The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-11-13
= POT tlHg New 5
Judge Lands
ACCEPTS BASEBALL
Guardianship
Will Be Arbiter on CUES
tons Between Two
Major Leagues

III, q l4.@ Federal
Jndge Kenesaw Mountain lands
yesterday accepted the "chuirman-
skip OF professional baseball after Il
had been rendered him BY unanimous
vote OF thc Is mayor league clubs
and thereby became the final court
OF appeal In all matters OF admins
tration which may come NJ between
the National mi Americas leagues
and any minor leagues which volun-
tnrlly join In the proposed re-or-
SANITATION OF baseball.
Judge lands was hearing a case
IN which $4,000 bribery. IN conncc-
ton with an income tax. waH charged
when a committee of eight club own
crs called on him.
AZ first the Judge refused the oner
son the ground that he loved his
position aa Judge" too much to quit
the bench. Finally. however, he
agreed 10 hold both positions but
specified that his baseball salary
Hhouid he decreased by SY,5OO-the
amount he receives as Judge. II was
agreed that as chairman he would
receive S42,5oO IA year instead OF tho
$4,000 originally offered.
Why lie Took Job.
After the meeting Judge Lands
took CLARK Griniths. a personal
friend. over to a window.
"Grif' he said, I'm going to tell
you Just why 1 took this job. Sec
those kids down thgrc on thes street?
See that airplano propeller on the
wall? Wen that explains my ac-
ceptnnce.
"You see that propeller was on
the plane In which my son, Major
Reed lands. flew while overseas.
Reed and l went TO one OF the world
series games at Brooklyn, outside
tho game were "a bunch OF little Kids
playing around. Reed turned TO me
and said: Dad, wouldn't II be IA
shame to have the game OF these
little kids broken upy Wouldn't Il
be awful TO take baseball away from
themg Well. while you gentlemen
were talking TO me, I looked up at
this propeller and l thought OF Reed.
Then 1 thought OF his remark in
Brooklyn. Grit. we have got to keep
baseball o. "a high standard for the
nakc OF the yogngsters-that's why /
took the job: because / want to
help"
Each side In the baseball fight
made concessions 10 the other be-
fore an agreement was reached but
this meeting unanimously went on
record as favoring the principles OF
ethical control or baseball included
in the Laakcr plan which was foster
ed by the eight National and the
Chicago, New York and Boston AM
crican league clubs nj which start
cd tho fight. This plan originally
was bitterly opposed by President
johnson OF the American league and
the Philadelphia, Washington. Cleve-
land. 81. Louis and Detroit clubs
which sided with him.
In other matters the eleven clubs
favorlng the Lasker plan conceded
points TO the five opposing it. In
stead OF a civilian tribunal as the
governing body OF baseball Judge
Lands probably will remain the final
Judge, although the club owners may
decide later to appoint two civilian
associates to act with him. II the
one-man commission Is retained the
president OF the National league
shall represent the clubs under him.
All matters Will be taken up at Joint
meetings OF the two leagues whore
the vote will bn asst by clubs. II
there Is q division a vote then VIII
be taken BY leagues. each %organiza-
ton having u vote. II they can
not agree. the two presidents then
Will appear before Judge lands and
his decision will be final.
Compromise Plan.
This ARRANGEMENT Is q compromise
between the plans suggested by the
two sides. The eleven clubs wanted
the vote to be entireiy by clubs While
the johnson faction held out for a
vote by leagues. The two plans were
comt .ned.
Immediate attempts will he made
10 bring the minor leagues Into the
plan. A committee OF six, three from
each league Will confer with a com-
mlttee of six from the minor leagues.
II the minors come In they viii be
given the right to appoint a special
pleacer to appear before Judge Ian
dis when matters involving them are
considered.
Judge L.andis' term is for sever
years and then an election will be
held by all leagues In the plan 10
determine who shall be commission
or. He will have power 70 question
any player, club owner or league
president and to take any action he
secs nj In ali casee. The leagues
agreed to sign n contract to abide
by tho judges decisions regardless OF
what they may be.
Chicago will be headquarters FOL
the baseball commissioners and OF
ficeE VIII be opened here immedi-
ateiy.