Evening star., 1924-12-18

But they named a committee con-
sisting of Connie Mack, Tom Shibe
and Clark Griffith to call on Johnson
presumably to ask him not to re-
sign They said they felt that John
son was needed in the national game
and should not forsake it as a re-
suit of the controversy between him
and the comissioner.
The letter denouncing Johnson for
his crisicism of Commissioner lands
administration was signed by all the
club owners except St. Louis. II
was drawn up after the American
League peace committee, composed
of Tom Shibe of Philadelphia, Col
Jacob Rupert of New York and E
S. Barnard of Cleveland. had held two
conferences with the commissioner to
effect a reconciliation. 1t was pre-
sented to the joint major league
meeting by Col Rupert.
VIII support Lands.
The communication, addressed to
the commissioner, declared that the
activities of the president of the
American League had created condi-
tons "gravely harmful to base ball
and "intolerable to you"
1t charged that our presiden,
sought to discredit your action and to
cast suspicion upon the 1924 world
SERIES" while you were dealing
promptly and efficiently with a most
deplorable exception to base balls
honorable record
The cub owners said they Offered
no extenuation. nor did they ques-
ton the harmful effect" of such con.
ditfons on base ball. They guaran-
teed:
First. That his misconduct viii
cease or his immediate removal from
office will follow.
Second. That legislation will be
adopted that will limit his activities
to the internal affairs of the Amer.
lean League.
Third. That any and all meas sures
which YOU may deem advisable te
secure the above will be adopted
President Johnson was not preSen,
At the joint meeting when the rebuke
was read. After a conference with
his club owners prior to the session
he suddenly left the hotel withou,
announcing his destination, and up to
an early hour today had not been
found.
Ths removal of Johnson from mem
hership in the advisory council was
made after an amendment was pro-
posed by the American leaguers tc
the agreement providing that any
membership on the council by a ma
jority vote of it's league members
In the event the league president was
not chosen to serve. Commissioner
Lands. President Johnson and Presi-
dent John A. Heydler of the National
League previously made up the coun-
Gil.
Triumph for Commissioner.
The action of the club owners was
regarded as a sweeping triumph for
Commissioner Landis, who was re-
ferred to as a. "wild-eyed crazy nut
by Johnson after Landis banished
Cozy Dolan and Jimmy O'Connell in
volved in the scandal before the re-
cent world series. Johnson main
tained that Landis should have called
off the 1924 world series because
of the scandal Landis made no reply.
but carried on his Investigations and
ordered the world series played with
O'Connell, Giant outfielder. out of the
lineup.
Commissioner Landis refused to
make any comment on the action of
the club owners. stating the letter
speaks for itself"
After their disposal of the con-
troversy the joint session adopted a
number of minor resolutions. The
commissioner was permitted to grant
players the right to play exhibition
games on Armistice day, provided the
games were for charity. A request
for increased compensation for
umpires officiating in a world series
was referred to the commissioner for
final action. Proposals that world
series opening games be alternated
annually between National and Amer
lean League parks instead of decid-
ing by the flip of a coin was tabled
for consideration at the spring
schedule meeting.