New-York tribune., 1920-11-12

mart of the eleven club owners who
Id 10 60 to the extent of threatening
combine for a new twelve-club league
"a bring Ban Johnson and his "loyar
I've clubs to their senses This fact
wss emphasized again yesterday by the
trsined on the Twentieth Century Linn
tied. The party included Colonel
Jscob Rupert, president of the Yam
sees; Charles a. Stoneham president,
and John J. McGraw. vice pres dent OF
-. Giants, ard Harry II. Frazee, presi-
dent Of the Boston Red Sox.
Before this quartet would consent to
double back to the Windy City the
strongest assurances had to be given
he their associates and spokesmen re-
naming in Chicago that the proposed
conference was something more than
the stories from the Middle West have
advertised it, Stories from Chicago
jntimated the conference bat pre-
llminary skirmisn, with nothing guar
snteed BY either side, which is far
from the case if those responsi Die for
calling the three club owners Yves.
again have stated the facts.
Minors Fail Loyal" Five
To put it most generously. there has
been a complete backdown and actual
surrender to the big eleven by Mr.
Johnson and his "loyal' five This
backdown came when the Johnsonian
influence failed to realign the forces
Of minor league baseball behind The
"oyal' FIVE. 4 coup was planned to
have Secretary John II. Farrell ditched
as secretary Of the National Associa-
ton When this coup failed and the
minor leagues announced 8 policy ,f
strict neutrality in the fight amons
the major league club owners. the
hope OF the ".oya' five went a-glim-
merng.
Johnson and his associates never
were serious in their threats TO put
teams in New York, Chicago and Bos
ton, al Of which would have had two
clubs already firmly established in the
proposed tWe.Ve-ciub league. Regard
less O. financial backing necessary to
swing sUcr g eanuc proposition, it
would have aoen a physical imposs.-
bity to build In time Tor next season
But had the Johnson party been able
to SWING tic minor leagues it would
have been possible to reconstruct some
sort of circuit hy drafting three Of
the best minor league cities av&ilabse
while the inevitable legal fight was
made n the courts TO establish title
10 players Of the three dcserting Amer
can League clubs.
According to the Nsde story that
has leaAea out OF Chicago. but which
would not be confirmed hv any one Of
the G.ar' Yankee or Rcd Sox club
owners, the solid front Of the "loyal'
five cruml cd the moment the minors
declared neutrality and watcnfel
waiting. The scheme 70 put q repre-
sentative the tWclve-club league I'm
Detroit was toe much for Frank Nagin's
nerves. lie declared openly he did not
propose 70 lose his money in war and
would .ocs up his bail park first.
Griffith and the Washington club also
took 70 the tall timbers, il is SAID.
while Philip de Catcsov Rail. the bel
lgerenr 81. Loui-an. found now on
MS feet. i was then the story goes.
the loy4l fave made oVertures which
resulted IN the b g psrlcy to-day.
Agree to Accep; Lands
It was stated plainly over the tee
phone aF .ar.' associates before
Nessrs. Staaeram. Rupert and Frazee
left for Chicago. that the Johnson
SIDE had pledged themselves not only
70 ratty the se.octioa OF Judge X. NJ.
Lands as head Of Inc board Of control.
nut So u accept the verdict Of
majority vote ln future ON all inter
esgUe Issues r. this is so. then i'm
me inte'e IS 0f peace Ban johnson and
his old guard have &'rcadv surrendered
to every rr ~c.nle for which tho big
eleven made the fight In the dist place.
ahG ioi WAC. sand clsv,n were ready
10 carry en- To the eXtrcmities OF war
None a-t tle officials OF the sixteen
Interest," c'oo owners wiil sit in at
'o-cay .otot Meet'n ng. Lawyers and
s,enorrar ms have been barred Even
,'e league presidents. John
A. AeyD.ef ali Ban Johnson. viii be
Kept out The big eleven does not stand
pecfea 10 accept whatever member
me I'VE may l-gcst GS fellow com
M'sslo-.f q Judge l.agdls. the sec
you MAJOR league representative must
se tetern rea Is Wa iositv vote. But
= Is known the eleven VIII indorse
aoge AeDoraid. Who conducted the
.lFeS' cation nto the va eball bribery,
ana It IS understood this f. tA4 man
Ne JoAHsonlan faction viii propose
Jug Ncooraid would be elected
A Committee Of six from the minor
ssagnes w'l be in waiting in Chicago.
'"e Conference turns out so peace
U1iy as now seems certain. then the
MINOR leagAers viii be prepared to
.~a-e 'he.f representative on the new
s.sefh-i.s board and 90 into confer
r~'s win committees from the two
SSAJor leagues looking toward the
s.s.l'ng Of an entirely new peace
'gEeement
May Nodify Lasker Plan
,, Inc big eleven, which has fought
SSnIiy to have the government Of base
Ss'' p4t IN the hands of "A commission
w. w. winch the public WIN have the
."uS' confidence, and one which has
Nv. W. financial interest IN the game, Will
n. nL. INSIST on an adoption Of the Iasl.er
sn as already ratified by the major
wig ssOs majority Indeed, If the FIVE
M n"O nave supported Mr. Johnson and
1S 1S MINOR leagues should consent TO
w. VIZ pfeject the new board of control
rsssc, rSs.c tie onc-maN affair, with Judge
.s..!s as sole arbitrator. This sug
N.Y. r1Hoh VII be made, though the point
WI not be pressed
+, VI u, the eve Of the peace conference
:, I,n1lcas' the possibility Of further
WIS seems absolutely safeguardeG.
laaelner 1t be Judge Landis alone or
~ sSe Lands as chairman Of board
il .ntee, baseball law and government
sI'e OF being placed in competent
rom Boss rule, it would seem, may
c,". oe written into the pages Of an
"'a' history
,oa.aNs KANSAS CITY. Nov. 1l.-After
1eAStory session to- day the warning
keeDs fbe hair in MA,