New-York tribune., 1920-10-15
Heydler Hurls
The First Brick
In Baseball War
Discredited National Com
mission Divided; Hostili-
ties by Wire Only as Yet
BY w. O. Mcclellan

The first brick in the winter base
ball war seems to have been thrown
yesterday, when John A. Heydler, presi-
dent Of the National League. disagreed
by telegraph with Ban johnson, presi-
dent Of the American League. There
are no casualties to date, as the hostili-
ties so far have been waged over the
telegraph wire. hut II is evident that
the discredited National Commission is
divided against itself.
Ban Johnson wired to President
Heydler that he believed the holding
of q joint meeting Of club owners Of
both National and American leagues
to consider the rehabilitation Of base
ball would be unwise at this time.
Heydler retorted that the meeting was
called by the unanimous desire Of the
club owners of the National League.
and he considered that it had been
called at the psychological moment in
the baseball crisis.
That sounds like war, but msnv
threatened baseball wars Of the mast
have ended with the passing of the
loving cup loaded with wassail or
something else in violation of the
Folstead act. So one never can tell.
Some time back the American League
magnates threatened to pull Ban John
sons throne from under him. They did
. for minute, but he put it back again
and glued himself to it.
Johnson in Opposition
Friends of Johnson declared at
Cleveland that Johnson would oppose
to the last any attempt to supplant
the National Commission, and hinted
+bot ba
many clubs to block all attempts at
reform in the government of baseball.
The National League clubs evidently
are calling for showdown, and they
will be supported by at least three
clubs in the American League. That
makes majority Of eleven clubs Of
the sixteen clubs in the national agree
ment.
John A Heydler last night made
public the kilograms exchanged by
himself and Johnson. Johnson's tele-
gram to Heydler reads:
1T is my judgment to hold
az this time would be a mistake.
The Cook County grand jury has
been reconvened and will resume
its Investigations into the deplor-
able conditions that exist in profes-
sional baseball. Much important
testimony will be presented which
must weigh heavily in the future de-
liberations of the self-appointed
custodians of the game"
There was a time when John A.
Heydler might have considered tele-
gram from Ban Johnson in the nature
Of an imperial edict and would have
replied quickly, "Yes, Mr.. Johnson" or
words 10 that effect. But here is the
answer that the president of the Ma
tional League returned:
The action of the National
League members in extending an
club presidents of the American
League to attend the proposed meet
ing was unanimous. The meeting
was called to discuss and formulate
plans for the future government Of
and the safeguarding of profess onal
baseball.
VIII Brook No Delay.
"Our people will be there. They
are firm in the belief that public
sentiment will brook no delay where
such vital matters as the good repute
OF the national game, the protection
OF all honest players and the pro-
lection of immense property rights
are concerned.
In my judgment il is fortunate
coincidence that the Cook County
grand jury is to continue it's in
vestigations during the time of our
meeting This gives US the ideal op-
portunity to aid personally the court
and the legal representatives of the
state of Illinois in the great work
they have undertaken"
1t remains to be seen whether or not
Johnson, whose friends have claimed
for him absolute power over profes-
sional baseball, can block the ex-
pressed desires of majority of the
club owners in the big leagues. And
1t seems that the president of the
American League is determined to
fight it out on the same lines if it
takes all winter.
Ordinarily q baseball war might not
attract any moro attention than a
checker tournament. But the followers
Of baseball are more than a little
concerned in this war--if 1t is a war
for they feel that upon the result
will depend the future good govern
ment of baseball