The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-09
NEW BASEBALL
LEAGUE BORN
Peace Negotiations Broken
Off as johnson Spurns
Lasker Plan.
THREE CLUBS IN THIS CITY
New Body Offers Chairman
ship to Judge Lands, Who
Delays Acceptance. .
THREE CLUBS IN THIS CITY

Special Despatch to THE New YonK HERALD.
CHICAGO, Nov. S.-The major base
ball league death struggle" is on. The
Ban Johnson faction Of Ave American
League clubs refused to go into joint
conference this afternoon at the Con-
gress Hotel with the owners of the
National League clubs and three
American League clubs who favor the
Lasker plan, with the result that a
new twelve club league was organized
leaving Johnson and his loyal five' to
fight their own battle.
The new leaguers have offered Fed
eral Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands
$4,000 n year to head the new base
ball board of control that will supplant
the National Commission.
Late tonight Judge Lands said that
he would have to take time to consider
the proposal.
"I'll do all in my power to help make
baseball worthy of the name it has
borne all these years, but [ just can't
decide such a big thing right away"
he said. when offered the chairman
ship of the new baseball tribunal.
"The proposed plan should be a great
thing for the game
AS chairman of the tribunal Judge
Lands would receive $4,000 more
year than he gets now.
Ban Johnson. president of the Ameri-
can League. .xnd his holdouts offered 4
counter PROPOSAL that three representa-
-
late peace plan. but the plan was
not even considered by the National
r.eaguers and their three American
League allies, and the much talked OF
new league with a twelve club circuit
was organized. Baltimore in all proba-
bility will be the twelfth member os the
circuit.
The new league Includes all the M
.ional League clubs and the New York.
Boston and Chicago American League
ttams. The new cluo will be known
as the Kew National League. with Johr
t Heydler as president, secretary ard
treasurer.
Lasker Plan spurned.
The real split between the two warning
forces came at o'clock this afternoon
when Johnson and his loyal five were
given Just one hour and a half to get
on the Lasker plan band wagon. The
five American League owners refused
to reply to the ultimatum Tonight.
headed by President Ban Johnson, they
boarded train for Kansas City. sending
word through that they would meet
the other club owners there Tomorrow
II the twelve club league becomes a
certainty 1t will mean that New York.
Chicago and Boston will have two clubs
in the field.
Representatives of the new league loft
tonight for Kansas City to attend the
meeting of the National Association OF
Minor Leagues. where they will present
the Lasker plan. There is expected to
be marked upheaval in the minor asso-
citation In Kansas City. II will probably
be the stormiest session held In years
Some favor the Lasker plan and some
oppose It.. II the plan is adopted the
minors will have a voice in everything
pertaining to the revision Of the sport
which Is something they have never had.
and II Is thought they will jump at the
chance TO get Il.
The Lasker plan supporters were
against war with johnson and his in
surgents when the day started. After
many exchanges of communications via
envoys in an effort to bring about peace
II was decided to break off any further
negotiations with Ban and his loyalists
when their invitation to discuss the
Lasl<er plan for civilian control Of pro-
fessional baseball was ignored
The entire personnel Of the two major
leagues were present at the two rival
meetings at the Congress Hotel Clark
Griffith acted as the go between" for
johnson and his forces during tho par
leys. but his efforts went for naught be-
cause OF Johnson's stubbornness. he in
sisting on his plan that a committee Of
three be appointed by each side rather
than n joint meeting of the sixteen
clubs.
johnson Refuses.
II refuse TO be driven into any ar
rnngenent by the other side was the
only comment that Johnson would make
after the days happenings.
committee consisting OF William
Wrigley OF the Chicago Cubs, Garry
Hermann OF the Cincinnati Reds. Alfred
Austrian, attorney OF the Chicago white
Sox. and Col Jacob Ruppert of the New
York Yankees conferred with the John
son forces as n last resort, reaching no
agreement
The new league was born and the
New York. Chicago and Boston Ameri-
can League teams divorced themselves
from the American League. War seems
certain, as Ban Johnson has asserted
that under no circumstances will he
consent 20 n joint meeting of the two
leagues to vote on the Lasker plan.
II was learned tonight that johnson
and his loyal Ave" have the stage all
set 10 replace the New York. Boston and
Chicago teams II the twelve club league
goes through. club will be installed
ia Chicago on the West Side, where .hc
Cubs became famous under Franz
Chances management. a. proposition
will bc made 20 Toronto and Baltimore
TO come in and round out the Amer,cmi
League.
II was learned tonight hat John