New-York tribune., 1920-12-04
Judge Landis VIII Preside
Orer AlI-Inpo1tant Contab
Minor Leagues To BE Represented by Six Men
Committee of Twelve, Each Major Organization
Having Three Members; Original Plans Changed
By W. I. Macbeth

Dy W. J
The first definite steps toward
organized baseball Will be effected at
senting the National. American an(
city one week from to-day.
This joint committee, comprise
presided over by Judge kenesaw No
sioner of the game. 1t Will be the j.
The minor leagues viii have six, ol
two major leagues will be represent
Promoters OF baseball (both majo
and mnor) are generally agreed that it
Is to the best interest Of the game to
start the work of reorganization as
speedily as possible At the big joint
meeting in Chicago last month"; when
the war clouds rolled away through the
elevation of Judge Lands to his high
Office by all parties concerned, it was
not believed new form of government t
could be prepared for ratification much
before the annual joint meeting OF the
two major leagues in this citY in mid
February. when. it was planned the
minor leagues also were to assemb'e e
in one of the greatest baseball gather
lngs known up to this time.
To Frame Rough Draft
But since then the original schedule
has been somewhat amended in the in
terest of speed. The joint committee
representing the two major leagues
and all of the minor leagues, which
is to meet next Saturday, hopes to
frame rough draft Of the proposed
new agreement and get it in such shape
that it can be presented to the major
leagues at a joint meeting here the
week following.
wait over for this joint meeting to
have voice in whatever amendments
may be proposed, and to carry back
these modified terms to the various
leagues which they represent. The
minor league committee will represent
each grade of the National Association,
and while it Will not have the power to
ratify new peace agreement. its IN
dorsement nevertheless should carry
great weight. At the last annual meet
ing of the National Association it was
determined fairly well what the minor
league terms should be.
Until a definite line has been had on
just what new form of government is
to be adopted, Judge Lands must re
main somewhat in the dark as to his
new duties. The major leagues are
willing, even eager, to have him act as
q high commissioner. and therefore as
Supreme Court of one, whose rulings
will be absolutely final.
The minor leagues, however, have
not as yet gone on record on this point
It is possible they may insist upon
direct representation. in which event
there would be q commission of three
none of whom was directlv Interested
in the game. In any event, though
tho ,lrf(C :
accept Judge Landis as chairman of
the commission. il the commission is
OF more than one.
Only One Possible Hitch
The only hitch likely to develop, in
the opinion of minor league representa-
tives, concerns the draft by major
league upon minor league clubs The
old agreement was abrogated because
the Class AA leagues objected to
draft by the majors. These leagues
have been very successful since the
draft was eliminated and are expected
to oppose It's RESUMPTION. But the
smaller-and great majority of-mnor
leagues are anxious to have the draft
restored AS the major leagues are
not greatly concerned one way or the
other, it is more than likely the Class
"A leagues may gain exemption OF
they so desire.
President John A Hoydler Of the
National League yesterday sent out &
call TO his eight club presidents for the
annual meeting of the circuit. The Ma
tional League owners will meet ct the
Hotel Waldorf Astoria, this city on
Tuesday, December IA, at . o'clock in
the afternoon. The annual meeting Of
the board Of directors VIII be held a.
that hour, but all tie club owners VIII
Sit in at this meeting so a. 10 dispense
with double reading Of The various
reports.
The board Of directors consists Of
William c. Neeck, Chicago; Barney
Dreyfus, Pittsburgh Charles A.
Stoneham, New York, and George W.
Grant, Boston. Two Western and two
Eastern club owners each year com
prise the board, the members of which
alternate annually. Formerly all eight
club owners served on the directorate.
Though as yet the American Leagues
annual meeting has not been called Of
hcally it is well understood the con-
ference Will be held in this city this
year and not in Chicago, as usual. In
no other way would it be poss BILE to
hold a joint meeting of the major
leagues on Decem Der - as manned
The American League constitution
specifies the time but not the place
where the annual meetings must be
LaIS