New-York tribune., 1920-10-30
American President and
Loyal Five Would Put
Minors on Committee

CHICAGO, Oct 29.-A counter-pro-
posal to the Lasker plan for the re-
Organization Of baseball was male to-
day by the board Of directors of the
American League in executive session
here. The boards proposal was in
answer to the ultimatum of the Ma
tional League members AMI the shrce
American League club mbers-Chi-
cago, New York and Boston-who de-
clared they would organize a twelve
club league if the five American League
clubs which are loyal" to President
Johnson did not join in the plan be-
fore November l.
The boards answer suggests that a
committee Of nine mbers-three
each from the National League, the
American League and the National AS
sociation of Professional Baseball
Leagues (minor league work out
plan Of reorganization. This committee
II was pointed out, will give due con-
sheraton, not only to the major
leagues, bat to the minor leagues as
well
s"We are confident" the statement
says, that in this manner a reoIgan-
l1atlon may be worked oLI, along sane
and practical lines which will be sat-
isfactory, not only to so-caled organ
lied baseball. but to the public as
well.
Willing to Cooperate
"We recognize that there is a strong
feeling prevalent among the public in
favor OF some reorganization, and the
Amer can League will be glad to
cooperate IN a feasible and practical
way to end that"
THE board Of directors are of the
unanimous opinion tnat the so-called
'Lasker PAN viii prove wholly inef
a d, !, b.,
Its sponsors seek to accomplish. and
that the American League cannot sub
scribe to that plan," the statement con-
tinues.
in support of this assertion the di
rectors pointed out two reasons why
the plan cannot be approved by the
American League
'Flrst, 1t appears that the National
ASSOCIATION of Professional Baseball
leagues (Mlnor Leagues) has thus ia,
had no part in the working out of this
plan, nor does it appear that the plan
contemplates permitting them to have
proper voice or influence in the nro.
posed reorganization.
Permitting them to make recon-.
mendauons is but an empty shell
moreover, If reorganization is to he
accomplished the National Association
ppnou nave representative on the
I.
S'oh' or by whatever name that bod 9
mas be called D0'S
iractIcal Men Needed
Second As we read the resolutions
adopted, the underlying idea Of thf
sponsors TOR the so-caIed Lasker Plan
seems to be the creation of a commits.
sion composed Of eminent citizens whc
have no connection Whatsoever with
baseball except as they may be patrons
Of the sport paw o''s
The names which have thus ia,
peen sugges by the sponsors 70,
the plan, according to the press ar,
of men who have heretofore had ne
experience in the management or con
Duet OF baseball. and the wisdom OF
permitting men Inexperienced in prac
tical baseball affairs, no matter how
eminent they ma, be, to be empowered
TO take over even temporarily under
any circumstances the MANAGEMENT OF
baseball properties in which large sums
OF money have been invested, is grave
ly doubtful
"The so-called plan Of reorganza-
ton has apparently been precpitated d
by reason of the gambling exposures,
particularly the throwing of games by
players, and the idea of the sponsors
Of the so-called Lasker PLAN seems
TO be that this evil in baseball can be
entirely avoided in the future by the
creation of such commission
We lave no confidence in such a
commission being any more able to
stamp out gambling than the national
commission has been, indeed we do not
believe that such a commission could
be as effective in stamping out gamb-
ling as q commission composed of p -ac-
tical baseball men who understand the
mately the history of all its players.
"If baseball games have been thrown
in the past. as all now &noY they have