New-York tribune., 1917-10-30
Johnson S Plan
To Hit Snag in
Annual Meeting
Conflicting Dates and Loss OF
Profits Are Arguments
Against Change

The announcement made a few
days ago by President Ban Johnson
that the American League intended
to cut its playing schedule TO l4O
games next season as war measure
is not meeting with an entirely
favorable response. On the contrary,
there has developed strong opposi-
tion to the plan, which will be pre-
sented when the two leagues hold
their annual meetings in December.
This opposition will come from the
National League. Although Charles II.
Ebbets, president Of the Brooklyn club,
has indorsed the plan, other Natiopal
League club owners, particularly those
Of the Western cities. are opposed to
IL and are planning to make a fight
against it in case the measure comes
up for serious consideration, as 1t
probably will. The American League
club owners will probably back up the
suggestion of their president. but
measure affecting the playing schedule
could not be adopted without agree
ment Of both organizations.
Would Reduce Profits
National League club owners who op-
! pose the plan argue that such change
would only reduce their chances OF
making profit or breaking even or the
season. Particularly, it would reduce
the chance Of making up dates lost
through bad weather, and so they are
not willing to undertake such chances
in season that promises to be
frought with difficulties enough, at
best.
"No doubt Ban Johnson was sim
cere when he made the suggestion
said one prominent baseball man yes
terday, "but | can not see where
there is any necessity for 1t. Base
ball is business which is limited TO
a certain number of months. A man
in q commercial business would not
think of cutting down the season IN
which he was able 70 make sales OF
his line of goods. There are just so
many months in which we can pro-
vide baseball. and why should we cut
down the number Of them and ,hus
cut into our own chances for profits?
Moreover, / do not think conditions
justify any such measure"
The 1<0-game schedule is not new
to the big leagues. II was in effect
prior to 1904. when the two major
leagues got together on the l54-game
schedule. which has been in operation
ever since. The agreement was
reached the. first year after peace had
been declafed between the National
and American leagues.
Causes Conflicting Dates
The reasons for adopting the longer
schedule were the same for which the
objectors TO Ban Johnsons plan now
want the longer season retained. They
were that the shorter schedule caused
, many conflicting dates in Western
cities on Sundays and holidays, which
are the big days in that section, and
that the expenses for the season were
not correspondingly reduced. During
the season of 1908, when both leagues
operated on the short schedule, so
many conflicting dates were played and
SO many double-headers were caused
/ by postponements, that the l54-games
schedule was adopted as the solution
to the difficulty.
As a matter Of fact, il takes 1T days
to play out a 154-games schedule,
while it takes l67 days to play out a
l40gameS schedule, the latter being a
saving Of but ten days for fourteen
games. In case of bad weather the
scheduling of double headers is made
the more difficult and is apt TO play
havoc with club high up in the race.
The chief reason for adopting a
shorter schedule has been that the
weather is often too cold in April for
baseball. But those who are opposed
to Johnson's plan point out that the
weather is often better in April than in
May. In fact, the New York clubs have
had their worst weather and most post
ponements during May and June in
the last two seasons. The weather is
always a gamble with the baseball pro-
moter, and he can never say when he
will get the brand he likes.
Depend on Sunday Games
In St. Louis, Cincinnati and Chicago
the National League depends on the
Sunday games TO get its good crowds.
The owners OF these clubs realize that
with shorter schedule they would
probably lose some OF their best dates.
Nor can they be shown how they will
save money by having the season come
10 close earlier, IL 10 true that the
tail-end clubs have slim patronage after
the middle OF September, but the con-
ditions that exist at the close OF a base
ball season will continue 10 exist re-
gardless OF the length OF the season.
Although no official announcement
has been made, il is practically certain
that the Yankees will return TO Macon,
Ca, TO train next spring. Colonel Rup-
pert had under consideration a plan TO
train a. Palm Beach and play a number
Of exhibition games with the Boston
Braves, who train az Miami. The Ath-
letics drew some good sized crowds in
their games with the Braves in Florida
last spring and. the Yankees were re-
garded as a much better attraction.
However. when Miller Higgins left for
home last week after signing 70 manage
the Yankees, he told Colonel Rupert
that he had no desire 10 change the
training camp, and Colonel Rupert has
practically decided to stick TO Macon
another year
Colonel Rupert is preparing to give
Manager Higgins all the assistance
possible in building up q winning club.
He Is sincere in his offer TO purchase
Walter Johnson from the Washington
club, but has received no word that
his offer will be accepted. In fact, he
fears that Clark Grifith will not part
with his star hurler even for a liberal
price.