New-York tribune., 1919-08-14
.Johnson's Fate
To Be Decided
Here This Day
League Directors Grease
Skids for Gar, Who Must
Run the Legal Camut
By w. O. Mcclellan

The legal fypapcr into which Ban
Johnson, the crushed car of the Amer
lean League, stuck both impetuous feet
is becoming stickier and sticker every
day, and life has become just one in
junction after another for the har-
assed hermit of the Holland House
The board of directors of the Amer
lean League, composed Of Charles Com
lskey, Colonel Jacob Rupert and Harry
II. Frazee, meets at the Biltmore to-
day to grease the skids for a quick
and effective exit for the erstwhile
notwithstanding treasurer director
of the league. 1t is not known whether
or not Jim Dunn, of Cleveland, will
be present. Mr.. Dunn seems to be
suffering from pen paralysis at pres
ent, but the business Of the meeting
can go on without him, as three di-
rectors constitute a quorum.
The hermit of the Holland House
has not yet signified whether or not
he will be present at the inquiry into
his conduct of the various offices which
he has been holding. He preserves
the same dignitied silence that he pre-
served when he left the Holland ouse,
disguised, by means of the dumb waiter
and had himself poured into the Twen-
tieth Century Limited. Mr.. Johnson
preserves his dignity upon all occa-
SONS. lie can sprint with excessive
dignity ahead of a subpoena server
Must Use Own Money
If the late car wants to fight the
Mays case in the courts, he probably
Will have to use his own money. On
Tuesday Johnson was served with al
q fraI !,
any part Of the sinking fund of the
American League for or in defence of
any of the injunction proceedings now
pending. The czar IS ordered to ap-
pear before the Supreme Court, Part I,
tomorrow to show cause why this in
junction should not be made perma-
nent. This is called for 1915 O'Clock
IN the morning.
At II o'clock Johnson is to appear
before Attorney George J. Gillespie,
referee appointed by the court Then
johnson will be examined as to the
nature and extent of his interest in the
Cleveland club and the nature and ex-
tent Of the clubs Indebtedness to him.
Also he will be questioned as to the
cause of his enmity toward Harry
Frazee, owner of the Red Sox, and as
to the purported suspension of Carl
Mays, without notification being served
on the player.
From the scope of the examination
proposed ii would seem that the Board
OF Directors Of the American League
is ready to bare every skeleton in the
American League closet, with the view
of cleaning up the league once and for
all. The order Of this inquiry was
granted on affidavits furnished by
Charles Comiskey, of the White Sox;
Colonels. Rupert and Huston, of the
Yankees, and Charles H. Tuttle OF the
law firm Of Davies, Auerbach & Cor
nell. The order for the inquisition be-
fore the referee was signed by Justice
Richard p. Lydon, Of the Supreme
Court.
Fight TO the Finish
In all other battles the Czar had ac-
cess to the sinking fund, and had am
pie legal talent at his disposal. This
time it is the league directors against
the car personally, not as an official,
and the Gar must protect himself in
the legal clinches and in the break
aways.
While Charles Comiskey was limiting
at compromise few days ago, it looks
like war to the finish now. with the in
eVltablc cleaning out Of the Amer rican
League. The rule or ruin policy of the
Car seems mighty close to its finish.
IN the meantime, the old plan for a
new head for the National Commission
is being discussed. Johnson's power
is through, and O. B. magnates are
considering new commission, the
head Of which will be somebody who
has not been associated with baseball
polltlcs. The finish Of the Car will
accelerate the plan to reorganize the
commission and all its works.