Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-29
HEADS OF FIVE
/ BASEBALL. CLUBS
MEETING ! TODAY | ] ! D 4
Prop to Place Game il
Hands Of Civilian Triburl-
. al" to be Discussed.

I Chicago, Oct. 2s.-Headed by
+ President b.. b. johnson, of the
/! American league, represent tatives IS OF
the Philadelphia, Washington, Cleve-
land, Detroit and st. Louis baseball
i clubs, OF the American league gather
j ed here today to take up the proposal
that the national baseball Commission
be placed insthe hands of the civilian
tribunal Of three men not financial
~ interested in the game.
| N5's Results Important.
The result of the meeting today was
! expected TO determine whether pro-
fessional baseball would 60 on
al war, with the entire National
league aided by the New York, Chi.
cago and Boston American league
clubs on the one side and President
johnson and his 'loyal five" on the
other. The plan to establish the
"civilian tribunal" has been openly
sponsored by the clubs first mention
ed,isjwhile President johnson and the
! five American league club owners
have withheld their support pending
the outcome of the grand jury inves-
tigation into baseball gambling, al
though they have not yet openly OPP
| posed the plan.
I The grand jury will conclude its
I present report until next week.
II President, johnson and his fol-
lowers refuse to meet with the other
eleven clubs of the two major leagues
and consider the new governing
I proposition then baseball war is ex-
pected. The eleven clubs supporting
the Laskar plan have given the other
fclubowners until next Monday to de-
! eide whether for not they will enter
into the new proposal or at least
agree to. meet with them and attempt
ito perfect an agreement whereby the
| game can be carried on smoothly.
I Look for Harmony.
President johnson called today's
Injecting officially as a directors meet
ling of the American league. How
ever, the representative OF the New
York. Chicago and Boston clubs were
not specifically invited to attend. Men
prominent in baseball circles believed
that the main topic of discussion
would be the later plan Of reorgani-
zation. The Sentiment preceding the
meeting today seemed to signify that
peaceful ending would be the re-
suit. Baseball men said they believed
the five clubowners and s,i President
johnson would agree TO- meet with
the other eleven clubs, and while
there insight be Opposition to come
points of the proposed plan ORA re.
i. was thought that the
i ties could be 1roned out, and, 4
fEDmp romise effected. Should, how
ever, the loyal five" as johnson has
termed his supporters decline to con-
slider the proposal, and the other
l nIaVan he mol In I'D.
I tion that they would go ahead under
the new plan with a twelve club
league, (adding another city, then
concerted action might be the out
come. iii
Friends of johnson pointed out that
/ the American league clubs signed a
twenty-year contract in 1920, effec-
| tive until 1880. provides that all the
clubs must remain together. and that
for any one of them to join q new
league would be violation of the con-
tract.
Although more than sixty minor
league baseball men are said to have
attached their signatures to the Las
kar plan, President Tom Hickey, of
the American association has an
nounced that considerable opposition
would spring up unless the minor
league men could have a voice in the
selection and paying of the three men
composing the proposed tribunal.
The minors desire more than mere
ly to have their aims considered,
! President Hickey, is quoted as say
] ing. They wish a voice in choosing
a man on the board of control
Whether they will be granted this
privilege depends on what the FIVE
J clubs Of the American league decide
today and how the minors stick to-
gether