Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-10
Prepared to
Give Battle,
Declares Ban
American League President
Says Clubs Will Be Estab-
lished in Chicago, Boston
And New York.

Kansas City, Mo, Nov. 9.-War tc
finish was declared here today BY
President B. B. Johnson of th'
American league and his five loyal
club owners in the fight against the
formation of new l2-club league.
President Johnson declared that
clubs would be established in Chi
cago, Boston and New, York next
season to take the places of the clubs
that have joined the new National
league"
"We are prepared to give them
all of the battle they want" Presi-
dent 3 Johnson declared. THE
American league is going about its
business and will have clubs in the
eight cities which have composed
its circuit for years. We will not
back up for second.
War is Best Cleanser.
"War, in my judgment. is the best
cleanser. | am for Il as | believe
it will clean up base ball like It
cleans up everything else. What the
game really needs is to be cleansed
Of some of its desirable club own
ers, who have been detriment be-
cause they openly allowed gambling
IN their base ball parks.
TThc National league never had
any stomach for a fight. 1t is an i'm
possible organization" he continued.
It's politics ruined the old national
commission because John X. Tener,
the former league president, could
not get along with Chairman Herr
mann of the commission.
THE five clubs in the American
league which remained with me are
the only decent element in the
major leagues. They have fought
with me to stamp out the gambling
evil. | got no assistance whatever
from the Others"
Was to Address Meeting.
President Johnson was to address
the minor league officials this after
noon. Ben Shibe and Connie Mack
of the Philadelphia club, Clark Grit
fifth of Washington, Bob Quinn, vice
president of the St. Louis club; !;
Frank Navin of Detroit and Richard
Lane, secretary of the Cleveland
= club, were in the party with the
American league executive.
George w. Miller of Chicago, at
torney for the American league, de-
clared today that the National
league and the three American
league clubs which withdrew went
into the meeting in Chicago yester-
day determined not to, treat with
the majority members of the Amer
ican league on any basis but the
L3sker plan. ...-
u talked with the eleven club
owners for two hours" Attorney
Miller said. Il suggested that we
not decide at that time> whether we
reject or accept the Lasker plan.
Our club owners were opposed to
the Lasker plan for this reasor-by
polling the votes of the 10 major
league club owners the minority of
The American league could upset the
desires of the majority. I suggested
that we get together. 1t was i'm
possible"
New League Coke"
Bob Quinn, personal representa-
tive of Phil Ball of the St. Louis
Americans, said "a 12-club league
is a joke. 1t can't be done"
/. Branch Hickey. vice president of
the St. Louis Nationals, said "a
base ball war would be ill-advised.
sincerely hope matters can be ad-
lusted to the satisfaction of both
sides"
The invasion of the major leaeue
officials overshadowed the affairs of
the minor leaguers, but they went
into convention determined to op-
pose adoption of the Lasker plan
for base ball reorganization.
M. II. Sexton. president of the Ma
tional Association of Minor leagues,
Joined with the minor league officials,
who expressed opposition to adop-
ton of the Lasker plan. He said
he was confident the minor leaguers
would steer clear" of the major
league political situation.
Should Select Experienced Men.
~ is\ absurd he declared, "to
think there are no base ball men
fitted to take charge of the sport,
and that we must seek men outside
the fold to govern this sport. We
have men who have spent 20 years in
the game and are fully capable to
serve on the new National commits
sion. Why should we select men
who are unfamiliar with the inside
workings of base ball?
II feel sure tiat the minors will
vote, to stay clear of the dispute
which threatens to disrupt the ma
jors. We have got along pretty we'll,
and until there is harmony within
the ranks of the majors | do not
think we should take sides.
just because few players were
found dishonest is no reason why
The management of base ball should
be judged dishonest. 1t is ridiculous
to think that we should be so in
capable Of handling our own affairs
that we should need the assistance of
Judge Lands, General Wood and
others mentioned for appointment to