The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-23
TANNING
WITH
FARRELL.
Johnson-Ldndis scrap.
Split in ranks.
Lands trlns rerdict.
BY HENRY L. FARRELL

By HENRY l.. FARRELL
MOT 80 long ago when judge
1%landis was NAMED commissioner
and put In charge OF organized base
hall. the major league club owners
thumped him verbally on the back
and shoused--''I.ong live tho conf
missioner
Several oidtimers within hearing
distance remarked that they were all
strong then for Lands. but they eau
toned:
ssvait sill baseball gets back on It's
feet. They'll lie after him a. strong
ana as heavy as they are for him
now. He's bound 60 step on some-
ones toes"
The record Of lands on the bench
and In public life was held up. how.
ever. as indicating that he liked 20
f1rht and n the magnates chose 10
battle him. that no would fight
II didn't take so long for tho
prophesy OF the skeptics 20 be full.
f1Ihpd. Ban johnson. president OF tho
1eague. was the first to pick up arms
against the commissioner. and he
lost-
VINO loses next will be interesting
10 watch. It's cinch Lands won't
because he's too much OF fighter 10
quit and he's too big and capable for
any one living Off baseball to make
quit.
johnson went about his campaign
aeninst the commissioner In petty
Nst1s attempt at annoyance.
He wanted 10 make tho commits
nloner look cheap. and Landss made
him look cheaper by completely L.
porlnx him even to tho point OF re
fSssing to mention his name.
JOHNSON has been . fighter In
u baseball for good many years.
ana he was the car until Harry
Frazee came into the possession Of
che Boston Red Sox. Johnson then
Yunt the friendship Of the man who
uro<,s him In bascbali--C.haries Com.
1rky.--and finally he incurred tire
houtility Of two OF the biggest men
4 - banebali--Coioncls Rupert and
Huston. tho owners OF the New
York Yanks-
the American hague was then
4Alvided into two factions. with Do
{. trolt, Washington. Phtiade iphia.
Cleveland and 81. Louis against Bos-
y IN. Chicago and New York.
This five to three split pulled John
80 thr,z the crisis he faced In tire
naayu case. but u weakened his pres
tien % that his five faithful clubs
woro unable to present enough oppo-
~1e,on to forestall the movement
ofnreed and pushed by the national
1oneue, To secure Judg. lands as the
cc1nmissioner Of baseball.
NATURALLY johnson. relieved OF
IN his regal robes. has never felt
kindly toward Lands. and he start
u nfoer him this winter.
'During the worlds series" Com
missioner lands told group OF
BASEBALL writers in Louisville. the
m Tor leagues had joint meeting in
New York. When took office
Mad Intended that the joint meetings
ohould b alfernased between New
York and Chicago and had planned
a call the December meeting for
/. xnicagc. However. when the presf-
nenf Of the American league volun-
eeerpd the information that he would
enIl his club owners 70 a meeting In
New York. changed my plans and
INT out notices that the meeting
ehould be held in New York.
This arrangement called for the
national league meeting on Decem-
~ II. the American league meeting
a. December is and the joint meet
lue on December i4-ail In New
York.
Johnson then notified his club
ewners that they would meet In Chi
cago In December 10 and that they
would not hold Joint meeting with
the National league. aitho 10 was
ordered by the commissioner.
- ANDIs was asked about Il. and
~ IN his characteristic fashion, he
aid:
II have called that meeting for
New York and II will be held there
whether anyone comes or not"
Johnson's faithful five then went
back on him. Detroit. Philadelphia
and Cleveland told him he was all
wrong and he had to reverse himself
again and call tho meeting In New
York.
Next TO Iandis johnson boasted OF
being the biggest man in BASEBALL.
and when he failed TO get" tho
esquire" II looks like the Squire"
an sfav a while longer