Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-11
25 YEARS OF BAN JOHNSON
BY John b. Foster.

@ RGANIIED base ball came To an
important croSs-roads in It's
history in 1920, when Garry
~ Hermann Mt last was induced
10 resign aS chairman ot the
national commission. although IT. was
not realized at once that new govern
ment for base bail was in the making
II was the rule OF the national COM
mission and Of base bail that successor
to the commission chairman was 10 bc
chosen by the presidents OF the two
ma ior leagues. Ban Johnson. SCARED
| by many battles. WAS still president Of
the American League, and John Heydler
| was president Of the National League.
Begged to Take Action.
| When Hermann actually was out Of
Office Johnson was begged to take ac-
| ton so that base bail might have some
| governing head which could settle cases
that were constantly arising Johnson
| met Heydler 10 discuss the selection Of q
new chairman Of The national commits
sion. but the American League president
would not agree TO any man suggested
by the National League. There followed
many communications between Johnson
and Heydier. johnson put of the sclcc~
ton Of successor to Hermann and
continued To postpone action.
johnson evidently imagined that
Heydlcr would tire of the whole fight,
but lie reckoued upon tile wrong man
Heydler had been told by the National
League To get action Of some kind. and
Hcydler, IL patient. determined man. set
about getting action and never ceased
making advances. Al length he proposed
10 Johnson That II the latter wished 10
do so he could name hlh man for the
Craftsmanship Of the national commits
sion. Heydlcr agreed To vote for this up~
pointre II Johnson would vote for
IieydIers candidate for secretary of the
commission man who had been see
rotary Of one Of the most important of
the National League clubs
Johnson turned that proposal down
and that WAS the biggest and uuat
lasting bl,tnder he ever made in hts
. major league career When hc rejected
Iieydlcr's proposition the National
League determined to get" him John
sons reason for spurnlng the National
Leagues plan was that the American
League president wanted the chairman
ship aud also wanted To name as See
Rotary a man who had been sort of
| secret agent Tor him.
Without any head of the national
commission the major leagues met III
Chicago. They held II Joint nehalun aud
discussed plnra for further procedure
aud most Ut them provided for the
elimination Of Johnson Finally aunis
of the menhefa became 80 bitterly en-
ragged That they announced their In
leuiinn of forming a l3pchib league
after lekiRnlng from their Own lcnpiith
! The meeting wah on The point OF
| breaking np and some uf those present
had already started fnr the door when
he Wiigley influences, through William
Vfeck, president of The Chicago Cubs,
made Themselves heard peeck arose
and shouted This thing has got tn
stop This Ii all Il Il uutbcuar and
some settlement mt,at bc made beture
any one leaves This inunl,"
lands DIETS Iab.
A hettlenaiit NaA effected aud II tnit
Judge EenrhuW Mountain tHudts Ia u
nrW ONCE an commissioner ot bass ball
and eliminated Ban johnson from that
time on as dictator. or patt dictator,
IT ma tof league affairs, Aud Gharna
A Conibkey, Inhnhnn'h former ally,
with whom he had quuiirled again,
remarked well. he lad II coming
Ia him
All This occurred early In 1891
After .IiihBe iannia lad been Installed
career for tIin nest few days hna wnHrA
Il losing nHht against hts opponent,
Iie nhred up once ~ twice. but was