Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-29
JOHNSON CLUBS
MEET TODAY ON
BASEBALL WAR
Five American League Mag
mates Supporting Ban
Expected to Take Action
That Will Avert Clash.

! Chlcag0, Oct 2S.+President By
| ron Bancroft johnson of the Amer
lean league and the five club own
ers which have sided with him in
! all league fights will hold a con-
ference here tomorrow which may
decide whether there will be
| baseball war over the proposed re-
organization of the national game.
Officially the conference is a
meeting OF the leagues board of
directors, but unofficiany the clubs
which johnson terms the loyal
five" viii be present while three
which have opposed the Junior Chr
cult president in his administla-
ton OF league affairs have not been
invited.
Meeting with Johnson will be
representatives Of the Philadelphia,
Washington, Cleveland. Detroit and
ST, Louis clubs. They win take up
the proposal made by the eight
National league clubs and the Chi
cago, New York ana Boston Amer
lean league clubs that the national
commission be abolished and con-
troll of baseball placed in the hands
of a civilian tribunal of three
men financially disinterested in the
game.
Two Courses Open.
Baseball men point out that
there are two courses which the
magnates might take tomorrow.
one is to agree to meet with the
other eleven major league clubs at
the session called for November
to act on the proposed reprganlza-
ton or to refuse to take part in the
proposals for change in baseball
management This latter action. it
is believed. would result in a base
ball war.
While President johnson tonight
would make no statement, his
friends expressed the opinion that
the club owners would agree to
take part in the November con-
ference, If this is done, it is be |
lieVed Johnson and his followers
Will present a counter proposition (
for reorganization which will con-
tain the principles of the Lasker |
plan, favored by the other eleven |
magnates, but with several changes /
in the administration of the plan |
Such action. l. Is believed, would |
avert baseball war, unless it was .
found impossible to reach an agree |
ment at the final conference in
November.
t2-Club League May Come.
Refusal to enter into negotia-
4 innp fnI q nj a t1g "a "a, #
the game, however. probably would |
bring about clash, it is believed,
for the eleven magnates who al
ready have gone on record as ia
voring the Lasker plan for civil
ian tribunal" as the controlling
body, have issued an ultimatum
that unless the other clubs join
them they will form a 12-club
league without the five American
league clubs which back Johnson.
Such action, it is believed. might
result in court action. Friends of
President Johnson point out that
the "20-year contract" signed by
the American league clubs in 1910
and effective until 1880. provided
that the clubs must all stick to-
gother and for any club to join a
new league would be in violation
Of this contract. II is also pointed
out that a club may be expelled
from the league BY a thrae-fourths {
vote. President Johnson holds that
his rule means three-fourths of
those present at q meeting, and I
hat consequently he and his five
clubs could expel the other clubs /
IT the meeting tomorrow if they (
so desired. ,
The sentiment tonight. however, !
seemed to be that all would be
peaceful tom Orrow. 5