Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-11

New York, Dec. l0.-American
league base ball club owners, fanked
by a squad of attorneys, battled for
some hours Wednesday in their an
nual meeting and when the session
ended President B. B. Johnson was
surrounded by a new board of di-
rectors favorable to his policies.
The insurgent clubs were outvoted
on every proposition, but went down
fighting and serving summonses
which promise to carry the dis
puted points into court, where final
decision may not be reached for
months.
Defeat Resolution.
A resolution to elect new presi-
dent in place of Johnson was de-
feated, 5 to 3. The new board Of
directors, consisting of Frank Navin,
Detroit; Ben Minor, Washington;
Thomas Shibe. Philadelphia, and P.
D. Ball of St. Louis, was elected by
the same vote and Navin selected as
vice president. the Cleveland, S.
Louis, Philadelphia, Washington aud.
Detroit clubs voting in the afhrma-
tive and the Boston, Chicago and
New York clubs against. A resolu-
ton to play a schedule of l54 games
in 1920 was virtually all the base ball
business transacted from the stand
point of the average follower of the
game.
The session opened with a meet
ing of the old board of directors.
consisting of Rupert, New York;
Dunn, Cleveland; Comiskey, Chi
cago, and Frazee, Boston, with
Johnson present as league executive.
Trouble developed Immediately over
the selection of chairman and
Johnson and Dunn left the confer
ence. Comiskey was then named to
preside, although word was sent to
Johnson that if he would return to
the meeting he could take the chair,
but he refused.
Charges Against Johnson.
Those members present then pro-
ceeded to adopt number of resolu-
tons which charged Johnson with
exceeding his duties as an empioye
of the league.
The meeting of the league as
whole followed Immediately and
during the first half hour the, con-
ference was in such an uproar that
the commotion was plainly audible
in the hotel corridors adjoining the
meeting rooms, while from adjacent
quarters lawyers and subpoena
servers came and went like mes
sengers from staff headquarters dur
ing battle.
An "Ominous Calm"
The confusion was followed by
what one of the outer congregation
termed as "ominous calm and
when the session finally ended,
President Johnson was one of the
first to leave and he was quickly
followed by majority of his sup
porters. The so-called insurgents"
remained for further consultation
with their attorneys. They refused
to make any general statement
other than to say that the fight
would be continued and that Presl-
dent Johnson had been served with
summons and in three new legal &C
tons. While no authoritative out
line Of these actions could be gained
it was understood that they will in
volve matters referring to the legall-
ty of Johnson's long term contract,
damages to the New York club and
demand for legal fees in connection
with special investigation regard
ing in American league telegraph
service contract.
During the meeting Connie Mack;
of the Philadelphia club moved
that resolution be adopted pro-
viding for a fine of $1,000 tor any
club which tempered with any. play,
err. the property of another club OF
the league. This proposition was
tabled for year.
A Matter of Record.
The resolutions adopted by the
outgoing board of directors referred
generally to the Carl Mays case,
the cause of the split in the league.
ranks and the duties and actions OF
Johnson as president. They were
IL in number, adopted that they
might become matter of record
for future action in or out OF court:
In part they charge an invasion OF
the powers Of the board Of directors,
wrongful use of umpires' lnforma-
ton. ignoring of directors resolu-
t;ons. refusal to aid in the selection
of new chairman of the national
commission; violation of the con-
ditions of his employment by the
league and declaring his contract
OF 1910, calling for a salary of $50
900 per year for 20 years as presi,,
dent of the league, a violation OF
the constitution and ordering that