Omaha daily bee., 1920-12-12
League Moguls :
Start Confab
In New York
Reorganization and New Ma
tional Agreement to Be Per.
fected at Meeting, Which
Will Last Several Days.

New York, Dec. 1l.-The great
est convention of base ball interests
ever assembled in this country, in
volving a program for complete re-
organization of the sports govern
ment, got underway here today.
The formulation of a new national
agreement was the most important
problem for settlement.
The sessions will continue for sew
eral days, under the presidency Of
Judge K. M. Lands. newly ap-
pointed head of the sport.
Some important deals involving
exchange of major league players
were expected to be made during
the gathering.
The events that led up to the ne
cessity of adopting a new national
agreement had their beginning
about two years ago, when the Ma
tional Association of Professional
Base Ball leagues. the organization
of minor leagues, broke away from
the national agreement because of
controversy relative to draft pro-
visions.
Reorganization Demanded.
Then there arose from various
quarters demand for a reorgani-
cation of the national commission.
The commission had been composed
of the presidents of the National
and American leagues, with August
Hermann, president of the Cincin-
natl club of the National league, as
chairman.
The organizations interested are
represented in the present conven-
ton as follows:
National League-August Herr
mann, Cincinnati; Barney Dreyfuss,
Pittsburgh, and Charles H. Ebbetts,
Brooklyn.
American League - James c.
Dunn, Cleveland; Thomas Shibe,
Philadelphia, and Frank Navin, De-
troit.
National Observation-Disclosures Fl.
Sexton, president; Thomas ].
Hickey, president of the American
association; J. D. Martin, president
of the Southern association; ]. w.
Morris, president of the Texas
league; George H. Maines, presideh;
of the Michigan Ontario league, and
w. H. Walsh, president of the Sou.a
Atlantic league.
Will Make Agreement.
In addition, John A. Heydler,
president of ahe National league;
Ban Johnson, president Of the Amer
ican league, and Secfetary John H.
Farrell of the National association,
are acting in an advisory capacity
without vote. George Wharton
Pepper of Philadelphia, and john
Conway Toole of New York, are
legal advisers. t.
The new national agreement which
the committees propose to draw III,
will replace the one adopted i'll
1908.
1t is generally expected that It
will take the form of two parts: One
between the National and American
leagues that will apply to questions
involving solely major league mat
tiers, and the other between the
major and minor leagues that will
apply to questions involving the in
terests of these two divisions.
Club owners and players have
been invited to present ideas.
The new agreement, in the opin-
ion of base ball men here, is certain
to contain a provision for the restc.
ration Of the draft system. Such
provision is likely to meet with Sc
rious opposition from some minor
leagues and it is not unlikely that it
would result in some of the MINOR
leagues refusing to become party
to the new agreement.
When the proposed new agree 4
ment, which is expected to include
numerous radical changes, finally is
in shape for acceptance by the com
mittees it will be submitted by Them
to their respective organizations for
ratification.
The new agreement, in addition to
outlining the duties and powers OF
Judge Lands, will confer upon him
an official title, which probably will
be director Of base ball. He un-
doubtedly will have more power and
authority than has been possessed by
any individual or commission in the
history of base ball.
As director of base ball it is the
general belief that Judge Lands will
head board of control, the members
of which will sit with him merely in
an advisory capacity. But the judges
decision in all matters will be final.
The judges contract runs for seven
years and fixes his annual salary at
S42, 500, with additional funds for ex-
penses and an Office in Chicago.