New Britain herald., 1927-01-17
LANDS IS BLAMED
 BY BAN JOHNSON
Baseball Commissioner Respon- sible for Speaker and Cobb Row

SlDle lOr Speaker and Cobb Row
 Chicago, Jan. II R>-The Chi. caso Tribune today said that Bar Johnson, president of the American league, openly charged that Basc- | ball Commissioner Landis was re- sponsible for tarring the reputation of Iris Speaker and Ty Cobb.
 Breaking a silence that began last September when directors Of the American league, meeting in Chicago, voted to give uncondi- tional release to Cobb and Speaker, President Ban Johnson declared that neither Of the two would ever iagain manage or play on an Amer Iican league club. although he paid ! a high tribute to the former De- troit manager.
 MT. Johnson, the Tribune said, declared he had accepted the i'm piled challonge' of Commissioner Landis to bare all the facts in the
 
 would take the stand next Monday at the special American league meeting called by the baseball head. He said his testimony at that meeting would prove the American league acted to protect Cobb and Speaker and that Landis, alone, was to blame for the cloud of ru- mors about their names. T don't believe Ty Cobb ever played a dishonest game in his life.' Johnson said. If that is the eXoncration he seeks l gladly give
 it to him. But it is from Landis Cobb should demand an explana- ton. The American league busted Cobb. but f. was Landis who broadcast the story of his mis- takes.
 T love Ty Cobb. I never knew q finer player. I don't think he's been good manager and I have had to strap him as father straps an unruly boy. But I know Ty Cobbs not a crooked player.
 We let him go because he had written q peculiar letter about q betting deal that he couldn't ex- plain and because I felt that he had violated q position of trust.
 This Speaker is a different type of fellow. For want of q better word I'd call Iris cute. He knows why he was forced out of the man. agersfip of the Cleveland club, if he wants me 10 tell him I'll meet him in court of law and tell the facts under oath.
 The American league is a ~busi- ness. When our directors found two employees who they didn't think were serving them right, they had to let them go. Now isn't that enough? As long as I'm president of the American league neither one of them will manage or play on our teams"
 NIr. Johnson then told the whole story of his investigation of the Cobb and Speaker case relating why the substance of that Investigation had been turned over to Landis and why the baseball commissioner did not know the whole tale.
 T have men working for me, on my personal payroll" Johnson said. whose business it is 10 report on the conduct of our ball players. We don't want players betting on horse races or ball games while they're playing. We don't want players who are willing 10 lay down to another team either for friendship or money. That's why I get these reports.
 This data belongs to me and not 10 Landis, the American League gave Landis enough to show why Cobb and Speaker were no longer wanted by us. That's all we needed to give him. I have reports on Speaker which Laudis will never get unless we go to court"
 Johnson's statement was made after he had read the summons sent out by Landis. The commissioner said a newspaper had printed an with "a leader in base ball" and that he was calling meet ing to get all the facts in the Cobb and Speaker case.
 Judge Landis need not worry over the correctness of that inter- view" the American League proxy said, T made that statement then, I'm making it again. and I'll make it when he calls me Monday.
 T only hope he holds an open I want the public 10 know what the American League did and what Landis did.
 T sent a detective to watch the of the Cleveland club two years ago. l learned from him when and by whom bets were made on horse races and ball games. learned who was taking the money for the bets, I learned the names of the boollmakers who accepted the wagers and how much the betters made. l was gathering evidence"
 NOW I watched Ty Cobb, too. I him not because I thought he was crooked but because Il thought he was a poor manager. I have called him down.
 T gave Ty an interview just be- fore he went on his hunting trip last fall.
 He was heartbroken and main ! 'aincd his innocence in that alleged 1 betting deal which his letter tells about. I told kim that whether 1 guilty or not he was through in the league. I didn't think he