The Washington times., 1920-10-19
LOYAL FIVE"
MUST CLIMB
UPON WAGON
American League Faces Total
Disruption Unless Johnson
Is Defeated.
~ LUTHER A. HUSTON.

~ LUTHER A. HUSTON.
CHICAGO. Oct. lS.-Between now
November I. nye club owners in the
American League--"the faithful nVe'
that have stuck to Ban johnson In
his night 10 maintai6 domination OF
that orxanixation-must decide II
they will climb on the band wagon
OF permit the present house OF or
gSnized baseball to be disrupted.
II they decide to stick TO johnson
the Amsricsnt and National Leagues
as now constituted will be case aside
and a new twelve-ciub National League
will be formed. Boston. New York
and Chicago American League clubs
Will align themselves with the eight
clubs now making up tho National
League In tho formation Of the new
circuit.
Two bones Of contsnuon are being
gnawod upon by tho wranEling mag
mates. One In the so-called Lssker
plan for the formation OF a high tri-
bunal Of baseball that Will be the
supreme governing authority Of the
sport. The other Is Ban Johnson
whether he shall pass down over the
baseball horizon or continue to hold
his place in the sun.
APPROVE LAskER PLAN.
The Lssker plan has been approved
by every club in the National League
and by tho three American League clubs
mentioned. This approval was given
at q meeting that did not adjourn
until almost midnight last night.
The eleven clubs pledged themselves
to the adoption of the plan and the
formation OF q new circuit unless the
faithful nve" OF the American League
come into the fold by November 1.
The clubs not represented at the
meeting were Washington. Detroit, st.
Louis. Cleveland. and Philadelphia.
The Ban John issue was brought
sharply to the front by Charles A.
Comiskey. owner of the Chicago
White Sox. Comiskey served the nat
ultimatum upon his fellow-ma gnAtes
that he will close his park next year
IL Johnson continues as president of
tho American eLAgue.
The action Of the magnates in ap-
proving the Lasker plan and pledg-
ing themselves to the formation of
new circuit IL the plan 10 not ap-
proved by all major league clubs.
virtually is an announcement of sup
port OF Coniskey.
WOULD SHEAR BAN.
Creation Of the tribunal the
Laskcr plan provides would shear
Johnson Of virtually all the authority
which has brought him in conflict
with the Chicago, New York, and Bos-
ton clubs Of his own league. The fve
club owners outside the fold were In
vitcd to participate In the meeting
here. but taking their cue from
T. =
such q meeting as opportune until the
grand jury his completed its probe Of
baseball dishonesty, they refrained
from attending. Those who were
present and signed the Agreement
were:
G. w. Grant, for Boston; Charles II.
Ebbets. for Brooklyn; Charles A.
Stoneham, for New York: william G..
Baker. for Philadelphia; Barney Drey-
fus, for Pittsburgh: August Herr
MANN for Cincinnati; William Brea-
don. for st. Louis. and William L.
Veeck, for Chicago. all of the National
League: and Charles A Comiskey. for
Chicago: Jacob Rupert for New
York. and HARRY Frazee, for Boston.
Of the American League.
II the minority party holds out and
the new twelve club circuit is formed,
Chicago, New York, and Boston will
have the unique situation of having
two clubs in one major league organ
ixation. The twelfth city in the cir
cuit-since only eleven are represent
ed by the maanates at the meeting
is to be decided upon later.
SKATER AGREEMENT.
| Abrogation Of the national agree
ment under which the major and mi
nor leagues have operated since 1892
was approved by the magnates. There
fore, the structure Of organized base
ball that haa supported the sport for
nearly thirty years already by a vote
OF the majority Of major league mag
mates has been torn down.
The Lcsker plan, rs approved by
the magnates. provides for the estab-
lishment OF a board OF control, COM
posed of three men OF national re-
pute." none to be in any way fnan-
cially interested in baseball. This
board will have control and author
| ity over every phase of the natio ,al
game. having power to discipline club
owners as we'll as managers and play
ers.
The chairman will be paid 5000
per year and will be required to de-
vote all his time to baseball. The
other two members will receive $40. 600
each per year. but will be required to
devote such time as Is necessary to
the Affairs of the board.
The club owners will meet in Chi
cago again on November 8. by which
time IT will be known IL the verdict
| IL to be war or peace, After this
meeting the major league magnetcs
will 20 to Kansas City to present their