New-York tribune., 1917-11-18

Ice.
The great minor league problem
redistribution Of territory-was side.
stepped. not solved. And for this re,.
son the more obscure Of the "bru,hs
denizens await with faint hope ths
annual meetings Of the two major
leagues and the National Commission.
These little fellows, denied the pryi.
lege of forming new coalitions tha.
would tend to make compact and less
unwieldy the various territories. can
now expec. no mercy from the govern.
ing board of the National Association.
They turn to the majors, which con.
stitute the supreme power of baseball.
Would Welcome Suspension
There is no doubt that most Of the
leagues below Class B rating would
welcome an opportunity to suspend,
during the period Of the worldwide
war, the present suicidal operations.
But they do not wish to sacrifice, also,
whatever opportunities may exist Of
getting back in normal times the losse,
incident to the past few unsettled
years.
Under existing circumstances, dis
bandment means the sacriice Of all
territorial and player rights built up
from long service in the common cause
of baseball loyalty. The National Con.
mission is vested with the power to
protect these humble magnates-to De.
clare a sort of baseball business mora
torium for the duration Of the war
In this possibility just now centres the
"Bushers' main hope.
That the National Commission hs,
the inclination Off really the neyel
to take such a step time only will tell
It has been learned, indeed, that thu
commission is not so harmonious as
most people believe. Suspicion, which
easily may lead to friction, exicts be.
tween the Johnson and Tener camps
Indeed, it would not be surprising II
at the annual meeting Of the National
Commission in Cincinnati next Jsnu.
ary Ban Johnson should insist upon
a new chairman for the Triumyira,e.
August Hermann, in the opinion Of
the American League msgnates, hss
from the first been altogether toa
friendly with certain Federal League
influences. He is blamed directly Ia
some quarters for the resurrection o'
the suit for damages against organired
baseball brought by the stockholdsr Q.
the Baltimore club of the defulct Fed.
eral League.
Hermann is alleged to have made
certain promises or behalf Of the Ma
tional League regardless Of what the
American League might do-to effect
separate peace, in other words. His
promises are said to have been repudi-
ated at that special meeting Of the
board of directors of the National
League Immediately after the las
worlds series.
National League May Bslk
Furthermore, it develops, the Ma
tional League is likely 70 repudiate us
vote for a schedule Of l4O games IN
1918. This vote was taken at the meet
/ ing in which Hermann attempted un'
successfully to arrange separate
peace between the National League ana
/ the Federal League malcontents. Nat
I.1a on
ratified by both big circuits. One could
not afford to remain idle while the
other operated. =,
The National League wished 70 hold
up the announcement OF its action un'
til the annual netting in December.
I When Ban Johnson announced shorty
afterward that the major leagues woa,e
adopt the 140-game schedule In lslo
the National League became resentiuL
IL looked ss If Ban were wishing
make capital out of National LesgSs
acquiesence. Ban, for several yea!s
has championed the shorter schedule
Hermann, who. since its neepu,1
has served as chairman Of the As'
tionaI Commission, owes his once
the toleration and friendship OF pan
Johnson. OF course, his conduct nss
been above public reproof. NO matyte.
how well qualified he may oe foI vac
position, the fact remains that GaiV'
In an assumed non-partisan posluon'
always mas been president OF the eln'
cinnati Reds. a National League eIuo.
AS the National Commission chairhsn
must be mutually agreeable 70 ny
other two members (the presioen. "a
the National and American leaguep
il is as plain as the nose on ores isee
that Johnson could remove HerrmAnA
with a word at the next annual mes'
ing of the big Three"
At the Louisville meeting last ~ess
Hermann aired publicly certain Vsr
that were believed indlscret, not ou
by American League club owners, III
also by many Of his own NauVs.II'
League associates. This faux pas, ssl
lowing on the heels of his unsuceessI
dickering with the Federals, is say
TO have alienated much OF Garry r,
fuence with the National mogulsu;
opposing the I40-game schedule, n.'
mann is tramping upon the pei cor;
Ban Johnson, heretofore his enampni
booster. SO that a new chairman
the National Commission is no reinV"
probability.
Schedule Alone Involved
Only in the matter Of schedule 81.
the National and American Lesy
policies Of retrenchment OF vital
portance, mutually. Salary ana ~,
limits in the future, as IN the pas,
be handled as each sees nj. hei',; ,;,.
fore the American League has phIu
tie attention to roster limitaVoNx..