New-York tribune., 1921-12-14
Would Prohibit
Purchase From
Draft Exenpts
National League Proposal
Now Waits ON Joint Ac-
ton by American League
By w. 7. Macbeth


draft, will be submitted to the Joint
meeting of the National and American
leagues at the Hotel Commodore to-
morrow.
The plan Of attack, which was in
dorsed at the annual meeting of the
National League at the Waldorf As
toria Hotel yesterday afternoon. is
sponsored by our old friend. Charles H.
Ebbets, the genial Squire of Flatbush.
The Squire, let us whisper in passing,
rs one of the few who has kept his
tcet on the ground and his head out of
the rosy clouds in all this clatter and
eiang and clash Of unleashed millions
of frenzied finance. He can talk as
loudly as ever in nickels
providing the American League will
concur in the plan (and this seems
most reasonable. in view fthe fact
that Judge Lands is unalterably in
favor of restoration of draft univer-
sally throughout the various classes
OF organized basebalD the major
leagues Jointly viii adopt new rule
prohibiting the purchase of nlavers
from minor leagues which have ex-
empted themselves from draft.
Joint action by the American League
along the Ebbets line of campaign
would surely crush the rival forces be-
tween the jaws of trap or the unner
and neither millstones as you prefer.
lt would mean complete isolation for
tnem. THESE minor leagues cannot now
draft upon those of lower classifica-
ton and the lower classes would not
be obliged to sell. In short, it would
mean. a complete player blockade-a
starvlng-out process. where surrender
would be bound to come with the ex
aaustlon OF present player resources.
Would Bring Desired Results
1t is believed by the higher dieni-
taries of the National League that
such action would bring about the de-
sired result and much more quickly
fhan the slower process of striking
through the advisory council. Should
the advisory council, as is it's right.
vote to amend the present agreement
relative to draft, special meeting of
the national association for a ratifying
majority vote would be required. This
would cause not only q long delay but
unusual expense for the financially op-
pressed smaller leagues.
This angle Of the situation has not
escaped that faction of the minor
leagues holding out against restora-
hon OF draft. Indeed, Jack Dunn, one
Of the stoutest champions of the dis
senters, intimated as much to the
writer in discussing possible adverse
acslon through the advisory council
The matter could not be decided be-
for the next meeting of the national
association said Dunn. "That would
give us another season under existing
Conditions anyway, for it is not likely
The little ones would send enough
delegates to any special meeting to
break our front"
1t can be seen. then, those minor
leagues opposed to the draft have been
figuring the various angles to avoid
ostracism. Which discounts the bel
hgerent talk IN certain quarters of
the refractory camp that the .non-con-
tormists were prepared to 60 to the
extreme of splitting out from organ
lied baseball in every way rather than
surrender their point.
This latest scheme advocated by Eb
bets and ratified by the National
side of the major leagues, and wrong"
all on the side of the others, if even
tually open hostilities should develop.
Ebbets and his colleagues realize it is
case OF fighting fire with fire.
End Justifies the Means
Those advocating the restoration Of the
draft espouse the cause of the player
They point out that elimination of the
draft closes the avenues to advance
ment in the profession The rule Of
rigid ostracisn, such as Mr.. Ebbets
proposes, would be by far more
formidable hedging stone wall. But in
iustifies the means, as surrender
should be complete before the opening
of the next season.
The Ebbets plan was about every
thing Of Importance that has trans
pired so far at the annual meeting of
the National League. The meeting,
which was adjourned at o'clock yes
routine business could be touched, will
be continued to-day.
The annual report of President John
A. Heydler contained number of sug-
gestons which were discussed and
which will be proposed to the American
League for joint cooperation. In these,
as in the Ebbets scheme, mutual har-
mony is essential; otherwise the Ma
tional League would be placed at
distinct disadvantage with it's friend
ly rival.
Among other things, Mr. Heydler
suggested legislation or action looking
to the arrest and conviction of pop
Dottle throwers, the protection of UNI
pires in exhibition games between
the American and National leagues by
vesting such with authority to act as
during the championship season, better
arrangements of exits from playing
ields so that umpires should not have
to come IN contact with players and
move to secure a return to normal
railway fares, with the elimination of
ao per cent surcharge on Pullman
tickets.
Close to 1920 Attendance
The presidents report showed that
the attendance for 1921 was very little
less than the record year OF 1920.
Flttsburgh, Boston, New York and st. |
Louis showed marked gains in attend
ance; there was a falling off at Gin
cinnati, Brooklyn, Chicago and Phila-
delphia.
The representatives of the various
clubs, among them all the presidents. |
were as follows:
Boston, George w. Grant; BROOKLYN.
Charles II. Ebbets ST., Charles H. Eb,
bets ir. and Edward McKeeyer: Nov
York, Charles A. Stoneham, John !
McGraw and F. x. McQuade; Philadel-
phia, William f. Baker; Pittsburph
Barney Dreyfuss; Cincinnati, Augnst
Hermann and Louis Widrig; Chicaro
William veeck; st: Louis, Samuel
Breadon, Branch Hickey and A. F. |
Jones.
The board of directors for 1922 will
be composed of Messrs. Dreyfuss
tchairman), Veeck, Stoneham and
Grant In the National League two
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