The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-08
= WHEA ] GEEVka
Insurgent Baseball Magnates
Offer New Plan.
Want to Get Together With
ssFive Hold Outs"
MINORS MAY DECIDE Il
Big League managers Fear At
titude of Small Ones.
Chiefs Plan to Lobby at the
Kansas City Sessions.

Chicago, Nov. S.-The first move
for the National and American league
clubs to get together on a plan for re-
organization baseball was made short
ly after the two meetings opened here
today. Five clubs. loyal to Ban John-
son, head of the American league,
Were represented at the meeting of
that organization in the Congress hotel
and the other three American club
representatives attended the meet of
the National league in another room
in the Congress hotel.
AS soon as the National league
meeting got under way, message was
sent to Ban Johnson asking the five
American league clubs, which have not
endorsed the Lasker plan; for reor-
ganizatien, to send a representative to
the meeting of the National league.
Want to Get Together.
Clark Griffith, one of the "loya1
five" went to the National meeting
room. He was allowed to cool his
heels in the hallway for some time
before being permitted to enter the
room. Miller Higgins Of st. Louis
talked with Griffith while he waited.
Griffith and Rupert presented a
plan to the other 'loyaP' American
league club owners for all the club
owners to get together Immediately for
an informal discussion of the situation.
LIE Suggestion was dQOpIeQs
Griffith was in the National league
meeting about fifteen minutes. When
he came out he was accompanied by
Col. Jacob Rupert of the New York
Yankees. lone of the insurgent' Amer
lean league club owners. Rupert and
Griffith walked arm in arm to the
meeting of the ''1oyal five"
johnson in Opposition.
Opposition to the plan byssPresident
I'll
delphia, Cleveland. Detroit, and st.
Louis clubs, in their counter PROPOSE
tion was based on the belief that pro
fessional baseball should not be taken
out of the control of the club owners,
managers and players. The Cook
county grand jury in it's report stated
that the grand jury believed the men
now controlling baseball could keep it
above suspicion, and the Johnson
forces apparently share this belief all
tho they have said they were. not op-
posed to some form OF reorganization.
The Lasker plan would choose three
nationally prominent men who would
have jurisdiction of the national
pastime.
Would Avert War.
In the long conference held yester-
day by both factions, it was known
| that the National league and the three
American league owners discussed
plans TO aLIempt TO avert war, but
it was learned the remainder was
steadfast in their determination to
form the twelve-team league should
| the other teams refuse to come int
No little interest was manifested in
| the meeting of minor league club own
| ers in Kansas City tomorrow Many
passed thru Chicago yesterday and
major league representatives conferred
| with them with a view Of getting in
| formation as to whether or not sup
| port Of the Lasker plan could be ex-
| pected from the minors.
| Minors May Decide 1t.
| It was conceded that their support
or non-support would be great aid
| for either faction, should the battle
| be waged. David Fultz, president of
| the international league, and T. J.
Hickey, president of the American as
| sociation, recently declared that if the
new plan was put into effeet the minor
! leagues should have a hand in the Sc
| lection of the men on the governing
body, as well as paying a part of the
| salaries.
/ Indications that lobbying might be
an important feature of the Kansas
| City conference were noted when dis
| patches from Kansas City were re-
| ceived here saying reservations had
| been made there for Ban Johnson
Connie Mack, Benjamin Shibe and
| James c. Dunn, who were expected to
go to Kansas City following the Ameri-
| can league conference today.