New-York tribune., 1921-12-16
Lands Casts
DecidilngVote
In 'Wrangle
Advisory Committee Meets
To-day TO Recommend
Universal Draft System
BY Jack Lawrence

As result Of action taken yesterday
at the ioint meeting of the National
and American leagues at the Hotel
Commodore the next worlds series will
be limited to seven games instead of
the nine that have been played for the
last three years.
The discussion as to the number of
games involved in the great baseball
classic began in the morning session
and became SO controversial and
heated that it was not settled until
the afternoon meeting was called. The
final announcement was not made until
after 1880 O'Clock, and this is said to
he due to the fact that a warm debate
ensued before a decision could be
reached
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands,
commissioner Of baseball, cast the de-
ciding vote in this momentous matter
He had supported the seven-game idea
ever since the last nine-game series
between the Yanks and the Giants. He
advocated 1t at Buffalo and has fire.
quently declared since then that the
nine-game series became wearisome to
the public, even though the contending
teams were as evenly matched as the
local mines in the last worlds series.
One of the main features of Judge
i.andis's program for the joint meet
ing of the major leagues was the re-
turn to the seven-game idea in the
worlds series, and in speech made to
representatives OF the two organiza
tions he carried his point, and when the
matter came to vote he had the Chi
cago Cubs, of the National League, on
his side, despite the fact that the rest
of the older circuit declared in favor
OF the nine-game series.
American Voted SOlidly
The American League voted solidly
for seven games and this situation left
Judge Lands in position to cast the
deciding ballot He voted for the
seven game program and that ended
the discussion, although there was
great deal of post-session grumbling
on the part of certain National League
magnates
Judge Lands based his plea for
return to the seven game schedule on
the fact that it would meet with
public approval, which it undoubtedly
would. The National League opposition
built its case on the theory that the
baseball championship of the world
could not fairly be decided In seven
games.
The joint meeting adjourned last
very much in the air The matter
Will be taken up at IL O'Clock this
morning by the advisory council, which
will act on the recommendations that
the universal draft be reinstalied,
Judge Lands stated emphatically
that he was against any measure that
would tend to interfere with the pro-
motion of young ball player from
the minors to the majors. He is gen
orally considered to have taken firm
and uncompromising stand in favor
of some sort of an enlarged and more
tolerant draft regulation.
After the morning session to- day
Judge Lands addressed the baseball
writer's association during its ap-
nual meeting, which was also held IN
the Comm odore, and stated emphatl-
caily that if there was any regulation
in the institution of baseball which
was designed to hold young player
in the bushes, the great American
pastime would have to stop calling
itself by that name.
Many Reinstatements
One of the important developments
at to-days combined meeting of the
two leagues was the tacit and un-
official agreement which was reached
relating to the general reinstatement
of reserve clause jumpers.
The shortage of playing material and
the existing draft situation has brought
the major league rulers to a more toll
Grant viewpoint in regard to Ineligible
players, and it is certain that there
will be many reinstatements made
within the next few weeks.
Miller Higgins was a busy figure
about the Commodore yesterday and
many deals involving the Yanks were
reported. 1t is known that Higgins has
made two propositions which are de-
signed to bring certain players to our
American League champions. One has
been put up to the Washington club
and the other to Detroit.
The joint meeting will continue in
session at l o'clock this afternoon at
the Commodore