The New York herald., 1922-12-14
BAN TO SURRENDER
HIS SWORD TO-DAY
Major League Magnates Meet
With Judge Landis in
Joint Session.
by w. o. McGEEHAN.


The joint meeting Of the National and
American league magnates will convene
al the Commodore to-day. and sixteen or
more magnates will be rolled into the
council hall. One OF the first matters II
come up will be the formal surrender OF
Ban Johnson, president OF the American
League, who led a brief and unsuccess.
ful insurrection against Judge Kenesaw
Mountain Lands, the High Commits
sioner, Johnson, from all indications, will
offer unconditional surrender and throw
himself upon the mercy of the court
1t was planned to order Col. rTilling-
hast L'Hommedieu Huston of the YAM
lees to turn in the iron hat at the same
time Ban Johnson turned In his sword.
but Col. Huston has withdrawn hinlsels
from the jurisdiction of the high court
OF baseball. The Colonel viii not only
retain the martial bonnet but he Is
wearing it jauntily on one side. He has
asked the privilege of witnessing the
laying down of the sword of Ban John
son. This ceremony no doubt will mark
the end Of the last rebellion against the
authority Of the Judge.
There are many matters to como be-
fore the joint meeting and some OF these
were taken up before the National
League session yesterday and discussed
as they affect this league. The first Is
the matter Of transforming. 1t is highly
probable that the joint meeting win or
der that transforming. or the playing OF
post-season games by players In the Dig
leagues, be discontinued altogether IL
is more than likely that the new form
of contract will call for the services OF
the player for the entire year instead OF
for the season of 154 games.
New Task for Judge Lands.
The National League will propose that
Judge Landis be put on the schedule
committee in order that he may aid TO
stife the annual squawks. 1t will be
proposed that the matter of~whether or
not worlds series game can be played
be left to the home club and Judge Lam
dis. Hitherto the umpires dave decided
this point.
It will be proposed that the remunera-
ton of the umpires during the worlds
series be a fixed sum. Hitherto the
umpires have been given a percentage.
The proposition of increasing the player
limit for the major league clubs to fifty
will be urged by many of the club own
ers This is more or less retaliatory
measure aimed at the minors which op-
pose submission TO the draft.
on which all deals within the leagues
win be closed has majority behind IT,
The adoption of this rule would still
much of the talk about the buying or
1t will be proposed that
vote by mail be taken on matters con-
cerning both leagues in order that the
calls for joint meetings may not become
too frequent.
Union Up for Discussion.
While the magnates are not willing TO
admit it the matter of the Baseball Play
ers Union will come up for some serious
Charles II. Ebbets, the
good old SQUIRE Of F1atbush. Is greatly
agitated over. the menace Of the union
and has not hesitated to say tsat he sees
in il a plot on the part OF the grasping
athletes to hold up the philanthropie
baseball club owners.
or course, one OF the matters over
which there will be considerable oratory
Is the date for the opening of the 1923
season. Originally this was fixed at
April II and Mr.. Barney Dreyfus OF
Pittsburgh has announced that he would
open on this date regardless.
But. in going over a. calendar, Mr..
Harry III. Frazee, who Is to open with
the Yanks in their new ball park. dis
covered that this would deprive him or
a Saturday game and the proud Peorian
blood of Mr.. Frazee began to boil 1t
was not the money with Mr.. Frazee.
II was the principle of the thing. Mr
Frazee could not see why Mr.. McGiili-
cuddy of Philadelphia should get share
in Saturday gate which should go TO
the Red Sox. consequently the pattle
will be on in the council hall.
<<I trNrr lvaI M
bling on baseball games also will be
discussed. Judge Lands will urge upon
the magnates the exercise of great Wig
lance to prevent betting in the baseball
parlxs. Outside of this 1t is hard to see
where the magnates can do much to stop
the gambling which. according to Judge
Ilandis. has increased from year to year.