The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-18
(By Associated Press)

CHICAGO, Dec 17-Byron Ban |A croft Johnson, founder and president spf I the American league since it's incep- tion g years ago, was partly stripped of his power in organized baseball to- night and threatened with disposition. The club owners of the American league, meeting in joint session with the eight club owners of the National league, pledged to K. M. Landis, com. missioner of baseballF.at salary of $5O,OO0 a year, that President Johnson would be removed from office if he did not immediately cease what was termed his misconduct" meaning criticisms Of Landis' administration. ;
 The American leaguers removed Johnson from membership on the base ball advisory council and guaranteed to Landis that legislation would De l adopted to limit Johnson's activities in ] the international affairs of the league l The American league club owners also pledged they would act on any measures which Commissioner Landis thought ad- visable, including the removal or John- son, if necessary.
 Like A Bombsheli
 This startling action, resulting after series of secret meetings in which American leayuers participated during the day, exploded like bombshel Ill the ranks of organized baseball.
 The American league club owners, after a peace committee held two con ferences with Landis, held meeting at which the letter publicly denounc- ing Johnson for his criticism of Commissioner Landis' administration was drawn up, signed by all of the club owners excepting St. Louis and later presented to Larldis for adoption at the joint session.
 President Johnson, after confer ence with his club owners prior to the joint meeting. suddenly Ieft the hotel without announcing his destination and was not in attendance when the rebuke of his attacks on the commissioner were presented.
 Sweeping Triumph
 The action of the American league club owners in publicly denouncins Johnson for his attacks on Landis and his administration was regarded as sweeping triumph for the commissioner who since the scandal involving Cozy Dolan and Jimmie O'Connell Of th' Giants, before the 1924 world serie: between Washington and New York has been adversely criticized by Johnson.
 Johnson, after Landis banished Do Ian and OConnell from organized base ball, referred to the commissioner as { "wild-eyed crazy nut" and also sait Landis should have called off the l92- world series because of the scandal ol the eve of the baseball classic.
 Iandis made no reply to this crit cism. and ordered the world serle player O'Connell, star -outfielder of tn n Giants, out of the lineup.
 Navin On Council
 The American leaguers, after propos ing an amendment to the Major leagu agreement, removing Johnson froI membership on the advisory councl elected Frank J. Navin of the Detroi club as his successor.
 When the advisory council was crt ated after the national committe passed out of existence, it was compose of Commissioner Landis, John Heydler, president of the Nations league, and President Johnson, of tn American league, under the terms of il agreement which provided that il membership should be made up of tn two major league presidents and tf commissioner. 'h
 The amendment to this agreemeT changed it to provide that any clu president could be elected to membe ship on the council by a majority vol of its league members, in the event tn club president is not chosen to serve.
 The letter from the American leagu club owners to Landis guaranteed tha if Landis did not approve of Johnson conduct in the future, the America leaguers would adopt any and all mea ures that Commissioner Landis deeme advisable.
 Gravely Harmful
 The letter further declared that col ditions created by President Johnso were intolerable to Landis and gravel harmful to baseball and that Johnso sought to cast suspicion on the 19z worlds series and discredit Landis' a. tion in dealing with the crookedness. M The communication to Landis was tf outgrowth of the American league peat HI committee composed of Thomas s. Shit of the Philadelphia club, Col. Jact Rupert of the New York club and S. Barnard of the Cleveland club, their efforts to effect a reconciliatic between Johnson and Landis.
 This committee conferred wit Landis before noon, and evident failed in its efforts to smooth tl breech. Landis instructed them to r turn to their American league ass ciates, carrying with them his sugge tions to the proposals they had su mitted to him.
 Meet For Three Hours
 After a second conference, short after noon, the announcement was mat that the joint session originally sche uled for ii a. m., and four times pos poned would be held at 3 p. m. Th' finally went into session at 3 80 p. n and after nearly three hours of delibe ations, newspaper men were called
 Commissioner Landis, smiling broa ly, gave no hint of what action hi been taken, referring his intervlewe