Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-28

Spencer, Ind, is expected to arrive here
today. He is survived also by brother,
William Johnson of Coronado Beach,
Calf. Mr.. and Mrs. johnson had no
children.
johnson made base ball big busi-
ness. He developed 1t from a sandlot
pastiIne to game of million dollar sta
dia, $4,000 players and major league
clubs valued at $4,000, 600.
He originated the world series. He
chose the presidency of the American
League in 1900, at $4,000 annual sal
airy, in preference to a half interest in
the Chicago White Sox, and he made
himself q $4,000 executive by applying
business methods and strict discipline to
a sport which, when he came to it was
headquartered in the back rooms of Sa-
Icons.
His sense Of showmanship and his
iron rule enabled him to see that base
ball must be decent and well ordered to
be popular, and to eliminate the rowdy-
ism which kept spectators away. He
put the players on contract basis. He
lifted the morale of the sport by vest
ing absolute power IN uInpires to rule
the conduct of the players on the field.
Slated to Be Lawyer.
johnson was destined for legal ca
reer by the parents to whom he was
born in Norwalk, Ohio, on January 6,
1864. He went to Oberlin College, was
q schoolmate at Marietta College of
Charles G. Dawes, later Vice President,
and graduated In law at the University
of Cincinnati. But he soon deserted
the bar for newspaper work, and won
recognition as sport writer.
Charles A. ComiSkey, then manager
OF the Cincinnati National League club,
enlisted Johnson's help in base ball
venture and they organized the West
ern League in 1898. Seven years later
they invaded the National League ter
ritory In the East and founded the
American League, of which Johnson be-
came president.
The two circuits warred for three
years, and then at Johnson's behest
tration commission to settle disputes.
In this johnson long held the balance
of power.
Leads Successful War.
When the Federal League threatened
to cleave major league base ball in 1918,
johnson led successful war against 1t
and base ball emerged as a permanent
and established business.
world series of 1919 aroused fear in the
club owners that the game would lose
its appeal to the public, and they chose
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands as
doing away with the arbi-
tration commission and depriving john
son of some of his power. He and
Lands clashed frequently.
When scandal charges involved the
names of Ty Cobb and Iris Speaker in
1926. Johnson incensed Lands by COM
menting publicly on the latter's han
ding Of the allegations and the club
owners averted threatened battle by
giving johnson leave of absence.
Was College Player.
In his college days johnson was
good enough infielder to be the nucleus
of a college team, but he had no desire
to become diamond star. He saw
base balls possibilities as a spectacle,
and Comiskey gave him his chance to
become an executive.
Their Western League Travelled q hard
road, and often changed its member
ship, but it did fairly well and developed
many players. Connie Mack. SUISSE
quently manager of the PHILADELPHIA
ager OF the Milwaukee team of the
league.
The Johnson Comiskey friendship was
classic in base ball for more than 80
years, but even this friendship was not
allowed to interfere with the iron dis
cipline johnson laid out for the good
Of the game.
Breaks With Comiskey.
"Ducky' Holmes was playing left field |
for Comiskey's Chicago White Sox in !
elected him one day for his too vigor- |
BUS repartee. The Sox, with few re-
serves, had to send q pitcher to the |
outfield.
OLoughlin reported the circumstance |
The next day to johnson, who was just |
back from a fishing trip and was fixing |
! basket of fish for Comiskey. The fish |
reached Comiskey simultaneously with |!
Johnson's decree that Holmes would be |
suspended indefinitely.
What does he think I'm going to do |
With the fish?" Comiskey roared. play |
Them in the outfield?"
Later they quarreled, and their en-
nifty became as famous q tradition, |
though neither would tell how it arose. |
One factor friends believed, was a |
decision by johnson awarding Jack |
Quinn pitcher, to the New York YAM
KEGS in 1918 on long-forgotten draft |
claim, when the White Sox claimed |
they had him under contract.
Whatever the cause of the break, |
Comiskey did not attend an American |
League meeting for nine years. When |
he came to a session in January, 1927, |
it was to sjoin with the other club |
owners in Voting johnson out OF the
presidency.
After Lands had taken over some Of |
the powers which once belonged to
johnson the latter's remarks about the |