The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-19

all the prospective reforms toward re-
trenchment that had been advertised.
Little was accomplished outside a con-
tract amendment which will permit
the minor operators to cut loose from
their playing talent without the Gus
tomary five days notice.
The great minor league problem
redistribution of territory-was side
stepped. not solved And for this rca,-
son the more obscure of the brush"
denizans await with faint hope the
annual meetings Of the two major
leagues and the National commits
sion These little fellows, denied the
privilege OF forming new coalitions
that would tend to make compact and
less unwieldy the various territories.
can now expect no mercy from the
governing board or the National as
ISOLATION. They turn to the ma tor~.
which constitute the supreme power
Of baseball
Would Welcome SUSPENSION.
There Is no doubt that most of the
leagues below class rating would
welcome an opportunity to suspend.
during the period OF the world wide
war. the present suicidal operations.
But they DO not wish to sacrifice. also
whatever opportunities NAV exist OF
getting back in normal times the
losses incident To the past few unset -.
tied years
Under existing circumstances. dis
handment means the sacrifice Of ali
territorial and player rights huIit UP
from long service In the common
cause OF baseball loyalty The Ma
fionai commission is vested with the
eower to protect these humble mag
rate--to declare sort of baseball
business moratorium for the duration
u the war. In this possibility lust
now centers the "Bush ers' " main
hope
That the National commission has
the inclination Of really the nervel
70 take such step time only WILL tell
II he's been learned. indeed, that the
commission in not SO harmonious as
most people believe. Suspicion, which
easily may lead to friction. exists be-
tween the Johnson and Tener camps
Indeed, II would not be surprising
II at the annual meeting of the Ma
lionaI commission in Cincinnati next
January Ben johnson should insist
upon new chairman for the Trium-
Eirate. August EerEEaAAn---~l44- taa-
opinion ~ the American league mag
mates. has from the first been alto
rether too friendly with certain FED
erai league Influences. He is blamed
directly IN some quarters for the
resurrection OF the suit for damages
against organized baseball brought by
the stockholders Of the Baltimore club
Of the defunct Federal lea que
Hermann la alleged TO have made
certain PROMISES on behalf Of the Ma
tionai league regardless Of what the
american league might do~-to effect
a sepa rate neees, in other words. ~
promises are said TN have been repu3i-
stef AZ that special meeting Of the
board of directors Of the National
fe@ que Immediately after the Late
worlds series
National League ssav rga1k.
x Furthermore. TX develops tbs Ma
tionai league r. likely to repudtate ira
vote for a schedule or 1s0 games in
1918. This vote was taken ut the
meeting IN which Hermann attempt
I'd unsuccessfulIy to arrange a sep
arste peace between the National
league and the Federal league mall
contents. Naturally. any schedule
change must be ratified ny both big
circuits One could not afford to re-
main Idle while the other operated.
The National league wished to hold
IN the announcement of its action I'M
I'll the annual meeting In Decs-nbe>,
When Ban Johnson announced short
" afterward that the major leagues
would adopt the 1910 game schedule
in 1915 the national league became
-esentful n looked as it Ran were
wishing 10 make capital out Of Ma
tional league acauieserce Fan. for
~ev~rai years, has cham pion~d the
shorter schedule.
Hermann. who sincs its inception
has served a. chairman OF the' Ma
tional commission. owes his Office TO
the liberation and friendship of Han
Johnson or course hts conduct has
been above public reproof No mat
EAR how wei qualified he may be s,r
the position. the fact remains that
Garry, in An assumed non partisan po-
stticn. always has been president OF
the Cincinnati Reds. National
league club. As the National com
mission chairman must be mutually
agreeable to the other two members
tthe presidents of the National and
American laaxues) II IL As plain as
the nose on ones face that Johnson
could remove Hermann with word
Mt the next annual meeting OF the
Big Three"
At the Louisville meeting last week
Hermann aired publicly certain views
that were believed indiscreet. not only
by American league club owners. but |
ABo py many OF MS own NAti01Hi /
league associates. This faux pas, fol- /
lowing on the heels Of his unsuccess- !
full dickering with the Federals. ia !
said to have alienated much of Gar |
rvs influence with the National mo-
xuls. In opposing the 14o-game
schedule. Hermann is tramping upon !
the pet corn of Ban johnson. hereto I
fore his champion booster. So that !
a. new chairman OF the National COM /
mission Is no remote probability |
Schedule Alone Involved
Only In the matter OF schedule are
the National and American league
policies of retrenchment OF vital i'm. 1
portance, mutually. Salary and roe-
ter limits In the future. az In the past,
can be handled as each sees Mt Here I
tofore the American league has pa i'd I
little attention to roster limitations. |
fact that furnished an a1ihi for Ma !
tional league reverses in the world +
series. But in the general scheme of ,
things Just now the world series
seems a secondary consideration TO Z
the general health of the game.
The history OF Baseball government I
throughout has been one of conserva- 3
tisn. The fact was never more At /
tingiy illustrated than at the recent /
conference. Those in con-
troll either lack Initiative or fear the i
- r.. Ek - 3