Arizona republican., 1920-10-02
PROPOSE CIVILIAN
 BOARD AS GUIDING
 HAND IN BASEBALL
Major League Owners Start Move to Take Control of Game from Men Finan- cially Interested
[RenuhIloan nA. p. Leased WIrel

CHICAGO. Oct. Representative of four major league baseball clubs tonight started a movement designed to clean up baseball for ever" by talk ing control of the game out of the hands of men financially interested and placing it under a civilian tribu- naI'' to be composed of men "of un- questioned public standing"
 A letter was sent to every major league club and dozens of others inter ested asking their approval of the plan which was characterized as means of giving professional baseball to the American people-where 1t be- llongs-and taking ownership of it away from club owners and players.
 The letter was signed by William Veeck. president of the Chicago Ma tional league club. Charles A. Comis- key. president of the Chicago American league club; Barney Dreyfuss, presi- dent of the Pittsburg club and John McGraw. vice-president and manager of the New York National league club. | Propose Men Nationally Prominent It proposes that the national com mission be abolished because ''in its present form it cannot be impartial" and that in its place there should be tribunal whose members would re- ceive higher salaries than any one now I Pershing. Major General Leonard Wood, former President William How ard Taft, Senator Hiram Johnson. Judge K. NJ. Landis and William c. McAdoo are some of the men proposed for the tribunal but the letter adds that none yet has been approached on the subject
 Salaries for members of the tribunal and it's secretaries and clerks would | hr. | major league and world series receipts.
 The tribunal would be in absolute charge of all organized baseball leagues, of the players, the managers and owners and league presidents and its decisions would be beyond appeal or dispute.
 The letter declared that such a plan must be worked out immediately if baseball is to continue as the national game and points out the gambling and betting evils revealed in the past two years.
 The plan was worked out by A. D. Lasker of the Chicago National league club and received full approval of President John Heydler of the National league. The letter says:
 Lasker's Letter of Proposal
 '"rhe national commission. basebalrs supreme body, consists today of presi-
 
 leagues the letter continues
 Regardless of the desire of these mer
 to be impartial they could not be. al least subconsciously. unmindful of tho
 special interest of the individua
 league they represented. It was felt
 therefore. that the third member o the commission should not be con. nected with the game. The shock jus received by. the baseball world, tn, blacklisting of three major leagu'
 players and the indictments and sus pension of some of the greatest star ? on a world championship team. ha ? caused the owners to look within ? themselves as understandibly the. might not look under ordinary circum s stances.
 l ..As basis for proposed action, tn . signers of this letter have agreed t s a preliminary plan and agree to put . into operation.
 . The undersigners urge that th |. three most prominent men obtainabl
 Gin no wise connected with baseball s be obtained to act as a superior tri D bunal and that such tribuna Y shaa have unreviewable authority owe a | presidents of all leagues. club owner:
 players and every other person, act O e thing connected with baseball "The mere knowledge of control O y baseball by such men would insure tha h the public interests would be frs . served and that therefore all existin . evils would disappear.
 Ut is proposed to appropriate th e necessary expenses for this tribuns |. from the world series and major leagu e receipts. Paying these men highe n salaries than any one connected wit t baseball receives would emphasiz e their authority and automatically al
 tract men of the type desired. d Would Be All Powerful s Every one connected with baseba Q would be absolutely under control Il this tribunal. If an owner committe
 an unethical act the tribunal coul If reprimand him, fine him or even revoh a his franchise.
 I Likewise it would be empowered 1 q establish a proper relationship betwee n minor and major leagues. Q. O.. - "The conduct Of the player upon tf If field, the rules governing the game "a also will be subject to the final ar 5 arbitrary review and dictum of tf
 tribunal. It is unthinkable that l. such an environment and under suC 'r supervision anything unclean or UT te sportsmanlike could even remote r. creep into the national game" .Hl