New-York tribune., 1922-02-03
Johnson's Call
10 W ashington
PuzzlesOwners
Local Magnates Surprised
at Choice of Capital City
for the Annual Meeting
By W. |. Macbeth

ne iOcai baseball fraternity. or that
part of it which represents the man
agement Of our three major league
repre- esentatives of the Greater CITY.
seemed somewhat nonplussed yester-
day over Ban Johnsons idea Of holding
the annual schedule meeting of the
American League in Washington on
Wednesday next.
The boss of the junior major circuit
has hewed strictly to the line of his
constitutional rights both as to time
and place. The American League con-
stltution names the second Wednesday
IN February as the date for the an
nual schedule meeting and leaves the
place to the discretion Of it's executive
Usually the National League meeting
precedes that of its rival by one day.
for it without exception falls on the
second Tuesday OF each February. The
month having opened on Wednesday
this year it furnishes one Of those oc-
casions when the American magnates 3
gather almost one week before the
National League.
The surprise, however. is in the place
rather than the date. This will be the
first time since peace was established d
between the National and American
leagues, almost twenty years ago. that
the big February meeting has not been
held either in Chicago or New York.
1t has been customary to convene in the
Windy City, but certain exceptions
were made in favor of New York when
it was deemed advisable for the two
leagues to meet jointly for mutual
legislation.
There will be no joint meeting of the
two leagues at this time, despite the
draft question, which is agitating the
majors. Western delegates cannot be
expected to wait around for week
till the National League owners con-
veEe. If there is some purpose of hav-
ing all the American League delegates y
in the Capital City so as to present any
petition to the Administration, no one
in this city has been apprised Of it. 1t
is believed Johnson has named Washing
ton simply to honor the Capital City.
And with the surnlise goes the suspi-
cion that Ban may have some closer
personal interest in the Washington
club.
Yankees Still Seeking Strunl<
Word seeped out of Chicago yester-
day that the New York American
League champions had renewed nego-
tiatinos with Charles A. Comiskey for
the contract of outfielder Amos Strunk.
This story had it that in all probabl-
ity three-cornered deal would be ef-
fected during the Washington meeting
whereby Strunk would be passed on to
Miller Huggins in exchange for pitch
ers. The pitchers to figure in the deal
presumably were to como from some
other club, either by trade or purchase
on the part Of the two battling Colo
nes
Every one connected with the man
agement of the Yankees, Of course,
presumed utter ignorance Of any such
negotiation. 1t is not good policy.
however, to disclose ones hand before
trade is effected. Certainly the Yam
KEGS could use an outhelder Of
Strunks experience. pending the re-
turn of Babe Ruth and Bob Meuse at
least. But, unless some Of the untried
recruits could be handed over for the
pitchers mentioned. there would seem
little ground for the surmise.
Certainly Husgins is not likely to
part with any one of Mays, Shawkey,
Hoyt, Bush. Jones, Harper or O'Doul.
The champions are strong on reserve
strength for the infeld. with McNally.
Mitchell, Mcmillan and Fewster among
others for spares. But this reserve
strength is vital asset against a
wreck through illness or injury and
it is scarcely likely Higgins would be
foolish enough to sacrifice it. AS to
Comiskeys desire for pitchers. that
seems reasonable enough He has in
Red Faber and Kerr the nucleus of
an effective staff