The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-14
TOOLE HEAD OF
THE INT LEAGUE
Which Changes Its Name and
Decides Against the
Draft.

A new president and a new name
were decided on by the International
League baseball men yesterday at their
annual meeting in this city. After this
the International League, which a while
back was known as the Eastern League,
will be the National Association of Pro-
fessional Baseball Clubs, and with the
adoption OF that cumbersome title John
Conway Toole of New York becomes
president.
Mr.. Tooie. who for several years has
been attorney for the National League
and played an active part in drawing UP
the new national agreement, succeeds
David Fultz. also a New York lawyer.
under whose administration the organi-
zation has done well. Mr.. Fultz played
football and baseball at Brown, then
played professional baseball with the
Athletics, Yankees, and elsewhere. He
was fine player. too.
The international Leaguers-or, to use
their majestic new title, the National
Association OF Professional Baseballers
blew hot and cold on the drafting
question. First they favored a restora-
ton of the draft Then they listened TO
the eloquent oratory of L. j. Hickey,
president OF the American Association,
against the draft and adopted q resolu-
ton opposing 1t.
The eventual fate OF this question
rests with the meeting of all the minor
leagues In Chicago on January 10. and It
will be decided then whether conditions
quite unfair to a rising young ball player
since they would reduce materially his
chance of reaching a major league-such
as no draft would impose. shall prevail.
The rest of the minors may take big
ger and broader view.
~f na. N,I&
as a surprise, and although no official
statement concerning 1t was made II Is
understood that major league owners
brought pressure to bear against his
reflect on. because of alleged antagonism
to organized baseball in the past. The
change of name was attributed-don't
smile Ito the desire ito place the league
on higher plane
The election of Mr.. Toole came after
G. II. Knapp of Baltimore had been
chosen head of the league and then re-
signed when the league temporarily
went on record as favoring a restoration
of the drafting of players, provision for
which was made optional in the proposed
new agreement between the major and
minor leagues. Mr.. Knapp said he could
not consistently hold the office because
of his connection with the Bait more
club, which has been an avowed oppo-
nent of the draft and has not changed
It's attitude.
The club owners then called into con-
sultatlon Hickey of the American AS
ISOLATION. and the silvery speech, who
told the magnates that his league also
was opposed to the draft The National
Assoc alton then rescinded its action ia
voring the draft, whereupon Knapp was
asked TO reconsider his resignation, but
he refused.
The election of Mr.. Toole Is for one
year. and his salary was fixed at $500,
the same as that received by Mr. Fuitz
The president of the league also acts
as secretary and treasurer. Walter +.
Hapgood. who is to be associated v 18th
George T. Stallings in the ownership OF
the Rochester club. was delegated to
notify M. Toole of his election and
learn whether he would accept
Mr.. Toole had been consulted relative
to his possible election. and the club
owners declared he said he would ac-
cept the presidency of the league II his
election were unanimous. AS this wa
the case. confidence was expressed that
Mr.. Toole would accept
The report of the retiring president
for 1920 showed that the league as a
whole enjoyed one of the best years IN
its history. The minimum admission %
games was fixed ut so cents. including
war tax, which is an Increase of 10
cents over the minimum last season.