New-York tribune., 1920-12-23

Erazee addressed a letter to John
son last night in which the owner of
the Boston club extended Ban an in
vitation to resign his Office before he
causes any further harm" Frazee
also declared that there can no longer
be peace in the ranks of the league
while he and Johnson remain in its
fold.
Huston also issued a statement last
night in which he takes exception to
Johnson's assertion that the Colonel
removed from the files of the New
York Club private letter which Ban
wrote to Colonel Rupert. Huston, in
addition, ch-rges Johnson with coward
ice in handling the gambling situation.
johnson Faltered in Duty
The Colonel's statement follows:
II am half owner Of the Yankees
and the letter files are therefore my
personal property. The johnson let
ter was shown Mr.. Heydler in the
interest of clean baseball.
81 have a letter from Johnson
written under date Of December 13,
1918, while l was in France. He
claimed at that time that Chase was
clearly guilty of throwing games.
johnson faltered in his duty to
baseball as a whole when he failed
to act then on the information he
possessed. 1t is he, and he mainly,
who has failed baseball and the gen
eral public in dealing with the
gambling situation. 1t is due to his
failure and cowardice that recent
baseball scandals were not averted
"Prompt action by him as a mem
Der of the National Commission
~.
ment for Chase and Magee that the
members Of the White Sox would
have been afraid to sell out the world
series in 1919"
Frazee Answers Big Ban
When Frazee was informed that
Johnson, according to an interview
published in a Boston paper yesterday,
declared that he had been con the
point of resigning,' but that the meth
DDS employed by the owners of the
caused him to reconsider his action
and that he "would remain in Office
for the good Of the American League"
the presden of the Red Sox had this
comment to offer:
johnson viii never resirn-volun-
tarily. He will have to be thrown out,
bag and baggage. and if he doesn't stop
his present methods he will 60. As to
his staying for the good of the Ameri-
can League that's a joke. as every
one knows he refused to get after the
White Sox crooks. as he wanted to
hold club over Charles A. Comiskey.
he has been a detrment to the game
aimee the European war started"
The letter which Frazee sent to
johnson follows:
Mr.. B. B. johnson. President American
League, 1912 Fisher Building. Chi
Dear sir-It you are quoted correctly
day in your statement which reads,
The league had. always resorted to the
ballot instead of using the usual rota-
tion method Of the election of the board
ot..aire Of directors :. when i vas vas found the
sirable member to the board" you are
stating a deliberate falsehood. You fur
two members be not brought into the
directorate as they attern pied to wreck
the American League" which You also
know is an absolute lie. and is but one
more evidence Of your gross stupidity
and incompetence to further fiji the
office you now hold
I had hoped that you had learned
something in the last two years. and
since the agreement Of peace was
reached in Chicago have refrained
from making any comment but upon
this uncalled for attack on Mr.. Couis-
KEY and myself think It IS about time
for you TO stop making threats and
prove some Of the many misleading
statements and assertions that you have
made, regardless OF the attitude Of any
body else in the American League
want you to know that from this time
on there can be no peace as far as I am
concerned while you and I remain in the
American League.
II you have any sense OF justice or
realization OF the harm you have caused
baseball, or had one spark of manhood.
or any regard for the game which has
made you possible. you would tender
your resignation as president Of the
American League before causing any fur
ther harm. II you wish to go into any
discussion: either privately or publicly
With tho American League in 1915
VIII be pleased to meet you at any tirne
or place you mention. But in the rnean
time ! strongly advise you 10 elirninate
any further attacks upon the Boston
American League Baseball Club or ,na
personally. Yours truly. ~
HARRY FRAZEE,
President Boston American Iearus
Baseball Club.