New-York tribune., 1920-11-13
Record
Bid TO Lands 4
Master Stroke
BY ESeforn,ers
Loyal Five" Dared Not
Cpro-e Jurisi and Fight
to Purge Game l. Won
By W. !. Macbeth

When the Big Eleven of thc major
leagues decided to offer the highest
office OF organized baseball govern
mcnt TO Judge Kenesaw Mountain
Lands, Of Chicago. they won their fight
Tor Immediate reform. l. did not take
Ban johnson aad mis- dissenting five"
nor that element Of the MINOR leagues
which supported ne oligarchy long
10 realize -ney lad oeen deal. mas
ter stroke.
It IS doubtful II any other man could
50 vel nave championed a cause as
the Chicago 5ug.st ID b. simply con-
slaerlng proposition presented by
the Big Eleven. Those who rad ar
sued that baseball reded men Of ex-
perionce to guide rs destinies were
conicuudea by their own arguments
when confronted by The name OF Lam
DIS. Nor did II take long TO realize
that the judge was indorsed by public
opinion. which, after all. has the final
say in any national institution
Ferhaps no official in baseball to-
oaE mas better grasp OF the situation
tlat tHe 1arisV who sat II ~ the trial
Of the trust charge preferred against
organized baseball Is the Federal
League. A. that time Judge Lands
Was required 70 familiarlze himself
with every technicaltv of The game,
peculiar laws
Game Must Be Purged
The long trial. winch developed the
cross examinations of the various
members OF the National Commission
and the many club owners gave him
true insight from every possible
angle Beside I'll Of which the Judge
tor forty years has been an ardent
fan-one who has kept wei posted on
the history % the game.
No man can do more for organized
baseball than the chairman Of the
new board &c control. providing he
accepts the of7ce. And there IS much
to be- done. First. doubtful public
mus be resssured- TIE game must be
pDrged o. tne las- vestige Of dishon-
esty that may s,l remain. The very
-orm OF goNernmen. gnder wh ch base
ball VI. work must be also so in
proved IS = s-and the acid test o.
civil law. The cid forn~ Of govern
ment stands conrictel FER the tine o.
Nlola--rg the antitrust laws, though
me case has rot Ne- been decided hv
the highest tribunal os the Land.
DIS iea-ae scouts WI te. you that
me minor feds a~e absolutely barren
Of major league uros9ects. be NAV
l2g strength Of 1ne lower classes O.
tae minor leagues nas deteriorated 10
arr aiarnls0~ Carree. Tr5s can be at
tr.5utea directly to the fact that the
ma or ic1~ues no ioueer have the priv
-eee of drafting fnor league Dlayers.
The Class "A ard Class A OF ~~
MINOR leagues TWO Years ago were able
10 sNiag the minor laarQes 1910 an
atl-tNce of defiance that resulted in
mutual anr0gAtlou Of The peace agree
ment between the MAJOR and miner pro-
motors Naile draft privileges we're
den4ed the majors, tae higher minor
c.9bs retained said privilege on leagues
OF !oWor class l'ication. The bait TO the
little fellows VAS a big scale Of draf.
prices.
Minor Leagues Suffer
But drafting almost Immediately be-
came lost art Tie Class AA
ieasues. which rot tre frst crack ar
the major league d.scarts. were able
u present strong lnc-ups By watch
lng major T. -uests ior waivers. They
we're the clearing houses Of the dis
cards OF the National and American
leagues. The small minor leagues.
which had depended unoa the sale of
players To aake both ends meet. soon
found a closed market. and the closed
market was speedily reflected n the
d scoltent ,- tae 9W salaeie3 players
in the leagues cf low Classification.
Once the tass between the factions
n major ie4s2e baseball has been
agrange4 ami Il VIII te arranged
speedily - the general satisfaction &C
all, including fae potlc the greatest
work yet lefaalns. This $ the deter
miuaticn of @ new peace a-Ieomert be
tween The ma o. and minor leagues
which VIII o' m5-uas advantage geoCs,
but, best Of gll, advantageous also TO
Class "A cllos. which have prospered
handsorsly .. the expense Of less for
t-eate rivals. may very naturally be
expected 10 bhia ard kick and per
hars even .Afeaten But Fortunately
these are In d regi igible minority.