New-York tribune., 1920-11-11

Club O,vners 4 gree to Parley
To Terminate Baseball Var

the steps already taken by the eleven
that were prepared to launch tne
twelve club league. Which meant, IN
short, an Endorsement Of the LaskeT
plan, and particularly the selection Of
Judge x. M. Lands as chairman of the
civilian board OF control. If they
have done this, why there is nothing
more to war about"
Colonel Rupert and Harry Frazee
indorsed Mr.. Stoneham statements.
Long before they had received any par
ticulars whatever, the three seemed
very sanguine of the future Of the
eleven as well as determined to push
the principle represented to any
length.
Rupert Explains Exchanges
Colonel RUPERT who acted as
spokesman for the eleven in the ex-
change of visits between the rival
meetings in Chicago Monday before It
was voted to launch the twelvcclub
league, explained in detail these vari
Gus exchanges Of courtesies.
Even after it was decided to float
the twelveclub league" said. Colonel
Rupert, "the way was left open Tor
the five 20 come in gracefully II they
cared to reconsider their stubborn at
titude.
Stories sent out from Chicago to the
effect that the eleven attempted to
browbeat or steam-roll the five are aD-
solutely without foundation. Every et
fort was made to have the five come III
for a sane discussion of differences Of
opinion. The five absolutely refused to
do so, except on their own terms. There
was no time limit given them. l visited
the five and told them the eleven would
meet them on any terms. An informal
conference was proposed; one IN which
the two league presidents, stenograph-
ers and counsel should be excluded.
They wouldn't listen to this. They
said they would treat with US only il
guaranteed they could name a COM
m:ttee of three; the National League
and minor leagues each to name COM
mittees like number. We could in
terpret from this suggestion only a de-
sire to further delay reorganization,
especially as they insisted these COM
mittees report back no sooner than the
annual meetings next month.
Deaf to All Propositions
~ offered to carry back to the clever
any fair proposition the five might care
TO make" continued Colonel Rupert
They evidently feared the steam
sisted the voting should be done by
leagues and not by majority of major
league club owners. | suggested they
propose the proportion Of majority
vote that should be binding. We first
talked Of three -Quarters: that is, II
to &. They wouldn't listen. They
wouldn't even listen to a proposition Of
vote of ID to 2 as being binding.
Attorney Miller, who is the legal ad-
wiser Of the five, returned with ne to
the meeting Of the eleven to present the
oppositon's side. He talked about two
hours. We then asked him to carry
back to his clients certain suggestions
we had to make We asked MIN how
long he thought it would require to
furnish the answer and an hour and
half was greed upon by all as reason
able. The meeting of the five lasted
only a few minutes after Mr.. Miller
returned to them We heard nothing
in two hours. Meanwhile certain of
the FIVE had told us pointediy they had
nothing further to say ard that they
were about to depart for Kansas City.
1t was then that the eleven acted"
Fight for a Principle
"And. having acted" cut in Frazec,
at is proposed to go through to the
bitter end. This is fight for prin-
ciple. 1t is proposed that IN future
controversies between the two leagues
# the American League is reassem-
bled-will be decided by n majority
vote of the clubs andSnot by the whims
of any dictator. Boss rule is dead. and
dead forever"
If the five "loyalists" come in under
the Lasker plan there will be no war.
The other eleven will then be prepared
to 60 on as before with two eight-club
major leagues and with judge lands
head of the board of control. The sec
ond man OF the board viii be elected
by ajority vote of the sixteen club
owners and the third by the minor
leagues. However, Messrs. Stoneham,
Rupert and Frazee believe Judge Ian
dis quite big enough to handle this job
all alone, and would be willing to have
him act as q board Of one of the minors
and the opposing five if they were
agreeable.
Provided peace results from to-
morrow's conference at Chicago, there
seems little doubt the minor leagues
will quickly embrace the Lasker plan
They had determined to hold aloof in
the fight IN strict neutrality.