Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-11-09
BY LUTHER A. HUSTON.


international News star Correspondent.
CHICAGO. Nov. 9.-Basebalrs third big
war is on in earnest today. Combatants
are marshaling their forces for the first
skirmishes of what is declared will be
a fight to the finish.
The first brush of the conflict, follow
ing the declara ton of war when eight
clubs of the National League and three
of the American League decided late yes
terday to proceed with the organization
of q new twelve-club major league to be
governed il accordance with the Lasker
plan, was to take place at Kansas City
today. Each side started early to ma
neuYer for the advantage.
A committee from the new National
League body, consisting Of Garry Herr
mann Of Cincinnati, Barney Dreyfuss Of
Pittsburgh, Charles II. Ebbets of
New York Americans, went TO Kansas
City to submit to the minor league
moguls the proposals upon which the new
organization Will bid for minor league
support. Ban johnson and his followers
likewise sent emiSsaries to Kansas City
to seek the support of the minors.
lands MADE
HUGE OFFER.
While the warning magnates are seek
ing to bring about an alliance with the
smaller leagues, Judge kenesaw Noun
tain lands Of this city has under con-
sideration an offer to become head OF
organized baseball at a salary of $4,000
per year. He has been offered seven
year contract. Except to state that he
considers the offer an honor and to say
emphaticalIy that he has not declined,
Judge Lands has not intimated what
his decision will be- He has declared
that the matter is too important TO per-
NIT hasty action and that he viii give 1t
careful consideration
Even In its early stages the battle has
become one of bank-rOlls. Indications
are that the new National League or
ganization is preparing to unbelt a 70
bust roll that will provide the lighting
organization with A vast amplitude OF
the sinews Of war. The new OrganlZa
ton numbers some of the wealthiest men
In the Nation among its hackers. Among
them are William. Wrigley, j. Ogden AR
mour, Colonel Jacob Rupert, Charles
A. COmiskey and Charles a. StOneham.
The financial resources Of these men are
decidedly extensive.
Ban johnson and his band Of dissent
ers are also preparing for a prolonged
and bitter fight. Their course of action
has not been definitely determined, but
It is considered likely that long drawn
out legal proceedings viii follow. John
son has a twenty-year contract as presi
dent Of the American League, and the
withdrawal from the league of the Chi
cago, New York and Boston clubs gives
him a basis, it is declared, for legal
action.
TWELFTH CITY
is IN DOUBT.
There is much speculation today as
to what city viii make the twelfth OF
the doZen-club league which has been
formed. The New York, Chicago, Phila-
delphla, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, st. Louis,
Boston and Brooklyn National League
clubs and the Chicago, New York and
Boston American League clubs are char
ter members Of the new organization.
It was declared that The door would be
held open a reasonable length Of time"
for one Of the dissenting American
League clubs to enter the new organi-
cation. The first one to apply will be
admitted. If none of the solid i've
come in, a twelfth club will be placed
in some city that will not interfere with
any minor league club.
Ban johnson, it was declared today,
plsns to put new clubs in Boston, New
York and Chicago. If this is done he
will have an eight club league, as now.
st. Louis, PhilA delphta, Detroit. Cleve-
land and Washington are the cities repre-
seuted In the group that Johnson con-
trolls.
It is the belief of many that the minor
leagues hold the key to the present base
bail situation. The eagneness with
which the warning magnaIes FASTENED to
bid for minor league support confirms
this.
The new National League will seek to
win favor with the minors by offering
them the privilege Of naming one mem
Der OF the National Commission. The
Lasker plan, which the new league has
adopted, provides for civilian board Of
control, consisting of three men, none of
whom shall hive financial interest in
baseball. Judge lands has been offered
the Craftsmanship, the minor league will
be asked to appoint the second member
and the third is to be named later. The
chairman will serve for seven years, the
second member fof six years and the
third member for five years.
HEYDLER STAYS
AS LEAGUE HEAD.
The head Of the new National League
will be John a. Heydler, who was presi-
dent of the old National League, which
expired when the new organization was
formed.
Possibilities that the warfare might de-
velop into IL fight for star players were
seen today. In the American League are
such stars as George Sisler. Iris Speaker,
Ty Cobb, Jim Bagby, Stanley Coveieskie.
Walter johnson and many others. If the
war becomes bitter efforts may be made
to entice these stars into the new league
by means Of fat contracts.
So long as the war continues 1t means
that the worlds series is at an end. OBJ
viogsly the new National League will not
tender, hence with only one big recog-
nized organization there can be no more
post-season clashes. This situation may
lead to q revival Of the Temple Cup
series plan of the original National
League. Then the two leading clubs of
the National League played for the Tenn
pie cup, emplematic of the championship,
nf ha