The sun., 1918-12-14
HEYDLER WILL VOTE
AGAINST HERMANN
New Head Of National League
SAYS He Will Fight for One
Man Commission.
By FREDERICK G. LIEB.

ny FREDERICK g. LIEB.
pesp!ts the fact that the American
1sarie at It's annual meeting In Chicago
nm Thursday rendered a vote Of conf
a,nce TO August Hermann as chairman
a, the National Commission the Ma
tonal League is as firm as ever that the
cncnnatl club owner must quit as the
Rad Of baseball.
Al its annual meeting here last
Wednesday the National League asked
the American League to refer all such
o,est,ons as length OF schedule. time for
s.or,ing the 1919 season. player limits
and the makeup of the National Com
mission to Joint meeting of the two
lsaEues or joint meeting OF committees
a Tie two leagues. The answer OF the
American League was to vote for
schedule OF 40 games. decide to open
May I, adopt a player limit Of twenty
one and vote in favor OF August Herr.
mann as chairman OF the National Com
mission.
John A. Heyder, the new president of
the National League. promptly took up
the def. "As to the first three points
there IL little likelihood OF any differ
ence arising between u.s." said Heydler,
bit as to the National Commission II Is
different The National League cannot
aE-ee 70 go along with the American
League. There Is no use in trying to
take any other view Of It.
Favors New system.
The National League Is firmly con-
vIrced Of the necessity Of new system
OF government for baseball The senti-
ment in the National League is in favor
o. n neutral head OF the National Com
mission. a national figure who under
stands the game but has no financial
interests In baseball. might add that
the National League has a strong pref
ereuce for one man National Com
mission.
'srhe league has taken its stand for
new commission despite the admiration
L has for Mr.. Hermann. He has
proved a most capable head, and during
his long term at the head OF the COM
mission has solved many perplexed
questions and has earned a reputation
for integrity and fairness. We also APP
prec!ate the fact that the American
League has given q fellow National
League vote of confidence.
But that does not alter the main
issue. The National League does not
want two members on the commission
To persons who do not know baseball
or understand It's government the thing
looks negotiable and we want to rem
edy that
Wants to Prevent Criticism.
when there has been an important
case at Issue and where the two league
presidents disagreed Mr. Hermann has
f"lt it his duty to decide in favor OF the
NATIONAL League. Forgetting times
when hermann decided in favor Of the
American League, his decisions raised
The cry OF Another one of those National
l@acsie decisions
The National League does not want
such conditions to come UP in the future.
This is 4 reconstruction period and the
league believes new neutral National
Commission or Commissioner Is for the
best Interests Of the sport. that Il means
less friction in baseball and meets with
the strong support OF the baseball loving
public"
Asked whether the National League
had instructed him TO cast his vote
against the reelection OF Hermann ms
chairman Of the National Commission at
the annual meeting OF the commission
On January 6. 1919, Heydler replied in
had been discussed informally at the
league meeting. But that is the senti-
ment Of the league" added Heydler.
When the question was put to Heyd-
Ter as 10 what would be the attitude OF
the National League toward Hermann
IN the event that he retired from the
presidency Of the Cincinnati club, he
said he could not discuss that angle of
It at this time.
Confirms "sun's" story.
TIN interview printed with President
Heydler Is further Endorsement of the
story printed in last Mondays SUN that
The CAUCUS meeting OF tho National
League held last Sunday at the Bit
more voted unanimously for the
elimination OF August Hermann as the
commission head.
h@ydler expressed pleasure that an
American League committee would
meet with National League commit
n"' IN this city January 10. Much
goa can come from it," said Heydler,
trough We should have preferred Il
pror to the commission meeting on
January 6"
Discussing the date selected by the
american League TO start its 1919
season. length of season and the new
payer limit Heydler said: "A num-
Ger OF our club owners are strongly in
.l'o7 OF the $40 game schedule They
nSure II will answer a demand from
me public and also give the club n
nhseT time in which TO get back players
VINO are in the service.
mere has been agitation for a later
sa't for some time and ! think 1919
No1'd he good year to try such an
experiment. When the American League
'uu'ed The player limit to twenty-one
!. practically made their teams of the
sdme strength as ours. as our limit Is
twenty-five players We had II at
Wrhty-one a few years ago, but adj
'"nced II 10 twenty-five in 1917"
=, Ferlaps the most significant phase OF
,l' hermann situation Is that the
american League il fighting TO place
wv national League men on the Ma ,
NI Commission against the strong |
WS'i'asnrc Of the National League. II
''''n' TO be powerful argument for the !
sl'I'nrni which frequently has been
s"u" mat Hermann strongly is swayed
ding uoe" MS o'u-
49,. r'"Ss there is change Of View
sO.,l- between now and next January
,ne annual meeting of the commission !
s lIt-,y 70 result In a deadlock between
'oNn'nn and Heydlcr II IL said. how |
~ ''I' Unit Hermann will withdraw when |
,npArent 10 him that n rival league |
~ nRhhng to keep him In power.
I'FoHr said the National League |
80" u" candidate 70 serve az one man |
.,.hIHi's'oner, deeming II advisable TO |
,,.hN" the government OF baseball be- |
N'e gong after any big man.
/