The sun., 1918-12-08
TUMULTUOUS WEEK
AHEAD IN BASEBALL
National, American and Inter-
national Leagues Will Hold
Annual Meetings.
HERMANN SURE TO GO
New National Commission
Head Is Forecast-Heyd-
Ter Sure of Presidency.
HERMANN SURE TO GO
~ sHORTsTOP.

Paris TO the future conduct OF the world
The new International League will hold
its annual meeting at the Hotel Imperial
tomorrow, the National League will
swing into action the following day at
me waldorf Astoria. while the American
League will go to bat in Chicago next
Thursday.
AZ the world war revealed how condi-
inns Of absolutism and malitarism made
that colossal conflict a possibility, so 1t
opened the eyes of many American
sportsmen 10 the conditions which have
been existing in baseball. OF which the
scandals and uprlslngs Of baseball were
merely the effects.
Many smart baseball men, however,
had recognized the needs OF reform in
baseball long before the war. and the
war merely accentuated some of the
evils in the sport
For instance, many men in and out of
baseball have seen for some time that a
new chairman OF the National Commits
hon was one of the greatest needs OF
the sport Every winter there would be
rumors that August Hermann would be
dropped, but just as regularly when the
annual meeting OF the commission was
held Hermann was reelected.
As matter of justice to Hermann II
might be said that for years he proved
10 be an able and fair head of the com
mission. though he always was a strong
Johnson man. and was easily swayed by
The president Of the American League
Had II not been for that II is needless to
say that the American League would not
nave stood for him for fifteen years.
Hermann Sure to Go.
However. his lack Of backbone in the
Scott Perry case. when he apparently
M TINA 20 Ia ed s
Johnson when the latter cast aside the
COMMISSIONS ruling, put him in bad
door with the entire National League
The National League will not tolerate
Hermann further as commission
chairman 1t seldom was so unanimous
on one subject. According TO Harry
Hampstead OF the Giants, who leads the
men favoring a reorganization. the issue
is not a personal one with him. 81 do
not think 1t is personal issue" said
Hampstead. 81 know / have no thought
u persons myself Only / feel that
baseball is in need OF new system OF
government"
Speaking on the same subject acting
President Heydler OF the National
League Is OF the opinion that the club
owners OF his league want to elect a
neutral chairman TO get away from the
idea that the National League has any
the best of It.
For years there has been talk about
the National League having the best OF
Il on the commission" said Heydler
The public also possibly has entertained
such an opinion. Our men want to get
away from that, and for that reason
think baseball would be better served
with neutral chairman OF the COM
mission
An Interesting Development.
How the American League stands on
the commission Craftsmanship will prove
an interesting development. Johnson no
doubt will put up a fight for his COM
panion OF the odd guard" but 1t Is
Fashionable II he can have him in
% ied While there was no grand
.lrrah In the American League to back
Harry Frazee when he and Hampstead
approached Mr.. Taft to act as one
man commissioner this was due to
Frazee's personal unpopularity in the
american League more than anything
Use. 1t is believed that New York,
Boston, Washington, Chicago and Phila-
dephla are anti-Herrmann and will de-
clare for a neutral commission head.
Col Rupert OF the Yankees has not
had much to say as to how he stands,
though at the time Mr.. Taft was APP
preached Rupert said he favored the
former President IL he could give sufil-
e!ent time to the task. Were Col Hus-
;on, the other Yankee owner In Amer
Ca he unquestionably would take his
rlace among the American League in
surgents, as distance has not made the
genial Cap" grow any fonder of GER
tain men in baseball, judging from some
pointed letters he has sent to friends.
Since Hermann is to go the next
hing to do is to ind a new commission
chairman. Hampstead. Griffith and sew
era. others want one man commission
with full power. but 1t is doubtful If
hey have enough votes to swing 1t.
Johnson's New system.
Johnson has a new system to run the en-
tire fabric OF Organized Baseball which
VIII be divulged at the American League
meeting. Clark Griffith also has a new
system Of doing away with all sales in
baseball which has many good points in
ia favor and will receive full considera-
ton.
The election OF a president will be the
most important question to come before
me National League. Despite the fact
mat Judge McQuade and others have
Teen mentioned as possible candidates
'3F the presidency. as stated before in
i2r the Office Is John IIeydler, the pres
cht secretary-treasurer In fact Heydler
virtually has been assured the office and
VII, be elected president without opposi-
ton.
II is no more than fitting that HeydlcI
should be promoted to the presidency, as
'9F Years he has given the league his
most conscientious service. Heydler did
No' actually seek the position, as he has
seen a number OF pres lentS come and
20 and has observed that the post was
not an enviable one. However. Nick
'olng served as Sc rotary during the
ears that Morgan Buckley. William
hubert and A. q. Mills held the presl-
'eHcy and upon his elevation to the
Ascu'ive's chair in 1885, served for
'"'"'y-scven consecutive years.
Seek TO Curb Ban.
In the American League there is a
,Iong move to curb Johnson. and the
movement has gone further than may
appear on the surface. About the only
los that Johnson can depend on with
any reasonable amount OF certainty are
"t'toit Cleveland and ST. Louis
II '"m'Skey really stands with the
NW'rlcan League insurgents he has the
1Ner 10 make Ban jump through the
.'pe> There was time when Johnson
,NH ,oUiskey had II out. and johnson
"th hld the rest Of the league behind
.In. However Johnson and the league
of view. ''' '''"'
ComIskey is as square as a dye. but
powerful relentless fighter. and John
IN u