New-York tribune., 1920-11-28
Local Magnate
Soon to Answer
Johnson Charge
President of New York Club
Would Welcome Probe
bv Proper Authorities
Bv ". J. Macbeth

Becsuse. he declares, he holds the
.x,lfare Of baseball more sacred than
Indication in petty squabbles with
A;-sd help. Colonel Jacob Rupert
,5;nks i. best to Leave unanswered for
.,s time the insinuatlons Of President
Kan Johnson Of the American League
,lst he Ruppert and his partner,
Colonel T. l.. Huston, are engaged in
rromo.ion of syndicate baseball, con-
,.,rv 10 the constitution OF the Ameri~
- League
A story sent out OF Chicago Friday
sroted the American League president
=, having conclusive evidence, from
rour. records Of the State of Massa-
.snsetts. that The Yankee colonels had
rcuired control Of the Boston Red SoN
,es. spring. Johnson further was
o,oted as nsiuuating that Babe" Ruth
\ IS shifted from Boston 10 New York
!, The prelimnaries that led up to said
rrrchase of the Red Sox BY the own
frs Of the New York Americans, or at
Last the taking Of mortgage on the
i,anchise and t'enway Park. Ban is
sa,d further to have intimated that his
Sosrd OF directors might investigate.
a do not wish at this time to an
,ser Mr.. Johnson's story, or the story
attributed to him." said Colonel Rup-
pert Yesterday afternoon.
Would Not Reopen Wounds
But you may rest assured he Will
be answered in good time and in a
fashion that will augment neither his
eredit nor good sense. I do not wish
At the moment to reopen the wouIds
Of the late unpieasantnes between
eleven Of the sixteen major league
club owners and the five American
League club owners whose stubborn
support Of Mr.. Johnson so recently
threatened TO precipltate twelve club
lsague and new baseball war. 1t
would scarcely be fair to baseball at
inis moment to throw 8 monkey wrench
INTO the machinery OF reorganization.
However. / have never entered into
any business deal which will not stand
he acid test of Investigation. I have
no defense to make, because I have
committed no offense. But l intend to
embrace the opportunity OF seeing
Judge Lands, the new board OF con
'lOi, ana OF lhFfNG my W1Ole mana on
me table before MIN. Furthermore. I am
willing to abide by any opinion Judge
Landls may express on any of my
business dealings in baseball, which
goes for everything connected with
;he purchase of Babe Ruth or any
5.her Boston players or anything else
connected with the Boston American
League club property.
Il am not going TO avoid investiga
Won by the proper authorities; rather,
court 1t. All my business dealings
with Harry Frazee have been honest
nd above board. as one friend With an
o.her
viii Settle Differences
But as to Mr.. Johnson's surmises
and inuendos-"ell, they will all be
answered properly in good time. We
will settle our little differences, never
fear. But | think it best the little
laundry party should wait until the
Welfare and future OF organized base
ball has been assured. The proper
start has been made toward this end. in
ny opinion. ! DO not propose TO allow
any choeric outburst from the etfer-
rescent Ny. Johnson to undermine the
strong foundations already laid for a
sw order OF baseball government. ]
believe the public will appreciate this
sincere se"' aent and excuse an answer
iOr tho .ent."