New-York tribune., 1918-11-06
none Jugglers of Baseball
figuring on New Head of
National League
Nv W. J. Macbeth

q .he most pof"'"N
..ms league. Whenever the boys who
" ~. dome for the famished fans lack
.se @ necessary essentials they fall hack
~. skeleton in the closet of the
sa,snt major organization.
r.o little matter of executive has
-. hsen the shame OF the parent
.r.r,xation of professional baseball.
!, has caused most Of the bitter fights
.ra wrangles that have divided the
.,uh presidents of the association and
to disturbed aud at times even dis
srsced the political face of the sport.
n,..snsion, petty jealousy and feud for
~, years have undermined the sta
,u;., of the older major organization.
Ill. Il served as water to the wheel
=. the Ban Johnson circuit.
o,s familiar with its politics can
,,rs hut pity--and little of that-for
~. National League. One has little
o,t, for ingratitude. and the National
,..sue. yesr after year. has proven
,;ts,If ungrateful. Again it has before
!. Al the approaching annual meeting
~ i; pecember sn opportunity to be most
ungrsteful OF sli.
Job Thrust Upon Him
Yohn A. Heydler. one Of the shrewd
..t shIest. smartest and most capable
eSscntiyes @ the National League has
snown. is acting "a president of that
arcanization. He did not solicit the
;o5 II was forced upon him through
.be resignation Of John Kinley Tener.
sy.Coyernor. His administration has
bsen most wise and judicious.
The sober, cool-headed counsels of
rohn Heydler during the threatened
strike of players during the 's..t
worlds series in Boston saved the face
of the sport when his maudlin assocl-
atss of the National Commission had
cas-. discretion to the four winds OF
heaven. It was not the first time John
Heydler had done baseball and the
National League great service.
For ten years Heydler has been, II
roi the chief executive, at least the
sreat power behind the National League
throne. He steered the frail bark for
al least a wear before the unfortunate
tragedy befelI Harry c. Pulliam. When
Tom lynch came in, green as grass TO
baseball politics, Heydler pointed out
the right path. As much may be said,
too. Of his association with John X.
Tener who needed timely help and as
sistance until he had familiarized HIM
self with the ropes.
II is intimated by certain critics that
1ohn A. Heydler perfers to sidestep the
presidency of the National League.
None can blame him for his good sense
il the Office in the future is to carry
TO more authority than it has in the
past John K. Tener quit in disgust,
because his colleagues would not back
lin in 4 stard for right and Justice
against the population OF the National
League agreement in the famous Scott
Perry embroglio between the Phila-
delphia Athletics and the Boston
Braves.
But if the National League is going
TO amount TO something in that recon
ssruction which is bound to follow the
present war, thtn it must vest the
chair with sore fashion of dignity and
authority, as the American League has
so wisely done. So long rs it's presi-
dent is a lackey for eight vacillating
and supine presidents, SO long will the
National League play the man Friday
to its robust rival.
Handcuffed Strong Man
In naming such strong man of
tonal League thought it had cured its
ills and cast off its swaddling clothes.
And then it proceeded TO handcuH and
throttle its strong man.
If no remedy IN administrative poll
ces are to ensue, then John A. Heydler
is wise indeed TO let we'll enough alone.
But If the National League is to have
q real president and not an orderly,
then John a. Heydler, through long
years of patriotic service, has earned
the right to such distinction.
William II. Taft, Branch Hickey and
all the other slleged candidates for
the presidency might develop into ex-
cellent executives after H. few courses
IN the Heydler school. But in Heydler
The National League has handmade
President ready for delivery. He is
the only man big enough who is deserv-
Ing Of the job.
Meanwhile the first move toward
possible baseball reorganization awaits
the approaching annual minor leagues
conclaVe at Peoria, Ill.
With very few exceptions the minors
which opened the season q year ago
threw up the sponge before the end OF
me extensive campaigns planned. One
o. the few striking exceptions was the
New International League. Even the
: supposedly jmpregnable American As
sociation of A. A. class quit under
hhancla pressure
The minor leagues, naturally. were
a., M sooner and harder than the major
-Ahe brush, talent is younger than sea
soned timber, and so the draft made
asavvy inroads into the playing strength
Of the little fellows.