The Washington herald., 1919-09-04

Gri1s on PAN
New York. Sept. S.-On the eve
OF the great legal battle between
Pan Johnson and his five American
League admirers. on the one hand.
and the majority OF the American
Leagues board OF directors, on the
other. In this city tomorrow, both
sides have seen Mt to express un-
qualified confidence as to the issue
in the lists and the justice Of the
respective causes for which a lance
aud maybe a head or two will be
broken
Col. T. L Huston. half owner Of
the Yankees and the Foch of the
revolutionary strategy. came back
for the first time publicly at John
son and his supporters last night
In a manner to explain the reason
for loyalty to Big Ban in certain
quarters.
,''You have heard the old adage
OF why some folks have to stick
together" said the colonel. 1T
isn't always on the principle OF dis
cipline-
1T Is not so long ago that Clark
Griffith, Of Washington. was camp
ing on our doorstep for leniency
for Shortstop Doc Lavan. Lavan,
the property Of the Washington
club. absolutely refused to fulfill
his contractuaI obligations and re-
port to GFifTith's club. He issued
an ultimatum that he would play
in ST. Louis and nowhere else.
Layan Case Again.
.rGrimth requested the other clubs
Of the American League to waive on
he m .
not lose out entirely OF so valuable 4
PLAYER. And when waivers were
finally granted, after due reflection
upon the fact that Washington fran
cIsl status called for consideration,
L.van was sold TO the st. Louis Ma
tIonal League club. No attempt was
made to discipline him
This was not the first time"
Colonel Huston continued, that the
name of Lavan was associated in a
baseball case that may have called
for disci oIine. We all remember a
little epis ode OF two years ago, when
players Layan and Pratt. OF the St.
Louis Anne ricsn League club, entered
suit against President Phil Ball for
alleged slander. Mr.. Ball was quoted
In a St Louis paper as saying his
players were laying down on him.
Il am not surprised a. Clark Grr-
nth supporting Ban Johnson in his
unwsrranted and unusual action in
the Mays case" declared Mr.. Frazee,
"as I have had some previous expert
ence with Mr. Griffith where Johnson
was concerned.
Loan Griffs Money.
Griffith continued FraZse. may
perhaps think il the best policy 10
adopt his present attitude. Every
American League club was repre-
sented by its president at the an
HuaI meeting in Chicago in December
OF 1917 when the Washington club iof
which Grifith IS part owner request
ed the loan OF 5000 from the Amer
lean League II was explained the
reason was furnished by certain OBJ
legations il was desirable to take up
This loan was voted on by the
American League club Owners-the
Washington club withdrawing while
the poll was being nade-and grant
ed on condition that the Washington
ofneers and directors individually and
severally indorss the notes and the
American Leagues board OF directors
the checks involved. Nothing further
was explained b. Mr.. Johnson or
the officials of the Washington club.
The entire fact Of the matter. 50
far as I can understand or see it, is
that several OF the clubs that are
supporting Ban Johnson In his pros
ent ridiculous position do so because
they have proved themselves SO weak
IN many UavE"