The Washington times., 1924-10-04
BALI
SHAKE.L|P
LOOMS
Ban Johnson Goes on War
path Showdown ia Scan
dial Il Expected
BY GEORGE BARRY,
international News service.

Storm clouds. black looking and
OnlinoIs. hung low today over the
citadel Of big league baseball.
There were few Of the games
leaders In the Capital today for the
opening game of the world series
who did not believe that once this
series Is out of the way, the ma.
tional pastiTne is due for d tempest
Of f0undati on-shaiing proportions.
Il was just such d tempest follow
Ing the 1919 series that took away
from the league heads much az
their authority for the conduct 81
tAe gaKnes and placed a IN the
hands OF the czar.like figure Of
kenesaw Mountain 1.andis What I
this new tempest may bring forth
rs prob leInatical, but 1t was the sub
ject of discussion wherever baseball
men gathered today, to the ex-
clusion Of all other subjects.
Ban johnson, the peppery head Of
the Ame1ican League, who was
shorn Of much Of his authority n
1919, is On the warpath again. Using
the uIaavoTy D'COnnell.D olan scan.
DIAL as q club. he has apparently
started renewal OF his bitter war.
fare with Judge Lands. lit was
announced In Chicago yesterday
that Johnson would not attend the
world series because, in his own
words, the Giants were unfit to
take part In It. =
Hits Car Lands.
With this vicious slap. johnson
also took occasion to criticise base.
balls high commissioner for not
calling off the series. And ne went
clear back to 1908 to dig up Il club
to use on McGraw.
Lands, nor McGraw, either. foy
that matter, are the type OF men
to take Johnson's stuff supinely.
Judge Lands considers that il
vanishing O'Connell and Dolan IA
acted promptly and forcefulIy ana
fairly to protect this worlds series
from any Of the stigma that made
the 1919 series odorous IN the NOS.
trils Of the baseball-loving public.
he has q great deal Of support In
his position from some OF Johnson's
closest friends, to wit, Clark Crit
attn, owner Of the washington Club.
johnson II talking out or turn
n publicity demanding the cancel
lation Of the series and all that.
said Griffith. II believe, and 1 be- |
lieve the public believes, that Judge
lands acted promptly and fairly |
But the Investigation into the
bribery aspect Of the National |
Leagues close Is not ended. Base |
ball men were generally agreed on |
that, and Judge Lands himself Re. |
tterated today that so far as he |
was concerned no investigation was
ever closed 30 long az the men IN. |
volved IN q case were this side Of |
the grave.
win Push Probe.
Il have said repeatedly and I saw
again. that this investigation will be |
pursued declared Commissioner
Lands today. II have not said 1 |
suspected any other members OF the
Giants team. On the contrary, II
excnerated Frisch, Young and Kelly,
but Il there Is anything more to |
be turned up BY investigation 1t |
Will be pushed to the limit Base. |
ball Is bigger than the men In IL. |
And baseball must be- clean. 1t |
VIII be 80 as long as 1 am con.
nected with 1t, II Il IL possible to
make It so."
The Judges Jaws were set, his
white hair was standing straight
up and there was a fire in his eve |
akin to that which Federal prisoners
used to look at and trernble at.
John J. McGraw, the Giants,
Owner-manager, reached washington
early this morning and shut himself
up IN his hotel room. He Is BIT. 4
tprly resentful over Johnsorl,s attack
on him, and somewhat worried over
tho whole temptest that has de- |
prived his club Of the services Of
O'Connell and Dolan and sent his
team into q hard series with what
golfers refer to as q smental handi-
cp Of no small proportions.
The National Commission meet.
Ing, scheduled for New York next
week. may provide the battle-ground
TOE the renewal Of baseball war
fare. There Lands, Johnson and
Jon9 Heydler, president OF the
face.