, 1876-10-08

or its games with every other club played on it!
Own oTn grounds: our and when club shall have frs
upon its adversarys grounds, it may require iti
adversary 10 PLAY an equal number upon its owr
exceed two months) under penalty o| or5 5eiture q
':sEo. 8. Clubs shal1 be entitled to forfeit
gamesfo count In their seTtes as games soon by q
score Of nine runs to nott-from other clubs In the
following instances. namey:'' ''Any club which
has agreed to play with another club upon day
the failure is caused BY an avoidable accident in
travelling, Or the game is prevented by rain, :.
snd gang: sha tn!tne! be forfeited provided in
The provision Of Sec. 1, thus referred to, is a.
follows: - Each club entering the lists shall play
il any club shall. Of s own fault. fail to finish its
series with every other club ir games shall not be
counted at the close Of the season, and such club
shall not be eligible to enter the championship lists
1t follows, therefore, that whether the Athletic
and Mutual Clubs have failed to meet engagements
shall fail to play the two games due hero from
each before the expiration OF tho championship
season, the Chicago Club must be credited with
such games 'to count IN te5r serits as g0naes ooa
By a score Of nine runs to none"
These four forfeited games, added to the fifty
then .won BY the Chicago Club, would hare made
and no oS sae eouS
ceeded the score Of dfty-two games, even II
successful in winning every game remaining to be
ing to be played with Hartford could not have ai-
fected the Chicago Club 50 far as the championship
was concerned.
and Mutual Clubs shall not count in the champion
ship series which would materially alter the fg-
urcs given above.
This claim is based upon the language Of the pro-
vision of Sec. l, which have quoted.
There are two answers to this claim: First, in
cases where the framcrs Of the League Constttu.
count in the Championship series' they expressed
such intention tn those pree3se acords.
The only case Of that Kind that can be found IN
is provided that should club present IN ineligible
pIayetto take part in game for the championship.
such club .shall forfeit the game to the other clnb
same fault, and should both clubs be IN such fault,
and play the game notwithstanding, snch game
shall mot count In ITO championship se7i<s..".
that underlies ali The League rules, VII thnt where
Of two clubs is in fault it shall forfeit to the
other and where both are in fault their acts shal1
be null and void.
Ny second answer is, think, still more con-
elusive. It is an elementary principle in dctcrmin-
Ing questions OF this kind that ''ono part fnuet
Ds.s be s9 sa Ry another tha the whole may If
II it be conceded that the Language quoted from
Sec; ! must to So construed az to throw out the
- clubs shall be entitled to forfeited
games to count in ther se1es ;es games Etc.
nor indeed any difficulty in SO constituting both
parts that the whole may stand. and the parts be
entirely @ consistent wIth e9ch c ct othss e.
club sha OF Its own fault, fail to finish its series
with every other club It's games shall not 1e count
ed at tbs cf0st 9[ The season."
Tho obvious construction Of this language, taken
IL connection with the remainder @ Of The article,
appears to mo to be; Its games ~ 4. e., the
as % games to Be credited to such Club IN making up
The Official statement OF championship games.
sef PITT s4es Of s h
While according the resulting advantages
elemental principle OF construction, 'sconstrnc
80 as to suppress the mischief and advance the |
romeaY."
credited to 1t although still standing against the
other club IN the championship series, while all
games lost BY it to the Chicago Clnh-whether BY |
he championship series.
It has also been suggested that, by the default OF
he Athletic and Mutual Clubs, those clubs have |
hut, for such reason, the games p!nyed By them !
:annot be counted IN the championship series.
THIS idea results. ! t think, from confusing two
which the League Constitution |
reats Of with entire distnctncss.
According to the provisions Of that instrument |
club may be'a member Of the League and at the
anne time not ,competitor-or even eligible for |
:ompetiton for the championship.
Involuntary loss Of memheTsh hip can only be en-
ai1ed By two-thirds vote Of the League Mt its
luai meeting.
% scquontly. the Athletic and Mutual Clubs still
ire members OF the League, and will continue |
'ntil its next annual meeting, when, antosB unex-
,cctcd imbecility fraud should supervcne. the !
league will, under Articles VII. and VIII. OF It's |
Constitution, Gust those clubs for fragrant viola
ions Of fundamental and most vital provision Of
hat instrument.
The Chicago Club has suffered much from |
rcaches Of faith on the part OF other Clubs we'll
S from accidents Of play and errors Of Judgment |
y umpires and it IL at least entlLled to the benefit
i the rules of the League Of which it is at the
orner-stoue and the best exponent. 4. g. II.