Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-13
Hatchet Is Buried
CONTINUED from PAGE One)

ment the individual major yeague
club owners affixed their signatures
to 4 contract in which they agreed
not to criticize publicly each other
or talk about one another and TO ac-
cept any decision made by Judge
Lands regardless of their personal
opinion of it.
Included in the signatories to this
agreement We're President E. b.
Johnson of the American League and
two of the three club owners who
have fought his administration.
Charles A. Comisky OF Chicago and
Jacob Rupert of New York. Harry
F'razee of Boston, the third. an
nounced that he would sign. He was
not present when it was drawn up.
The signing of the new national
agreement brought u sharp state
ment from Judge Lands concerning
the powers he must have and led to
erroneous reports that he had issued
an ultimatum giving the club owners
fifteen minutes in which to make
changes he demanded. The judge
did not set time limit but did tell
the club owners that his powers
must be supreme.
When the copy of the new national
agreement was brought before the
league representatives it contained
a section saving that the commits
sioner, after investigating any affair
he considered detrimental TO base
ball could recommend such action
as he deemed advisable.
Judge Lands interrupted the read
ing OF the. document to say that this
must be made to read take such ac-
ton
You have told the world that my
powers are TO be supreme he said
10 give me the power merely to
recommend takes all power out Of
my hands. will retire from the room
gentlemen. and you can discuss this
matter. But | want you to know
that either l must have power to take
such action as 1 wish or else you had
better seek Il new commissioner. /
would not take this job for all the
gold IN the world unless l knew my
hands were to be free
On motion of President Johnson,
the major leaguers voted to substi-
tute the word take" for recon
mend" but it was found that the mi
nors We're not in official session and
that the matter would have to go
through their drafting committee
again.
Representatives of minor leagues in
standing vote assured the Judge
that they had considered recon-
mend the same as take in that
they were bound TO abide by his tfeci-
SONS, but that as soon as the agree
ment could be formally taken I'D
again the word would be changed and
they would sign.
Tonight the major leagues signed
the contract with Judge Lands max
ing him commissioner for seven
Years at $4,000 year. The National
agreement will remain in effect SO
long as Judge Lands is commission
or.
Judge Lands, however. has stipu-
lated that his salary of $500 a wear
as judge should be deducted from his
baseball salary, so he actually will
get only $4,000 year from baseball.
The new agreement also provides
Tor restoration of the draft with
prices scaled down from $4,000 for
Class "A leagues to $1,000 for class D.
The American Association and the
new international leagues remained
out Of the draft while the Pacific
Coast League, the other class AA or
ganization went in.
New players contracts covering
what the club owners termed the
ethics of the game were approved
by the majors
one clause in the new form of con-
tract provides that the player pledges
loyalty to his club and pledges him
self TO the American public to CON
form to high standards of fair play
ana good craftsmanship. The player
also promises to abide by all deci-
slons of the commissioner and to
Keep himself in good physical condi-
ton throughout the. season.