New-York tribune., 1920-11-10
League Head
Appeals TO Minors to
Keep Hands Off Contro.
versy Over Lasker Plan
Threatens to Put
New Club Here
Asserts Game Must BE
Cleansed of Undesirable
Owners; Hits Gambling

KANSAS CITY, No, Nov. 9-The
minor baseball leagues of the country,
in convention here, to-day we're urged
by President Ban Johnson of the Amer
lean League to follow hands-off pol
icy in the baseball war and to take no
action that would be partisan to either
side
President Johnson, here for the an
nounced purpose of preventing the
minors from Joining with the new Ma
tional League in the Lasker plan of re-
organization, addressed the convention
this afternoon. Proponents Of the new
league and the Laskcr plan will appear
later
The political shake-up in the Nation
al Association Of Minor Leagues, which
it was rumored was being engineered
by the faction said to be favorable to
President Johnson in the baseball war,
failed to materialize.
Previous to his address before the
convention President Johnson issued
statement declaring that "it was war
to finish and that the American
League would place new clubs in Chi
cago, New York and Boston to replace
those joining the new National League.
Prepared for Battle
"What baseball needs is to get rid
OF some of its recalcitrant club own
ers," he said. eve are prepared to
tviI oil .c
The American League is going about
its business and will have clubs in the
eight cities which have composed its
circuit for years. We will not back
up for second.
War, in my judgment, is the best
cleanser. I am for it, as ! believe it
will clean up baseball as it cleans up
everything else. Wha. the game really
needs is TO cleansed Of some of its
undesirable club owners, who have been
detrment because they openly al
lowed gambling in their baseball parks.
Assails National League
THE National League never had any
stomach for a fight. 1t is an impossi-
Bile Organization,' he continued. Its
politics ruined the old National Com
mission because John X. Tener, the
former league president, could not get
commission.
The hve clubs in the American
League which remained with me are
the only decent element in the maj
leagues. They have fought with me
to stamp out the gambling evil. got
t no assistance whatever from the
others"
In his address Johnson characterize d
A. d. Lasker, Of Chicago, sponsor of
the Lasker plan. as "one Who has not
shed his swaddling clothes in base
BALL.
"The American League does not come
here with the thought of asking you
to carry any OF our burdens," Presi-
dent Johnson said. There is ques-
tion as to whether there Will be any
serious difficulties to adjust, but be-
ieve my position should be made clear.
think you should have equal power
with the American and National
leagues. We can offer you no more at
this time. have been authorized by
our board Of directors to request YOU
to appoint q committee of three to
meet committee of the same number
from The National and American
leagues to reorgani2e the game, and
all the differences should be swept
aside in View OF the serious condition
that coufronts baseball.
Should Remain in Old Hands
at is nay thought that baseball
should remain in the hands OF men who
have given their lives to it's develop
ment.
you are the men who should cleanse
the game. You sre better qualified to
do the work than any one outside of
baseball. have been cautioned not 20
talk too much, but | want to say that
do not approve OF the Lasker plan, de
vised by one who has not shed his
swaddling clothes in baseball. Vow
can such an individual direct the al
fairs of the game or its reformation 80
1t was the first time in the history of
baseball that President Johnson has
appeared before a minor league conven-
ton.
Preliminary 20 election the league
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