The Washington herald., 1917-12-11
j. K. TENER MAY
QUIT CIRCUIT
National League Magnate
About to Wash His Hands
of Baseball.

New York. Dec. lo.-John X. Tener.
former governor Of Pennsylvania. is
about to wash his hands Of the Ma
tional League and all its foibies. The
man who has served as executive OF
the parent major organization for thei
past hve years stands ready to call the
bluf Of August Hermann and other
traducers. The presidency OF the Ma
tional League means nothing in the
young life Of John Kinley Tener.
got It straight today from ora who
will be business associate of Mr..
Tener in his new field that the gov
ernor will close out his National
League account during the annual
meeting of his circuit hero, says w. J.
Macbeth in the New York Tribune to-
day. That meeting opens at the Wal
dorf-Astoria tomorrow. 1t put the
story squarely up to Governor Tener.
He would neither affirm nor deny. In
baseball lack Of denial usually spells
cerihcation.
That Tener will embrace a wonderful
business opportunity. regardless of the
wishes OF his baseball associates. is
a fact well known to his immediate
friends. His term of Office at the head
Of the National League expires with
today's meeting. Some time ago 1t
was announced that Mr.. Tener had
been rendered a return to his office for
a term Of years by the una animous con-
sent OF his eight-club president CON
stituents.
That fact seems to have been Just
trihe far-fetched. II the offer was
made 1t Is a surety the former Gov
ernor Of Pennsylvania did not accept.
For he has pledged himself to ac-
cept an important Office in busi-
ness concern whose game Is road con-
struction. II Mr.. Tener retains the
presidency of the National League it
will be on the condition only Of being
foot-loose to engage in any other
business which suits his fancy.
And take 1t on the word of one who
knows, President Tener will consent
to no cut in salary, such as August
Hermann threatens. He served one
year OF the four without remunera-
iion. That was while he still was
governor of the State OF Pennsyl-
vania. The Tener regime in the Ma
tional League has been strikingly
free from the usual petty annoyances
that have characterized that circuits
affairs. John X. Tener has every
reason TO feel proud of his admins
tration. He cannot afford to knuckle
TO National League linen washing.
With Tener gone, or going (as
seems to be the case) the question
that naturally arizes is who will be
his successor? The answer is an
enigma. No one can fathom the
minds of the National League vot-
ers
II Tener really Is through, as seems
to be the case. the National League
might look a long time and do a lot
worse than TO appoint to the posi-
tion Edward G. Barrow. for a number
of years president of the Interna-
tional League.
From what little could be heard ii
Is almost a moral certainty that Ma
tional League conditions throughout
1918 will remain quite as they were
the past season. The magnates,
without exception, have faikh in the
schedule of 1a games and seem
timorous of changing the starting or
closing dates. 1t is believed 1t would
be very poor policy TO try TO attempt
a concentration of time. The book
ing of double-headers is generally de-
plored.
Whether or not the Joint meeting
with the American League in Chi
cago Thursday, as proposed by Garry
Hermann, becomes a reality, will
not be determined until after the an
nual meeting of the National League
is called TO order at the Waldorf-As-
toria tomorrow. Club owners here far
from frown upon the project. The
joint meeting assumes prominence
principally insofar as its adoption
may influence the reelection of Presi-
dent Tener.
wilbert Robinson, manager of the
Brooklyn club. was closeted for some
time with Charles II. Ebbets. Uncle
Robbie has proposed TO his chief a
number OF trades that will be at
tempted before the end of the week.
ILL N nlI