The Washington times., 1917-01-14
BAN JOHNSON HAS
SOMETHING TO SAY
Assumes Responsibility Tomor-
row at Meeting of League
Magnates.

NEW YORK, Jan. 14-Three strikes
and out is the rule of baseball. The
worlds champion team of magnates
breathlessly await the fate of their
champion hitter, Ban Johnson who
has thrust himselt-into the pinch with
the bases loaded and a home run
needed.
One strike had been called in favor
of the fraternity.
Another is whizzing UP to the dish.
Fan says he will knock the ball over
the fence. He usually makes good his
promises, for he is the Ty Cobb and
Home Run Baker combined Of the
magnates.
Assumes Situation.
In short, the serious situation which
confronts organized baseball because
of the presumption of the Baseball
Players Fraternity in attempting to
dictate policies for the men who foot
the bills has been assumed by the
broad, broad shoulders and hefty bat
of the belIigerent president of the
American League. Ban Johnson has
declared himself in unmistakable and
emphatic terms.
THE fraternity must CO." says John
! son. "Fultz must get out. The Ameri-
can League will never again counte-
nance David Fultz nor his organization.
Players Of the American League must
Immediately disassociate themselves
from executive positions with the union.
The presumption of the fraternity has
become a menace that must be met in
stantly and settled with for all time"
Sure of His Ground.
The remarks Of Johnson make it ap-
parent that Big Ban is sure Of his
ground. Doubtless the possibility Of a
strike was discussed thoroughly at the
annual meeting Of the American League.
The boss OF the young major circuit
would scarcely dare to commit his col
| leagues otherwise. .G,.,.,
Whatever plans may, have, been ar
rived at for concerted action and CO.
operation between the major league
clubs, II would seem that Ban johnson
has scored heavily again for American
League prestige. He Is the only one OF
the two major league heads and the
only one Of the three national commits
sion members who has committed HIM
self to any definite stand against Fultz.
His associates Of the triumvirate. when
they talked at all, straddled the issue
But in speaking defiance to Fultz, john
son has committed both Of his associ-
ates to a fight to the finish. They must
share the fight.
Meeting Tomorrow.
| A very important meeting, no
doubt. will be this conference here
tomorrow of the national commission
members and the joint schedule com
mittee of the National and American
Leagues. johnson intends to sound
| his commission associates as to just
/ how far the National League will
! trail with the American. But, in any
event, he is prepared to go 1t alone,
/ il necessary.
Here is Johnson's plan: He will
set a time limit for the return of
contracts signed by those American
( League players not held by long-term
! documents. Failure to comply within
/ the time limit will mean indefinite
| suspension without pay.
should Have Listened.
There would have been no crisis
now if the National League had lis.
tened to Ban Johnson three years
ago, when the fraternity members
threatened a walk-out in sympathy
| with First Baseman Kraft. At that
time the American League executive
argued that truce was simply stor.
| ing up trouble for a future day. His
prophecy is justified in the present
instance.