The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-03
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR
TAFT is NOMINATED
Former Presidents Refusal In
tensifies Strife, Especially
in American League.
by FREDERICK G. LIED.

The refusal Of Mr.. Taft OF the office Of
arbitrator In Organized Baseball has not
stilled the factional fight which the ten
der intensified. The issue is more tightly
drawn than ever In the American
League, where II has become a personal
matter between Ban johnson ana Harry
Frasee.
Harry Hampstead. who with Mr.. Fra
zee made the offer to Mr.. Taft. has not
yet heard officially from the former
President. He Gays he still IL firmly or
the opinion that baseball 10 in need
of a new system OF government
Mr.. Taft has not yet notified US that
he has declined TO consider the offer
We made him." said Hampstead yester-
day. I'm fact we have not heard from
from Mr.. Taft since We had our talk
with him in New York. Until we hear
from Mr.. TAFT personally ] cannot dis
cuss the situation other than to say
that my attitude remains unchanged.
Whether OF not Mr.. Taft considers
our offer remain firmly convinced
that basebalrs present system OF govern
ment IL in need OF revision"
France San Hopeful.
Frazee vet rntertains q faint hope
that Mr.. Taft still Is holding the aues-
ton of acting as an arbitrator OF base
ball under consideration I'm compliance
with Mr.. Taft's request we sent him
come correspondence as 10 the nature oil
the work he would be asked to do,
said Frazee yesterday. II have received
word from Mr.. Tafts secretary that he
has forwarded this correspondence to
the former President. Otherwise we have
not heard from him"
Frazee is prepared to go TO the Amer
lean League meeting in Chicago nex'
week armed with clippings from most
OF the leading papers in the country
showing how tporting and editoria
writer's favored the move to make Mr.
Taft a supreme Judge OF baseball.
While Fra1ee has not abandoned al
hope OF bringing Mr.. Taft into baseball
he says Mr. Tatt's interview In Daytor
| last Saturday did not take him by sur
| prise. 81 rather expected II after thu
events of last week" said FraEee. "W'
thought II would be the greatest thini
! for baseball and that everybody will
money in the game would see what /
would mean to the sport. However
there was certain crowd that did III
! best TO thrc'" water on II and ] CUES
! they succeeded.
The Leading Question.
IL was very much impressed with m!
nrst talk with nv. "aft. and | reall!
| think he considered the matter will
favor at that time" continued Frazet
But when several baseball men saw n
| to use the occasion TO indulge In petit,
personalities It was but natural that MI
Taft would throw UP the whole matter.
That the question OF n new chairmsl
Of the NationR, Commission will be on
of the leading matters at the leagu
meetings next week Ia assured. The Ma
tional League will instruct John Heydle
to vote for neutral man at the annus
meeting OF the National Commissio
next January. Every club In the Ma
tional Leag1e with the exception OF Gin
cinnati and Boston, the latter having n
executive, is aligned against Hermann
No one. however, seems to have can
didate for the post declined by Mr.. Tar
Hampstead and Frazee said yesterda
they had no other man in view.