Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-11
LEAGUE
CHOOSES HEYDLER
Unanimously Elected Presi-
dent-Secretary and Treas
urer of Organization

New York, Dec. 11.-John A. Hey
dler was elected to the combined Of
fee of president nt-secretary- treasurer
of the National League for a three
year term at to-day's meeting of the
senior baseball organization leaders.
The three offices of the league were
combined by unanimous vote and
Heydler was elected by acclamation,
his name being the only one present.
ed for the Office of president
Prior to the regular meeting of
the league leaders an informal
discussion was held in which, Hey
dler, John Conway Toole, attorney
for the league, and Robert Brown, of
Louisville, were considered for the
vacancy. A committee which waited
on Heydler was informed that he
would not care to accept the presi-
dency unless he were elected for
term of years. This was agreed to
and the election was made for the
term of three years
The presidency and secretary treas
urership had been separate offices
since 1907 when Heydler, then secre-
ldly " TIC pltSlutllls was GlGGltu "
the position of secretary.
Heydler was born in La Fargeville,
N. Y, in 1869, and his first connection
with baseball was as u newspaper
correspondent in 1898. From 1894 to
1897 he was a substitute umpire in
the National League. In 1898 he was
made a member of the regular UNI
pire staff. but resigned in midseason
fp1lpNHrifap a 1iGn1tfn the Polo
grounds.
In 1902 he was placed in chargs
of the National League averages and
the following year was made secre-
tary to Harry Pulliam, then presi-
dent of the league. He became sec
retary-treasurer of the National Lea.
que in 1907 and in 1909, following the
death of Pulliam, filled out the un-
expired term of the late president.
Following the election of Governor
John X. Tener to the presidency of
the league in 1914, Heydler conducted
the affairs of the organization until
Tener assumed office in 1915. Heydler
has been acting president since Gov
ernor Tener resigned last summer.
The league reduced its board of di-
rectors from it's eight club presi-
dents to a board of five, with four
club presidents and the league presi-
dent, the latter to serve as president
ex-officio. The number of members
of the board was raised from five to
eight two years ago.
The new board of directors con-
sists of Presidents Hermann, Eb-
etts, Baker and Hampstead of the
Cincinnati, Brooklyn, Philadelphia
and New York clubs respectively.
The following are in attendance at
the meeting: Boston, Arthur Wise and
Walter Hapgood; New York, Harry
Hampstead and John Foster; Brook
Ign, Charles Ebbetts; Chicago, Will
liam Veech; Pittsburgh, Barney Drey-
fuss; Cincinnati, August Hermann;
st. Louis, James c. Jones; Philadel-
phia, William Baker.
The board of directors refused to
permit Fred Mitchell, president-man-
ager of the Chicago Cubs to take a
seat at the meeting, he refusing to
answer when questioned as to wheth-
er he would manage the club next
year or not.
August Hermann, chairman. of the
National Commission is anxious to
learn Just how far his fellow mag
mates mean to go in putting the skids
under him as leader of baseballs su-
preme court. Harry Hampstead, the
New York owner, came out to-day
with q fiat statement against retain
ing Hermann. He prepared his re-
marks with a declaration of his rec
ognition of Hermann. as a good fell
low, but he believes that a man 'un-
connected with either league should
be picked as chairman.
President Charles Ebbetts, Of the
Brooklyn Club, announced to-day that
he had signed Wilbert Robinson to
continue as manager of the team for
the season of 1919. This will be
Robinson's sixth year with the Brook
lyn Club.