IL bounded upon the
basic principle that II ia more effective
financially to have base ball strength
distributed in as many teams IN the
league as possible rather than that ons
or two or three should stand out a. vir-
tual dihraltarr among sand dunes
II four OF five clubs can bs fortified
with base ball strength II means that ali
the clubs IN the league will benefit ma
terially ms regards the capturing OF ths
elusive dollar The few remaining weak
clubs-or comparatively weak clubs
naturally share In the patronage that
la winning clubs.
II Is not syndicato baae bail in facs.
Il Is far removed from such 4 condition
that would prove tho ruinatiAn OF the
national sport clnha holding aAar play.
ers are not forced 10 dispose ofNanv ~
their holdings, Nor In limiting tiiA fleld
Of bidders II any one club enahleh 10
purchase a players release for n priaa
below the nlnyer's real value The policy
simply affords clubs whose bank rolls
are not a. heavy "a somc others with sn
opportunity 10 bolster up dsnloted ranks
and assume position either than that Of
poor also nan.
Aa result, the xame benefits for ths
fans IN the smaller cities aro thus ena-
hled 90 have clubs representing them thAt
al least have flshting chance in ths
championship melse