New-York tribune., 1919-09-03

u
which will begin in this city to-morr
unqualified confidence as to the iss,
respective causes for which a lance al
Up in the "revolutionary" headquar-
ters at the Hotel Biltmore, where
bombs are in the making for the over
throw of the Czar and his retinue,
little has been said as the sheaves of
af'idavits were assembled. But. with
the work practically completed last
night, the leaders gave pause to an
ewer certain assertions and innuen-
does of the royalsts that have drifted
into the metropolis in the form of Of
iicial statements on the part Of the
sturdy supporters of President Ban
johnson of the American League.
These interviews, which the revolu-
tionaries regard as propaganda of the
enemy for intimidation purposes, init
mate that five of the clubs are re-
solved to stand side by side with
johnson against New York, Chicago
and Boston to the bitter end regard
less of the result of the legal clash
about to be precipitated in the local
courts. All hark back to the cry that
discipline must be maintained at all
hazards.
Comes Back at Johnson
the Yankees and the Foch of the revo-
lutionary strategy, came back for tho
first time publicly at Johnson and his
supporters last night in 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. at isn't always on
the principle of discipline.
al should know something of the
value of discipline. No one appreciates
its virtues more. But there is fine
drawn line between discipline and the
nsurpation Of power
"Let Mr.. Johnson's friends and ad-
visers explain away the laxity of dis
cipline or even order in the administra-
ton of the American League executive
In regard to certain affairs and trans
actions of the clubs now calling to
high heaven of the sanctity of power.
at is not so long ago that Clark
Griffith, of Washington, was camping
on our doorstep for leniency for Short
stop Doc Lavan. Lavan, the property
fused to fulfill his contractual obiga-
tions and report to Griffiths club He
issued an ultlmatum that he would
play in St. Louis and nowhere else
"Griffith requested the other clubs
Of the American League to waive on
Lavans services. so that he might not
lose out entirely on so valuable a
player. And when waivers were finally
granted, after due reflection upon the
fact that Washington's financial status
called for consideration, Lavan was
sold to the st. Louis National League
club. No attempt was made to dis
cpline him.
Recalls Suit Against Ball
"This was not the first time" Colonel
Huston continued. that the name of
Lavan was associated in baseball
case that may have called for disc p-
line. We all remember a little episode
Of two years ago, when players Lavan
and Pratt, of the st. Louis American
League club, entered suit against
President Phil Bail for alleged sander.
Mr.. Ball was quoted in st. Louis
paper as saying his players were lay
ing down on him
Gwen while this suit was pending
the players in question were being paid
by and were working for Mr.. Ball.
They played to the end of the season
and drew salary. And, what is, more,
someone settled with them both out Of
court. There was no show of d cipline
in this case, though perhaps the dis
cipline properly belonged to the party
that acknowledged the error.
81 wish to call attention to another
reported to me by others, for when it
happened | was in France. 1t was the
case of a certain loan made at the an
nual meeting in Chicago, in Decembe
Of 1917, by the American League to the
Washington club. But here's Frazce;
he was present; he can tell you bet
ter"
Harry Fl. Frazee, president of the
Boston Red Sox, who entered at the
moment, appeared plainly provoked
when his attention was called to an in
terview on the part of Clark Griffith,
supporting Ban Johnson and character
izing as an insult the request of the
board of directors of the American
League for an accounting Of the
leagues funds handled by MIR. Johnson.
81 am not surprised at Clark Griffith
supporting Ban Johnson in his unwar-
ranted and unusual action in the Mays
case" declared MIR. Frazce, "as I have
had some previous experience with Mr..
Griffith where Johnson was concerned
Frazce Takes Hand
"At Cleveland in July, 1918, when
Mr.. Griffith was representing the Wash
ingtOn club at a special meeting of the
American League, c. A. Comshey, of
Chicago, Mr.. Griffith and myself de-
cided a statement should be given to
the press along certain lines that we
mad discussed. 1hlS was called tor, we
believed, by statement in the Cleve-
land papers from Mr.. Johnson criti-
clsing the refusal of certain American
League clubs to obey an arbitrary order
to lock up the parks because of the war
conditions.
"In the presence of Mr. Griffith that
evening | and five reputable newspaper
men drew up statement to The AS
sociated Press relative to Mr.. Johnson
which Mr.. Griffith heartily supported
When asked by the newspaper men
present whether these were his views
Gas we'll as mine) he replied: Yes
and if you want to, so far as | am con-
cerned you can make it as strong as
you like-that fellow is certainly
through.
Later Griffith denied having had
any connection with the story and
would not stand sponsor for the same
in any way. And so long as Mr.. Grif-