Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-09
DEATH STRUGGLE BEGUN.
Continued from page


The five dissenting clrbs, left today ms
compo nonts of the American League, were
Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland Wash
ington and st. Louis. President Ban
johnson announced determination OF the
''solid five" to proceed with the organiza-
tion of new A merican League.
The present baseball war brings rem
inIscencos of the last baseball war which
started IN 1914 and In sted two years.
The Federal League WAS organized to
fight not only two M ajor leagues, but also
the MINOR leagues.
Millions of dollars were lost in the ven
ture, although it was the harvest sefson for
players.
Kansas CITY. Mo, Nov. 9.-War
clouds loomed dark and iorbidding Tor
the proponents of the Lasker plan for
baseball reorganization when the prcsi-
dents and club owners of II minor leagues
met in convention here today.
Indications were that the plan would DO
defeated. Minor league leaders declared
themselves capable of settling their own
disputes and conducting their own affairs
With revolutionary movement sweep
ing through the major leagues, the MINOR
leaguers themselves started campaign
involving removal Of John ii. Farrell, OF
Auburn, n. Y, who has been secretary
and treasurer Of the association since It's
formation 20 years ago
Chicago, Nov a-Thc major baseball
league death struggle Is OH. The Ban
Johnson faction of tive American League
clubs refused to go into joint conference
Yesterday afternoon at the Congress Hotel
with the owners of the National League
clubs and three American League clubs
who favor the Lasker plan, with the result
that n new l2-Club league WAS organized,
leaving johnson and his loyal hvc' to
fight their own battle.
The new leaguers have offered Fcdcral
Judge Kenncssw Mountain Lsnds $50, :
600 wear to head the new baseball board
of control that will supplant the National
Commission. Judge Landis indie ated to
one Of the National League club owners
that he would accept the position provtd-
ing he was given n ilve-year contract
Ban Johnson, president Of the American
Iesgue, and his holdouts offered a counter
proposal that three representatives from
each league meet to formulate peace plan
but tho plan was not even confndered by
the Nstiona Ieagucrs and their threc
American |, que allies, and the much
talked of new league with l2-club cir
cult was organized BItlmore In all
probability will be the twelfth member OF
the circuit
The new League includes all the Nation
al League clubs and the New York, Boa
ton and Chicago American League teams
The real spl between the two warning
forces came ut o clock yesterday after
noon when johnson and his loyal five
were given lust one hour and n half To got
on the I4asker plan band wagon. The hvo
American League owners refused TO reply
10 the utimatun Last night headed by
President Ban Johnson, they boarded .
train for Kansas City, sending word
through that they would meet the other
club owners there today
If the l2-cluh league becomes q Ger
taintv Il will mean that New York, & HI
caVn and Boston will have two clubs IN thc
field
With Judge IAndis almost sure 70 head
the new tribunal, the second and thTt
members will he selected after the mcetnt
in Kansas city today. One Of them Will b'
appointed from the minor leagues
Representatives Of tho new league LEFT
last night fer Kansas City TO attend th'
meeting Of the National Association o
Minor leagues, W 'i4tsN VIII tAf'
I.asker plan There IS expected TO be
marked upheaval III the minor association
in Kansas City. Il will probably hr th'
stormicst session hold IN wears. some tavo
the IaSker plan aud some oppose II. II III
| plan is adopted the minors will have
voice in everything pertaining 10 the re
vision of the sport, which is somethln
| they have never had and II Is thought the.
J Shs oh n 80
| New York, Nov o. Determination L
/ take Babe Ruth, home run king, into IN
| new baseball league formed yesterday Il
/ Chicago regardless OF claims made h'
leaders Of the loyal five that he belong
to the American League under former con
tract. was expressed today by Nioc-Prcsl
/ dent Huston Of the Yankees
They wont get anything like as clos
! 10 Ruth as the crown prince got TO Parls,
he said
/ kNTJT CITY NAV CIT