Johnson-Landis

Small boys fight with sticks and stones, with mud, spitballs, hard peas. Not so gentlemen who have grown great on the good meat of dignity, the drink of influence. They well know that a tongue, derisively projected, cannot be readily wagged. Thus Byron Bancroft Johnson, President of the American (Baseball) League, and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, baseball tsar, joined conflict without resort to the grotesque methods of adolescence. Yet loud has been their struggle. The facts:

Since the inception of the American League of baseball clubs, 23 years ago, Byron Bancroft Johnson has been its President. As long ago as 1910, he signed a contract to serve in that post for 20 years, at a salary of $30,000 a year. For many, many years he was a sort of Grand Khan of the sport. He lias fought many battles during his career as President of the American League, serene in the confidence of his own ability to deal properly and effectively with whatever situation might arise.

In 1920, the two major Leagues (National and American) made Judge Landis Tsar of baseball--an Advisory Council was created consisting of the Presidents of the two leagues and Judge Landis was named Chairman of the Council and later Commissioner over the whole sport. Soon friction developed. The Grand Khan resented the overlordship of the Tsar. The latest of these flare-ups took place this fall. Just before the close of the National League season two members of the New York Giants were accused of offering a bribe to a member of the Philadelphia nine to "throw" a game which would have automatically given the Giants the pennant of their league. The Philadelphian refused and reported the offered bribe. But the Giants won the pennant nonetheless. Judge Landis expelled the two players after a cursory investigation of the charges against them.

But Ban Johnson was not satisfied. He insisted that the scandal was a much more extensive affair, that it had not been properly investigated. He declared that the World Series should be called off, that there was crookery abroad. Commissioner Landis paid no attention to Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson called Commissioner Landis a "wild-eyed crazy nut."

Naturally there was not good feeling between the two.

Last week the 16 club owners of the American and National Leagues assembled in conference. Thrice during one day the conference was postponed while attempts were made to effect compromises. But Judge Landis would evidently not abate his terms one whit and the club owners, not less for the good name of their business than for the necessity of upholding their organization, were obliged to support Mr. Landis.

The conference was held at last, well along in the afternoon. It lasted nearly three hours. The upshot of its was that Ban Johnson was removed from his place on the Advisory Committee of three. Seven of the American League clubs (St. Louis excepted) reinforced this action by a pledge concerning Mr. Johnson:

1) That his misconduct will cease or his immediate removal from office will follow.

2) That legislation will be adopted that will limit his activities to the internal affairs of the American League.

3) That any and all measures deemed advisable to secure the above will be adopted.

"Stripped of power," asked baseball writers, "how long till Ban Johnson resigns as President of the American League ?"