The Washington herald., 1920-11-10
Of New II
! Club Circuit VIII Be
Heard Today-"Keep
Skirts Clear Attitude Of
Smaller Leagues.
BY L Z. sANBoRN.

KANSAS CITY, No. Nov s.-Neu-
trality was the keynote Of the de-
iiberations OF the National Associs-
tion Of Professional Baseball
Leagues. otherwise known as the
minors. toward the warning major
leagues at the opening session OF
their annual conclave here today
Aside from the transaction OF
some routine affairs and the clean
ing up Of one internal scrap Of
their own. the minor circnits OF all
degrees did nothing except listen TO
the presentation of the case of the
loyal five" club owners of the
American League by President b. r.
johnson and Attorney George W
Miller. OF Chicago. who were pres
ent by Invitation OF the national
association.
Hear New League's side To-day.
The representatives OF the new
twelve club National League will
be heard in open meeting at tomor-
row mornings session. Pending
that hearing the minor league club
owners and officials are extremely
non-partisan and inclined TO Keep
their own skirts clear Of the mess
into which the big leagues have
plunged themselves
IL
league magnates so far as I have
been able to obtain IL that their cue
is TO keep out of the row between
the big fellows until the latter shall
have settled their own differences
and that by SO doing they VIII hasten
the day on which peace Will again
reign in professional baseball
For two years the minors have
conducted their own affairs outside
OF the national agreement. and they
seem Inclined to do so for another
season IL necessary. although they
would prefer to join hands with the
majors in a new deal to purge base
ball OF crooks and gamblers. They
will decline to take sides in the
controversy which has arisen be-
tween the warning factions.
Minors Have Private Quarrel.
The minors had a difficulty Of
their own 10 settle today in the cleo
tion of officers. One faction Of the
association favored combining the
offices Of president secretary and
treasurer SO as to eliminate John H.
Farrell. OF Auburn. n. " who has
served as secretary and treasurer
since the formation OF the sssocia-
tion. and making President y. h
Z
treasurer as well as president. The
rank and file favored retaining the
previous arrangement and the old
board Of officers was reelected. the
tenure of Secretary Farrelfs Office
being made ten years. ]. h Mar
tin. president of the southern
League.s Was. Ieleeted- Kiee-president
/ Of the associatfon
The White Sox will do their spring
training in Dallas next year. That
was settled today by President Jess
Hassell of the Dallas club who was
among those pp<enI and conferred
with Secretary Grabiner on the de-
tails.
I Confirmation Of the report that
Fred Mitchell. former manager OF
the Cubs. would manage the Boston
Braves for the coming year. was OBJ
tsined from a reliable source.
Tive Clubs In Some Cities.
Chicago will have three major
league ball clubs next season. So
will Boston and New York. Chi
cago's third club will. according to
the johnson plans, be located on the
{ West Side. Harry Sinclair. million
aire. is said to be back OF the new
( Chicago club.
Detroit will be The twelfth club
: in the new National League This
means that Detroit will have two
! clubs next season. Frank Navin
/ will continue to conduct the affairs
Of the Detroit American League
Club.
/, The new National League is pre-
! pared to put a strong club in De-
troit. II is said they already have
secured an option on a plot OF
ground. and will construct plant
equal to the best in baseball.
Cleveland. according TO smart
baseball men. will not be invaded.
Jim Dunn a regular fellow. Is solid
/ in Cleveland. So is iris Speaker
and his Indians. They won an
American League pennant last sea-
son. also a world series Champion
ship. and no club can move into
: Cleveland and take the play away
from Dunn and Speaker.
Baltimore wants 10 get into the
big league. Baltimore newspaper
men here say there is S3.eOo.OOo In
Baltimore ready to back a major
Z league club. But neither the new
National or the American League
will invade minor league territory,
u NEW 1Ohh. y. T., nov " Let
'em try TO get EN-" was Col. Houss
tons coment. when he heard thHS
the loyal five" OF the Americak
League claimed possession OF playl
ers belong to the Iankees. the REQ
Sox and the White Sex on the grOune
that all men and all franchises werx
not personal but league propertsl
That assertion is about the most
ridiculous l ever heard in basebaM
or anywhere else. What business
men would invest money in a propos
sition when he acquired no title -
any tangible property :,
War is not the policy OF the new
National League. We will retain the
players we have and will keep our
hands strictly OF those belonging %
the five American clubs They havt
I several prominent stars but they are
welcome to them-if they can find
!; any use to which to put them. We,