The sun., 1918-12-08

son could III afford to oppose him. 1t
has been pointed out that johnson has
served only nine years out OF the twenty
years his contract calls for, but n man
OF his temperament could not hold a
position of that sort II invited to resign.
The minor league situation, the time
OF starting the 1919 season and player
limits are to come before the two
leagues. The National League favors
joint meeting to discuss these weighty
questions, but President Johnson OF the
American League has been quoted as
saying he doesn't see any necessity for
| holding one
All Optimism Now.
For a while the sentiment in the two
leagues was not TO start the season be-
/ fore May l, and to play only a sched-
ule of 40 games, but this quickly
changed when Gen. March stated that
all troops in the States would be de-
modified in quick order. and that at
least n million of the men now abroad
will be back by spring 1t is now prac-
tically certain that the league will u'ay
the usual 154 games schedule starting
In middle April and finishing the first
week in October
There has been n suggestion for an
eighteen player limit in both leagues
next year. and It has advocates in both
leagues but it originally was made a
few days after the armistice was signed.
Since then prospects for big season
next year look much better. and the old
limits no doubt will remain.
The minor league situation will be
taken up more thoroughly by the big
leagues than ever before. 1t seems that
the much discussed resolution of the mi
nors asking that drafts be stopped and
no players sent to the minors on op-
tional agreements was intended only to
take in the coming season.
In the general rehabilitation OF the
baseball situation every one seems to
recognize that something should be done
FOR the minors, but nobody seems to
know exactly what. Even they do not
know themselves. A wit has said that
the only way the big leagues can help
the minors Is "to catch them some fans"
The method of dividing the money in
the last worlds series raised such an
unpleasant situation that It again will
come before the leagues. Advocates OF
the scheme by which other first division
clubs share in the worlds series say
bad mistake was made in promising any
fixed sum to the winners and losers. 1t
now is suggested that 60 per cent Of the
players snare should 20 to the actual
contestants. the remaining 40 to be split
among the other teams.
Trades Not Likely.
The meetings this week are likely to be
tradefess affairs, as the clubs FIST will
try to find where they stand. The bar
ter!ng. however, should be IN full blast
by the February meetings Johnny
Evers, who is returning from France
after, doing baseball missionary work
nit ha L-V{g . at
tend the meeting. "Troy John" Is on
the lookout for mana gerial iob
Several National League clubs will be
lacking In club pres' dents in the Ma
tional League meeting Boston has had
no president since Major Percy Haugh-
ton resigned to go overseas in the Chem
teal Warfare Service The club will be
represented by Business Manager Walker
Hapgood and Treasurer Wise. Branch
Hickey. president OF the Cardinals, also
Is a Major in the chemical branch, and
Is in France. The club will be repre-
sented by Jones, a leading stakeholder.
Fred Mitchell is slated TO succeed
Charley Weeghman az president OF the
Cubs. but Weeghman will represent the
club here next week. Mitchell could
not sit in a National League meeting if
he retains the Cub management unless
the National League change its consti-
tuition.
The New International League will be
more Of a get together affair. Thanks
to Joe Lannin, who helped a number Of
clubs through serious straits, the "Ints'
went through their season last summer,
being the only minor league in the coun-
try to do So Several franchises will be
transferred during the winter, but as
there is likely to be a rearrangement OF
the entire minor league matter such
changes will be held over until the Feb
ruary meeting. 1t is said Lannin will
retire from international affairs,