New-York tribune., 1920-02-08

american League, HuSneO Dy
Hotel, in this city, on December 10 Ia
Tuesday. At the same time and
will convene.
There will be joint meeting of the
major. leagues on Wednesday. On
Thursday the minors will have con-
ference with the majors in an effort
to arrange new working agreement.
On Monday the joint rules committee
will attempt to. clarity the playing
ties into the style of play.
To the layman, perhaps, the re-
spectlve schedule meetings Of the Ma
tional and American leagues will be of
most moment. To the fan the schedule
i means next to everything. But to the
profession the cut and dried drafts,
= which of necessity must rotate in
fairly definite order, has little of sig
'nlficance. To the professional G.
players; managers, officials and owners
the big question is the fight now con-
fronting the American League and pos
slbie aftermaths which may draw the
National League into the embroglio.
. Local Clubs May Trade
To the layman, too, meeting of
such proportions-and the conference
sizes up in every wav as the most i'm
portant of generation-is important
in ratio to the possibilities of trading
activity. On this particular subject
New York is directly concerned. Giant
fans have passively, awaited the mo-
ment in the hope that the owners of
IS that club would be able to consummate
certain moves for Strengthening the
inf1e!d. Miller Huggins, of the Yankees,
mas held out hope to his clientele for
an expert outtielder and catcher of
If the winter season of 1e1e-'2o is
to uphold tradition many big trades
Z must 'materialize at this time. There
has been just one trade since the last
worlds series. The Boston Red Sox
sent Bobby Roth and Maurice Shannon
70 Washington in exchange for Harry
Harper, Mike Menoskey and Eddie Fos-
ter.
OF course it must not be forgotten
that Colonels Rupert and Huston, of
the Yankees, furnished the best
when they secured Babe Ruth, the
champion home run hitter of all time
from the Red Sox. But that was an
out and out purchase. AS a sequel
Frazee is very apt to use every arti-
nee to rebuild his fences. Frazee of
late years has been the most active
along baseball's bargain counter. AS
Snowman he appreciates the value of
presenting his patrons with something
new as frequently as possible.
At is not believed the American
League meeting will see any surrender
on the part of either bitter faction. The
breach between the two parties has
wldened perceptibly since December.
The ultimate decision, doubtless. will
be handed down by the courts.
The National and American leagues
nave many matters of minor impor-
tance, but of mutual interest that can
very easily be arranged at the joint
meeting. The only possibility of any
fireworks there is that the American
hghtLor one Of its side shows-might
De dragged in in connection with the
National Commission chairmanship
tAngle.
There are number of owners both
IN the National and American leagues
who never as. yet have seriously re-
garded the resignation of August Herr
mann from the chairmanship of the
4Matlonai Nat Commission. They have felt
that the resignation must be accepted
by both Ban johnson and John A.
.i .Heydler. According to the national
agreement these two league presidents
must select the chairman. all commit
tees to the contrary notwithstanding.
The office is one to be determined by
mutual consent Of the executives.
= During the past week Mr.. johnson
declared himself unalterably opposed
to any change in the chairmanship.
Mr.. Heydler alone cannot accept Mr..
= Herrmann's resignation, and if the
latter cares to function as a lold-over
there is no way of correcting this af-
League club owners. The national
agreement can be amended only by
2 the unanimous vote of the sixteen ma
5or league clubs.
1t is, on this principle, which smacks
strongly of trust" that any chance
trouble in the joint meeting is likely
TO develop: If Mr.. Hermann leaves
tne IN ON once nat. as he has threatened to
e 90, the National League is not apt to
( pe drawn into any controversy with
Mr.. johnson. But if Mr.. Hermann
turns an attentive ear to the American
League chief then the National League,
1t IS intimated strongly, may align
ltseif with the revolutionary faction
to alleged "bosssm."
The negotiations between the major
ana MINOR leagues, scheduled for the
latter part of the week, is Of the more
{ concern to the minors. Major league
q Dali mad the best season of its history
Wltnout any minor affiliations in 1915
But it is felt that close cooperation
might be, of mutual benefit, and the
proposals of merit toward effecting
better working agreement than that
* which was abrogated at the behest of
!. the little. fellows year ago.
inerc 49,. too. remote possibility
that the minors may furnish the kew
to the solution of most of the existin9
6 problems. Certain radical thinkers in
both leagues believe the present form
OF baseball government all wrong.
They believe in one legislative bodv
for all ,baseball--major and minor
alike; They. would enlarge the ma
representation thereon and perhaps the
players as WE'LL This is an idea worthy
:. of serious consideration.