The sun., 1918-08-11
PURIFIED BASEBALL
TO FOLLOW CHAOS
New Era to, Come With End
Of the War, Is, Joyous
Prediction.
f.. ------------ 10 =
UEYDLER is DOOMED
Secretary Treasurer Is Popular
"."C Choice as Tener's a. .
Successor. .... .-.
UEYDLER is DOOMED
BY sHORTsToP.

when the war lords of Germany and
Austria decided the time was riTe to
start their big muss on that fatal after
noon in Potsdam In July. 1914, one
Hun with a little more foresight than
the others, coyly remarked: III you
throw a match into that powder key
there is no telling where the, sparks
will fly" 20 -
In all probability the sparks new even
further than this Hun knight dreamed
az For instance, never having heard
OF professional baseball In America, he
hardly could have been expected TO see
A spark light among the honorable
members of the National Commission in
ths summer OF 1913. and raise all sorts
OF havoc. There Is no doubt that many
things the world over VIII get a thor
ough overhauling after the war. They
are being put through the crucible now
and will come out purified and refined.
In the new era which will follow the
war from the present outlook profess
slonal baseball will have new form
OF government with a new set OF gov
ernors. The old national agreement Is
obsolete and It seems time for men
like johnson and Hermann to fade
from the sporting screen. Last week
saw the withdrawal of John X. Tener
as president Of the National League,
after he had declared his unwil!ingness
10 sit on the National Commission as
long as Ban B. johnson, president OF
the American League. was member.
Among the real lovers of ba seball there
would be keen regret over the passing
OF Tener were II not for the knowledge
that Tener's resignation makes a reor-
ganization of baseball all the more GER
tain 1t also serves TO magnify the
breach OF faith Ban johnson was guilty
OF when he repudiated finding OF the
National Commission, of which he was
member. II will be remembered he
permitted Connie Mack OF the Ph!la-
delphia Athletics to start a civil in
junction suit to set aside the commits
SONS finding in the Scott Perry case.
Friends of Tener also realize be was
too big man to tolerate the peanut
politics which again have come to the
front in the National League. AS a
former United States Congressman. a
former Governor OF the second greatest
state In the Union and man who had
shown uhquestionable financial sagacity
as bank official Tener would have
rad a number OF lucrative positions to
select from at the end of his term OF
Governor had not the National League
rendered him the presidency Of the Ma
tional League year before his term
expired.
Tener Fond Of Game. 80
Sentiment and u great fondness for
baseball influenced Tener when he de-
cIdsd to accept the offer made him by
tho National, League club presidents.
He always has been proud OF his ball
playing days, and when a candidate for
the Goverporship Of Pennsylvania his
campaign managers stressed the fact
that he had risen from the baseball
ranks TO the halls of Congress. To what
extent the war FASTENED Teners with
drawal from baseball It Is hard to say.
When his four year term as president
expired baseball had weathered one sea-
son of war, but the outlook for 1918
even then was dubious. At this time an
opportunity came to Tener to take
charge Of young company with great
promise which offered inducements he
could not afford to resist. However, at
The solicitation Of a number OF his club
'wners Tener agreed TO remain In ONCE.
giving as much time to National League
duties as he could spare from his other
activities.
The arrangement was poor one, and
for this reason Tener declined to be re-
slected for any term OF years. but only
League executive with the expressed
stipulation that either the league or he
could withdraw from the compact at any
time during the year. Tener soon saw
such an arrangement could not be last
Ing and would have retired before he
Old had 1t not been for the progressive
element in the league whit h was anxious
for him to lead a fight against the reac-
tonaries. He also was unwilling to
leave the league at time Of great
stress. The Scott Perry case forced an
Issue in which he decided he could not
ffmain in Office and hold his dignity.
Tener was misunderstood during the
early part OF his National League term.
eut he showed his strength in his hand
Ing OF the McGraw case last summer,
when he refused to follow Herrmahn's
leadership, and again by his strong
stand in the Perry case.
Heydler Is Able.
II the National League has any wis
com left it will consider only one candi-
cate for Tener's successor. and a man
VINO can do baseball more good than a
ooien Robert Browns. namely. Its able
secretary-treasurer, John A. Heydler.
John lieydler has one unique claim TO
distinction. He IL the only baseball
Inc National League always has been a
S9e' OF pet subject for the sports writer's
10 hre their harpoons into. and II has
received many grilling in the last ten
years But when the league was PANIED
rs whole or In part the writer in
varably added. This goes for all OF
'Aem hut John Heydler."
I"cro IL nothing that the National
League could do which would make II
more solid with the public and the
BASEBALL Writer'S Association than to
t@ct Heydler president. AS to Heydler's
nominations II Is only necessary to
sae workings Of the league than any
1re' dent it ever had He ran the league
mos ably after Harry Pulliam's death
ssa'n during the time that Tener I'm,
n''d out his year as Pennsylvania
n'Nr'lhr and again this season while
ss'n'r time was taken up with other
The perpetual Robert Brown OF
louisville, who Is the Bryan Of base.
ya"' again Is running for the National
league presidency. He IL a Hermann
nan pure and simple and has the In.
I1.o,rsement Of Hermann, Dreyfuss and
,.oDe,S II Is Significant that II wa,
Ws Trio that Tener last winter named
rs the three reacuonares who had
la'oh 10 grow with the times, and
were continually thwartng the effort.
~ 'ho progressive element in the league
! was largely to lead the fight against
N,s group that Tener consented to re.
,ah t1e National League presidenc,
change Of presidents also may moi
Tt Tar away in the American League. Bar
'Sununon mad stormy meeting out II