New-York tribune., 1919-12-12

odi. Johnson at the Holland House
most Of the day, apparently. At leas.
every time newspaper men called al
that campaign headquarters the news
in an important conference and could
not possibly be interviewed "for the
present" it was announced that Mr.
Johnson and the Western delegates
favoring him would leave town early
last night.
The New York club, however, which
has brought three new actions against
Mr.. johnson, service of which was made
at the termination of the first sitting
of the annual American League meet
ing, have served official notice on him
that it. refuses to recognize him in any
official capacity.
The following telegram was sent botf
to Mr.. Johnson at the Holland Hous
and to the American League headquar
ters in the Fisher Building, Chicago:
Telegram to Johnson
"1n view of your repeated viola
tiens Of the constitution of the
league and your fiduciary obligations,
including your actions to injure and
punish the New York club, and in
view of yesterdays action of the
board of directors adverse to your
claims of contract with the American
League, and in view of yesterdays
refusal of the American League to
ciSct a president, secretary and treas
urer. the New York club regards as
abrogated, terminated and expired
any contract of employment or, for
compensation which you claim to
you and the league, and forbids the
of norton Nf fbo funAc nf
the league in which it is interested
In payment of any compensation to
you under any such contract.
Eve add that your claim Of the
existence Of any such alleged con-
tract is erroneous"
While Mr.. Johnson and his asso-
ciates had nothing to present for pub
lication and professed to a lack OF
knowledge as to whether Mr.. John.
son would appeal from Justice Rober;
Wagnar's decision in the Mays in
junction it is believed that no at
tempt was made to appeal the de-
cision. Yesterday was the last day
OF grace for filing an appeal.
The revolutionary wing, which was
flattened out by the steam roller pro-
cess III the first skirmish at the an
nYal meeting, was anything but secre-
tive. Colonel 7. l.. Huston and Harry
Il. Frazee for the first time talked
freely of the attempted peace con-
ference with Frank j. Navin, of the
Detroit club, at the Engineers Club
Sunday afternoon. They offered this
story, they intimated, as a rebuttal Of
the contention of the Johnson faction
that an opportunity for a real peace
conference had been ruined by the ar
rival of process servers at the annual
I'VE are ready to tell the inside
facts and to swear to them if need be
to prove that the majority members
of the board Of directors were sincere
and had made certain fair and bona
iide proposals for peace in the hest
of faith.'
Terms of Peace
1t was first suggested by the "in.
surgents" that the board of directors
for 1920 should consist of Messrs
Comiskey, Rupert, Mack and Navin
This would provide two experienced
baseball men Connie Mack and the
Old Roman) and two successful busi
ness men (Ruppert and Navin).
Johnson was to serve as ex offict
members of the board of directors
without the power OF vote
Mr.. Navin was to agree not to at
tend any meeting of the league wher
requested not to do so by Messrs
Comiskey, Rupert and Frazee, thereby
preventing a quorum. The idea of this
OF course, was to establish a balance OF
power, so as to safeguard both side.
against 'steam roller" processes
A league meeting was to be held a!
called by the board of directors t.
transact only routine business and thel
to adjourn. After adjournment an in
formal meeting was to be held by mem
bers of the league, at which discussion
1t would be attempted to effect som,
sort OF compromise. At this point Mr.
Navln is reported to have asked:
VIII you agree to grant immunit!
New York for your meeting?"
Eve will" Huston is reported t
have replied, providing you brin
them back and they have agreed to thi
tentative proposition"
The epresentatlves then proceede
to discuss the proposed platform of com
promise at greater length. One of tn
tentative agreements was that tn
rulings of the board of directors wer
to be recognized and the Mays case t
be considered settled and dismissed.
At this meeting Mr.. Navn, who ha
protested the award of third -plac
money to the Yankees, suggested tha
the sum involved be split up anon
the New York and Detroit player
equally. Huston and Frazee declare
they refused this suggestion. Late
when the result Of the conference wa
telephoned to c. A. Comiskey in CHI
cago, the Old Roman heartily approve
or the refusal, as. in his opinion, tn
suggestion might have been a trap t
rcpudlate the actions of the board 9
directors at their special meeting whic
awarded third place money to tn
Yankees.
Another clause of the tentativ
agreement would have obliged Johnso
TO support any candidate the maiorit
members of the American League nigh
endorse for the craftsmanship of tn
rational commission. 1t was felt this
Jonnson's alleged failure to cooperat
with the National League in naming
successor to Mr.. Hermann had devc,
oped permanent deadlock
According to Huston and Frazee. tn
minority members of the board Of di
rectors believed when the five clu
owners accompanied Mr.. johnson Eas
1t was with the intention of effectin
the terms of the tentative agreement
But preliminary negotiations soon afte
their arrival disclosed the fact tina
his associates were not inclined to M,
Navin's terms. Failing in this pro
gram, the majority of the old director
decided upon the court action, sine
begun. to carry the issue before judg
a.l jury.
Vice President Manager John j. Nc
Graw of the Giants will leave to-da,