The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-12
American League
Near DISRUPTION
Three Clubs Arrayed Against B. Johnson and Magnates Say
They Will Fight to a Finish-Upheaval in Baseball Con-
sidered Certain,
sidered Certain.

I
NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-THE amount
OF financial backing that can be pro-
duoed by the wealthy capitalists who
have been named as being behind the
new baseball league, that IL organized
VIII mean the disruption Of the Amer
lean league and a blow at organized
baseball, has got even those people
thinking hard who are pessimistic In re-
gard to the scheme.
Until such men of affairs named as
being interested in organizing the new
league are heard from there win be
many doubtful ones, but still the mere
rumor itself was enough to startle base
han fandom and to make everyone inter-
ested in the national game sit up and
take notice.
1t is not an unreasonable plan, nor
Is 1t visionary to think that men like
Harry Sinclair, the old magnate; Com
mander j. X. L.. Ross, Price Mckinney
and Edsel Ford might become inter-
ested In baseball and be willing and
possibly anxious to back a new league,
Baseball was never more financially
successful than during the past season,
Big money was made by most of the
major league clubs and none failed to
show q balance on the right side Of the
ledger. That naturally attracted cap.
itaIists and capital. The fact, too, that
the boom In baseball this year win he
permanent Is firmly impressed in the
minds of the club owners and the splen-
didly big attendance at football con-
tests this fall, even In this city, that Is
comparatively neutral to the college
game, and also the immense crowds that
We're attracted to all outdoor sports, Is
strong evidence Of this being al era
Of sports and that the popularity OF
them will be lasting This feeling has,
Of course, had a big Influence in induc-
ing investments In baseball.
Third League Talked
That the Federal league was not a
| success as an outlaw baseball o%rganisa-
tlon viii have little effect in restrain
Ing capitalists Of the wealth OF the
a~bove-named gentlemen in investing in
the new league. The Federal league
was formed under the most adverse
conditions and the hackers of that or
ganization did not represent anywhere
near the amount of money that Sinclair,
Ross, Mckinney and Ford do, These
gentlemen represent about a billion dol
lars.
The time is ripe for Q new league,
and that has been made possible by
the friction caused IN the American
league by President Johnson's dicta-
torial methods that have antagoni2ed
beyond all possibility OF a compromise
the club owners OF teams In the three
biggest and most important cities in
the organization, The clash was brought
to a climax on Wednesday by Johuson's
defiant attitude In refusing to sit on
any committee Of which Col. Jacob Rup-
pert might be a member, That was
the last straw to the owner of the
Yankees. and vastly strengthened the
element that is against Johnson and his
methods that have been a thorn, and
a very sharp one. to Rupert, Huston,
ComiskoN and Fragee,
AS Col. Rupert expressed Il, There
is no possible chance OF the present
owners of the New York American
hague club and Ban Johnson living in
the same league" Charley C9miskey,
owner of the White SoN, and Harry
Frazee, of the Red >SoA, expressed the
same view and just MS determinedly,
Nearing Disruption,
There is no doubt In the writer's
mind of the American league being
on the verge Of disruption, And thai
an, upheaval in baseball that will re-
suit in the organization Of a new bis
league along the lines mentioned seems
almost certain. but ] also believe that
the club owners OF the new organiza'
ton VIII see the benefits and necessity
Of organized baseball to fortify theil
Investment and to add strength ant
permanency TO the national game
The club that Coils. Rupert and Hus.
ton will own will without doubt play
on the Polo grounds next year. but after
that they win build n new bali park Of
their own. This will afford them time
enough TO complete their plans TO opel
their new home In h spring of 1921,
}, II may be that legal action will b.
taken that will prevent the proposed
new league from getting into organ
lied baseball for q yea or so, bu
eventually the American league viii h
- = l... hNF sIn .t4aNvatIN an
possibly the old parent baseball body
/ The National league, may be scriousl.
, handicapped in several cities,
~