New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-09
HERMANN READY
FOR BIG BATTLE
WITH DREYFUSS
Head of Commission De
tends Conduct of Office
Call for Diplomacy
Ry W. J. MACBETH


August Hermann, chairman OF '"'
National Commission. is preparing TO
give Barney Drcyfuss the battle OF his
-,f. whom the owner OF the Pirate
orens his guns on the Triumvirate al
.t. National Leagues annual meeting
..~. ro>t week. Mr. Hermann arrived
Yesterday 20 do some local campaign
.r, lie viii so 20 Boston on SUNDAY
90 see Percy d. Haugh;on. president o.
Che Braves.
81 saw Drcyfuss in Pittsburgh yes
,cr5ay." said the chairman OF the com
mission. "No. we have not effected
.~urc. d.d,'t call upon him for that
,.rpose But he gave me TO under
stand that he'd try to explode lev
bombs under my chair next week.
Will Have His Say
"Now. I do not care to discuss Ma
.ioral Commission affairs, naturally
But I'm have something TO say' YOU can
hot when the proper time comes. mere
d., nothing Of which l need be aShaIne"
,, +re conduct of my Office. II the TWO
-,aior league presidents desire anoIhei
,b,irmsn. that Is their business. Cer-
tairly nobody else can drive me ou'
without my defending myself.
SIR Hermann is OF the opinion lh"J
Che relations between the major ana
minor leagues viii call Tor great as
NAV Of Diplomacy. While he would nov
sneak openly. he dropped several hiH.S
that the minor league reprcs c nlatloH,
which is 20 come here Tor the Nalio !il
League meeting and later 10 attend tHe
American League meeting IN ChlcaEo'
9lshcd further concessions than the
proposed new board of five TO deal WIN
protested cases involving MINOR anu
major league interests.
"Thc Class IA leagues said Herr
mann. "arc clamoring for relief from
major league drafts. do not see how
they hope 20 carry their point. Ger
.sirlv such "a step would be contrary
10 ali principles Of organized baseball,
which guarantees to players full OPP
porturitv TO advance in their proies-
sion The players rightfulIy resent
such movement.
No Third League
cone could not keep within the prln-
,.aIcs Of baseball by removing this
draft unless the Class IA leagues were
raised to- major rating. In this CON
ucctiou ] may say that even thlrd
major league was never considered.
me amaleamation of the American
Association and the international
League was discussed informally, 1t is
true But the discussion had lot IT'S
object the determination Of one strong
Glass "A league instead OF two weaker
ones. That is all.
Of am not clear myself on the OBJ
iect of the minor leagues in asking a
new commission or board TO deal with
cases appealed from the National
Board-cases that involve minor and
major interests. 1t has been suggested
that this new body be made up OF a
representative from each Of the two
major leagues, two representatives oil
the National Association and NTH
member not actively associated with
baseball, 10 be selected by the other
four. To begin with, let me say there
were only nine cases last season tnat
would interest such a body as has been
proposed
"if the proposed new board means
iu reality a successor TO the National
Commission as Al present constituted
which I DO not believe is at all the
purpose then the sponsors are again
away out % line. The makeup OF the
National Commission is set by the
peace agreement constitution. NO
change may be made without consttu-
tional amendment. For constitutional
amendment IL is necessary TO have the
q
National Association but OF each major
league as WELL
Cry of Hardship
I'm connection with the cry Of hard
ship that the Class IA leagues have
raised against draft upon their players
by major leagues, Mr.. Hermann had
Here is the answer to that" said
he: "Only eight players were drafted
from the twenty-four Class "A clubs
by the National and American leagues
this year
At the National League meeting next
week Mr.. Hermann will support the
movement for an amendment OF the
twenty-one players roster limit.
81 think twenty-one players club
too few" said he. "Also / think twenty
five too many. ! would favor some com
promise. say, twenty-five or even
twcnty-throe.
The new form Of contract, which
will doubtless be ratified by the Ma
tional and American leagues next week,
has no radical departures IN phraseol-
ogy from the old style. The injury
clause, Of which no major club ever
took advantage has been eliminated.
But the reserve clause in its entirety
still forms d conspicuous part. Mr..
Hermann anticipates no trouble with
the players; a strike, TO his mind, has
never been considered by the stars of