The sun., 1919-08-15
JOHNSON'S RULINGS
REVERSED BY BOARD
Quorum Of Directors Lift
Mays's Suspension-Ask Ban
for Financial Statement.
ny CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

Unless the baseball throne on which
Ban Johnson has reigned in regal dig
nifty for nearly a score Of years has an
exceedingly solid foundation 1t must
have rocked Overwhelmingly yesterday af-
ternoon during the deliberations of a
majority Of the members Of the board OF
directors of the American League at the
case of lese majestic has not been in evil
| derce since the day Bill Tell, the well
known archery expert, refused to dof
his derby to the tyrant Gessler..
Not only did the directors reverse
Jchnson's action in suspending Carl
Mays. the pitcher, but they served no.
tlce on the president of the league that
he must not suspend any other players
without first giving them a fair hearing,
and thereby politely informed the league
leader that czarism no longer can be
tolerated
Having declared themselves in regard
to the Mays case, the directors then
served notice on President johnson that
he must at once submit to them a COM
plete statement as to his stewardship Of
the finances of the league.
The board OF directors did all these
things in the face of a solemn typewrit-
ten warning from President johnson
that they had no right to do them.
Therefore, when President johnson was
apprised OF the action of the board Of
directors there Is reason to believe that
his throne tottered, his sceptre fell from
his hand and his crown tilted.
Comiskey I'm Charge.
The members of the board Of directors
lxn.1,x (Nl.u A .ta
key. president Of the Chicago club II,
II. Frazee. president Of the Boston club,
and Jacob Rupert. president of the New
York club. James Dunn, president OF
the Cleveland club. and Ban johnson,
president of the league, were invited to
attend but failed to appear. Charles
Comlskey was made chairman of the
meeting. and after a short discussion
the following resolutions were adopted :
ReSolued, That such alleged sus-
pension was without authority and
void and against the best interests
and detrimental to the general well
fare of baseball. and that said Mays
remains In good standing under the
constitution and rules and regulations
OF the league as a player of the New
York American League baseball club;
and
|
bidden hereafter to take any similar
action with regard to any other player
or the American League without hear
ing and an opportunity to be heard
given to the player and the club in
volved for any alleged offence: and
Resolved, That the pI esident of the
league forthwith submit to Charles
| A. Comiskey, chairman, for the ac-
count OF the board OF directors of the
league, full and complete statement
or the amounts from time to time
accumulated. disposed OF, and now
| held as cash or investments in the
sinking fund referred to in section
| OF the constitution, and the place
or places of deposit of such sinking
FUND, and to whose credit deposited,
giving In detail all such information
covering the sources thereof during
| the past two years.
/ -- ResofUed, That copy of these
minutes be forwarded TO the presi-
dent and that the board of direc-
! tors adjourn subject tor call OF the
| chairman. Charles A. .Comiskey, for
| the purpose Of receiving the informa-
| ton required of Mr. johnson, and
| that they thereupon, or on failure of
said johnson TO supply the informa-
ton. take such action in the premises
as may be appropriate.