The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-19
The Montana Base Ball League Di-
rectors Decide on That Change
Of Constitution.
Winners OF Each VIII Play for the
Championship Between
Themselves.
Protested Games Decided on TorfeIts and
Other Kinds Of Kicks-Bozeman Busi-
ness Keopened-Otlie Doines,

AeaRue 00cl0od last night 30 have the second
half OF the season constitute separate Sc
ries, the winners of the championship in
the two ssiiea. II they happen to be differ.
ent clubs, to play Ave games between them
selves for the championship OF the state.
All the clubs were represented. Helena BY
William Muth. Butte BY Manager Powell,
Great Falls by Manager Msili, Missouia by
Manager MORN. Philipsburg by President
Titus and Bozeman by Secretary Stevenson.
President Cowen. OF the league, presided.
The question of increasing the number OF
games for the remainder of the season was
discussed, but the smaller towns said they
couldn't stand it, and Helena and Butte
were the only ones for it. Twenty games
for the second series, the same AZ the first,
were decided on. The amendment to the
constitution, which was discussed and
changed in some points, was finally adopted
by yeas 8. nays (Bozeman), as follows:
Tho championship shall be decided in
two series of games, the first of which
shall end when the first twenty games have
been played by each club. The second
series shall consist of twenty gnmes. The
club winning the highest per cent of games
of the first series shall win the champion
ship of the first series. The club winning
the highest percentage of games of the Sec
ond series shall win the cham
pionship of the second series. In case
different clubs win tho championship
of the first and second series, they shall
decide the tie in series of five games,
which must be arranged within five DAYS
after tho close Of the second series. Each
of the clubs shall be entitled to have two of
the five games played on its own grounks.
The odd game. in case such is necessary,
shall be mutually agreed upon. If the two
clubs fail to agree then the secretary of the
leage shall name date and place. In this
series of games each visiting club shall re-
ceive guarantee of $75 with the privi-
lege of SO per cent gate money,
for each game. The clubs taking
part in the series of five games shall play
only such players as have been engaged
regularly by the first day of September, a
list Of which players, with their contracts.
shall be sent to the secretary OH that day."
When protested games cSme before the
meeting, President Tisus Of the Phillips
burcs wanted the matters settled at Boze-
man to be reopsned. He had been unable
to get to the meeting there on June 18, and
only four teams were represented when the
Phillipsburg- -Bozeman and Phillipsburg-
Butte protests were settled along with
others. OF these four only three, and in
one case only two voted. II. claimed that
the meeting was illegal, and moved that it
be declared such by the meeting. Presi-
holding that four constituted a quorum.
An appeal was taken from dis decision. and
the chair was overrued, only Boze-
man voting for his ruling. Phil
ipsburg's only object was to get q
hearing on the games, supposine the
thirty days in which reconsideration can be
asked for had expired. After the ptesi-
done merely to give Philipsbura a hearing,
the representative of that place found out
that the thirty days had not expired. He
then withdrew his motion to declare the
Bozeman meeting illegal and asked for a
of its action on the two
games protested by Philipsburg and de-
cided against that club there. This was
done by five to one, Bozeman voting no.
In order to be consistent the board also
reconsider cd the action taken at Bozeman
on the Butte Philipsburg game and decided
against the latter, that on the Helena
Butte game, which was given TO Helena,
and that on the BoZeman. Missoula game,
which had been forfeited bv Missoula ON
nccount of not being able to reach the
meeting refused to allow to Bozeman.
When the meeting got ready to decide these
protests Secretary Stevenson was
not ready to go ahead with the Butte and
disputes. as he had not sx-
peoted the cases to come up again and had
brought no pape:s ON the subject with him.
These two games were therefore left to q
future meeting. President Cowan stated
that 50 far Rs the Butte-Helena game was
he would make no objection to
having it given to Helena, just as tho Boze-
man meeting had done. This he did be-
cause If they allowed the rules to be VIC
lated in one case they would not know
where to draw the line. He said ID was a
fact that when Butte was asked to furnish
A new ball, they handed out one that had
besn used. not much. it was true, but still
il had been taken from the package and
handled. The meeting awarded the game
20 Helena. When the Missoula- -Boze man
protest was reached, the representative of
Missoula said he would withdraw the pro-
;est, which left the forfeited game stand in
.avor of Bozeman.
Five new protests, on games PLAYED since
The Bozeman meeting. were decided. Great
had taken two games from Missoula
~ forfeit, the latter team not being able to
each tho prairie CITY on account of the
xashout on the Montana Central. The
James we're taken from Great Falls. Mis-
Ioula had also forfeited one to Bozeman on
account of not being able to get through on
he Northern Pacific during the recent
Tashout on that road. This was taken
rom Bozeman. The games which Butte
got at Great Falls on Saturday and Sunday
ast were protested by the latter club. Sat-
lrday's had been given to Butte because
Tho Great Falls club had no new ball on
he ground when Umpire Freeman ordered
hem to produce ono after tho two
n play had gone over the
'enoe. 1t was stated that the umpire
waited five minutes for new ball; that
hen it rained twenty minutes;' and that
Ifter the rain another wait OF Ave minutes
vas had to allow the Great Falls club to
,st . new ball. Afrer that though the
core was to 6 in Great Falls favor, the
.n,ne was given to Butte by 8 TO Q. Man
ger Meili claimed the rain lasted thirty
wo minutes. A letter from Umpire Free
nrn said it was only twenty minutes. The
anne was allowed TO stand as In Butte's |
avor by the meeting. Tho Sunday game
9as protested on The ground that one of
he Butte PLAYERS intsrfered with = batted |
all as we'll as the man who was trying 20
leld it, and let in three runs. Umpire
freeman wrote that he did not see the !
LEGGED interference. as he was Watching
ne OF the base runners. The game. which |
suite won by to !, was allowed to stand. |
u all cases where games were given TO |
lubs on teohnicalities. Mayor Titus, of |
voted against allowing them, |
slieving the ball field was tine place to |
sttl0 such matters.
The umpire question was discussed, and