Evening star., 1923-02-14

On the other hand, K. NJ. Lands
high commissioner of base ball. SCOTS
at the idea. President johnson of the
American League processes to be sur
prised to learn that any such thing
is contemplated and President Bar
nard OF the Cleveland club classes il
as pure bunk"
Griffith today readily admitted that
such an enterprise was broached
when he and his fellow moguls were
assembled in New York last Decem-
Der for the winter meetings. He as
serts he Is willing to consider a
proposition for placing another team
In this city. but hastens to add that
1t would not be permitted to inter
fere in any manner with the Nationals
and asserts emphatically that he will
under no circumstances contribute
any plan involving the pooling of
players to give the newcomers.
strength on the field.
Would Not Affect Nationals.
81 know about the plan for the
new league, yes" Griff asserted to-
day. but / will not back 1t in the
sense of being q promoter, nor will
of any playing strength by the Wash
ington club through turning oveja
players to it ever be considered. As
understand 1t. the proposal is for
circuit of class AA rating that would
act as a proving ground for players
ambitious to enter the majors. 1t
might be a good thing in that respect
and doubtless our grounds could be
made available for another team on
days when the Washington club is
not scheduled to play here. but l am
not committed to any scheme yet, and
will have to be shown conclusively
that II will work out to the best in
terests of base ball and the Washing1
ton club before l would countenance
such plan"
President Ebbets of the Dodgers
says: Il know 1t is proposed to put
club in Brooklyn and 1 suppose our
park could be used. when We are
playing away from home, but / do
not care to discuss the suggested
league otherwise"
Lands Never Heard of 1t.
'I never even heard of it," was the
when interviewed at his offices in
| Chicago. Laughing heartily. the
chief pooh-bah of the game added
Sounds like somebody had a drink,
ate piece of mince pie. imbibed stale
| beer. had a nightmare and then wrote
! story" Persons intimately asso
| ciated with the commissioner also
| directed attention to the fact that
| claims exist to territorial rights that
| would prohibit the establishment of
new clubs in several of the cities
| mentioned, as clubs already are there
| This is the first I've heard of it."
Ban Johnson said, the American
League head adding that he would
not subscribe to any plan to pool its
| surplus players and distribute them
among the clubs of the new organiza-
! ton.
| President E. S. Barnard of the
| Cleveland club was outspoken in
CHASING the proposal as bunk"
News has been scarce this winter
| and those New York writer's are all
new schemes to make the minors
come to time" Barnard is quoted as
saying. las a matter of fact few
major league club owners are worry
| league needed to fight it"
Louisville. where w. F. Knebel-
kamp. Kentucky magnate. today is
credited with having asserted that
the American Association is prepared
to invade four major league cities in
event the threatened move against
the International League is made. by
the major league owners. Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati, Detroit and Cleveland are
the cities in which the Louisville
owner asserts the American Associa-
tion is in a position to place opposi-
tion teams.
AS a matter of fact. 1t is possible
for league such as the one outlined
! to be considered without either Com
missioner Lands or Ban Johnson
knowing anything of 1t, but it is ex-
tremeiy improbable that serious
thought would be given to such a
project without their counsel, and It
is equally improbable that the enter
prise ever will be an accomplished ed
fact. 1t would need the approval not
only of the American and National
Leagues. but sanction from the Inter-
national as well, as 1t is a unit of
organized base ball. If such a league
were established without the o. K. of
the International League IT would
mean another disastrous war with
probably all the other four non-draft
circuits-American Association, Pa
cific Coast, Western and Three-Eye
Leagues-arrayed against the majors.
Base ball magnates have had their
fill of war. It's too costly.