New-York tribune., 1918-12-10
Organized Baseball To Be
Tried by Court of Last
Resort - Public Opinion
By w. J. Macbeth

The death sentence against autocracy
in organized baseball has been sounded
by the court of last resort-the paying
public. Already here in the city has
been organized an association which
will demand democracy in Americas
national pastime. The alternative is
boycott against organized baseball.
George Edward Smith, sales manager
Of the gas appliance branch of the Pub
tic Service Gas Company of Jersey City,
Who lives at Jersey City, is chairman
of a committee appointed Mt the or
ganizaton of the league, which pro-
poses to rectify the wrongs Of the
game, and it was he, at the Waldorf
Astoria yesterday afternoon, who vol
UNFAIRLY vouchsafed the information
appended.
AS yet no name has been officially
adopted for the league, which proposes
Gothlng short of boycott against pro-
fcssional baseball if the existing form
If autocracy Gas the league terms IT.
S not abandoned. The movement was
set on foot at Wallick's Hotel on No
vember II last. 1t was attended by
more than twenty-five representatives
Of the trade Of the metropolis, all of
whom pledged themselves and their in
huence to combat alleged wrongs.
Some of the Charter Members
II am not at liberty to dvulge the
names Of all those implicated in the
movement" said Mr.. Smith. "And un-
fortunately So For many who wish to
remain in the dark temporarily stand
highest among us in the financial
Irtc fr,,l Il
a few of the charter members, how
ever, so that you will see we are no
rabble band of rabid rooters with sea-
son passes, but men who pay our good
! money of occasion and who wish q
square deal for the greatest game on
earth"
Mr. Smith then presented formid-
able list Of names most prominent of
which were the following:
George Milspaugh sales manager
Acorn Range Company; Harry Barber,
sales manager Detroit Jewel Range
Company; George Waidron, accountant
M. Brock, general sales manager Brock
Company Miners Lamp; Charles E.
Mickelwaite, Louisville, Ky.
We feel ourselves true Americans, 4"
declared Mr.. Smith, "and as such are
opposed to autocracy of all form. We
object to autocracy of government in
sport and object most emphatically"
The new league against autocracy in
baseball purposes first to organize
strongly and then go before the vari-
Gus governing powers, or at least
file petitions of objections with them
1T does not purpose to dictate to base
ball either as TO it's business conduct
or its government aside from demand
ing that q more representative rule be
inaugurated. The league is dead SCI
against the existing National Commits
sion. 1t objects to August Hermann
as, chairman and it objects to Bar
johnson because of many reasons par
ticularly because of the Scott Parry
and the George Sister cases
1t was pointed out that the twenty
five men who attended the meeting a
the Hotel Wallick stood for at leas
2 500 fans who attended weekend
games. 1t is proposed to branch ou
into the various cities of the majo,
and minor leagues
Object to Johnson
eve object to the dictatorial policie!
of Ban johnson in particular" he con
cluded. owe do not believe him a fl
representative of the National Com
mission unless he is shorn of his power
for in our minds he is the Nationa
Commission. And we demand furthe.
that the minor leagues have represent