The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-01-25
FATE
HUNG ON | WORD
Take Won Tilt Against
Recommend and
Saved Game.

SEW YORK. Jan. 2i-Bascball u
hung ON tho edge OF another scowl-
ing chasm for fcw minutes dur
ing tho recent couclavc Of magnatcs
at Chicago.
For short timc there was n
chance that tho carefully patched
UP structure OF the game would
come crashing 10 the ground, and
one little apparently harmless word
was the cause OF It all.
Baseball may rid itself Of It's bar
nacios--tho gamblers and crooked
players. II may ride safely past
many a hidden reef rs Il has done
in the past. But 1t Is doubtful II
the mon who sponsor The pastimo
will ever again face the same sit
uation they faced for brief space
at Chicago.
In the agreement dolcgating Judge
X. NJ. Lands as high commissioner
OF the game there is clause which
clothes the eminent jurist with au-
thority TO investigate and determine
tho facts in charges detrimental 10
baseball and included in the clause
no Is authorized 70 take such pre-
yentivc, remedial or punitive ac-
tion as he deems appropriate against
any party thereto"
Drcyfus Opposed Change.
The maenates representing tho
National and American leagues, who
composed the committee which drew
up the dCcumcnt. substituted the
word recommend" for take" in tho
aforementioned clause after much
discussion. One National league
member, Barney Dreyfus, il said to
have fought against this change OF
wording. But he was outvotcd.
Tho document was then submitted
20 Judge lands for his signature
Within. short time Il was handed
back to tho committee by the Judge
who. being y politician himself and
man who is stick!or for detail
had read II carefully. Along with II
came an ultimatum.
Just what Judge Lands told the
magnates may never bc known. But
W. llINf u 'Il kbp'l hhNAi'li itN Aih'
he said enough. In effect he told
them what he thought Of the agree
mcnt with the word recommend
in tho clause outlining tho powers
OF tho commissioner and added that
unless tho word take be substituted
for It organized baseball could loob
elsewhere for a man TO fill the Job
Wanted Full Sway.
In short, Mr.. lands saw in thaI
one word an attempt on the part oi
the magnates to clip his wings be
/ fore nc started, and as hc does
nothing by half measures he prompt
/ iy baked. when he was approached
by the moguls and asked 10 serve al
baseballs high com missioner 1t was
with tho understanding that he wa
to WELD full authority. and he re-
! fused to be made a dummy official
whose recommendations might b,
treated with no more regard thar
/ those of an outsider.
Prior to tho convention In Chicago
| Ban johnson was quoted TO the ef'
feet that he feared Judge Lands
would not he given enough power
and hoped that this would not b'
the case. Yet, from reports, th'
/ American league representatives
along with one National Lacquer
B Garry Herrmaun---wcre responsible
for the attempt to insert the wore
. recommend" into the clause which
nearly caused Judge lands to toss
up tho Commissiouership. II thl'
was tho case IT appears that the
/ power" the magnatos have giver
UP has caused them 10 wrigglc viii
reluctance and that the bascbal
| sea. smooth though It may seem a.
+ present, Is pulsatlng with politicd
/ undercurrents.
II baseball politics is 20 continue
/ despite Judge Lands election lh'
/ magma tes have taken but a half stol
| forward. and feeble ono at that
/ They have chosen Il capable ant
| conscientiouS man as their head
| viii they permit him to work ou
/ tho salvation of the game and lent
/ him their help? Or will they make
| his high office so unpleasant that h'
/ will give II up as thnukless Job
I /, may be well Tor the maEnates e
! keep In mind that the public vii
watch the workings Of the new ordel
of things with interest, hoping e
| see II succeed, but ready To con
denim whoever is at fault should Il
fail.
Cyo;ubu1Jor Is Victor