The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-08-09
FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
The Why and Wherefore OF the Dis
agreement

Editor Astorian:-
The Pacific Journal. the largest and
most influential paper published in IL
waco, yesterday printed a two-column
letter from one Of its proprietOrs. Mr..
]. d. Murray, with reference to the
recent split in the Football League.
will not take up your valuable space
with abuse OF recrimination which
forms the principal part Of Mr.. Muir
rays letter. but intend TO state as
briefly as possible a few pertinent
facts:
After Astoria was defeated by nwa-
co at Smiths point every newspaper
paid the visitors several compliments
on their excellent performance. At the
conclusion OF the match members Of
the A. F. c. cheered the winners heart
lily, they were presented with a beau
tlful bouquet Of flowers. and the ut
most good feeling prevailed. Astoria
had no grumbling to do. She took her
defeat as she has taken otheTs-grace-
fully and in the proper spirit. II any
Ill feeling has been stirred up subse-
qusntly. 1t has been caused by the Pa
ciic Journal and its unnecessary at
tempts to make trouble. TWO weeks
ago that paper contained a most ex-
aggerated and incorrect report of the
game, going out of its way to insult
not only the Astoria players, bat the
ladies and gentlemen who were pres
ent as spectators. 1t announced the
score as 6 TO 2, when in reality it was
4 to .. and contained many other in
accuracies of like character.
Mr.. Murray talks about Astoria's un-
sportsmanlike' conduct" The a. T. C.
has played Association football for the
last seven years. During that time
it has scored many victories and some
reverses. including contests with Port
land clubs and Fort Candy. IN our
treatment of visiting teams the result
Of the games has cut absolutely no
figure. Indeed, every visiting team has
been bouquetted by us after its game
and sent home happy whether winners
er losers. Mr.. Wilson, now captain of
the Ilwaco team, knows this trait Of
Astoria very we'll and has himself ex-
pressed his admiration to the writer
of the manner in which the A. +. c.
always entertained its guests. # can
not believe he passed the remark at
the South Bend game credited u him
by Mr.. Murray
Mr.. Murray says that the Astoria
captain appointed Mr., Astbury as ref
cree at Long Beach. This is absolute
ly untrue. Mr. Murray himself visited
Astoria, and personally requested Mr..
Astbury to act. His subsequent action
in appointing the South Bend referee
was not sanctioned in any manner by
the League. Mr.. Murray in one breath
declares that Astoria forfeited its
South Bend game, and in the next says
that he afterwards requested Astoria,
by wire, to play.
The abuse which Mr.. Murray sees
nit to hurl at Mr.. Ferrendini. of South
Bend. is entirely unwarranted. As
toria's resignation was written and
about to be dispatched when he arriv-
ed in this city. We resigned from the
League mainly for the following rea-
sons:
1---Mr Murray's report of the Ilwaco-
Astoria game, in which he, the presi'
dent of the League, took advantage
of his position as part editor" of the
Journal to abuse and vilify our club.
2-His attempt to compel us to for
felt our South Bend game, without any
authority and when both contesting
teams were equally willing to post
pone the match.
Mr., Ferrendinrs sportsmanlike con-
duct in putting the A. f. c. in possess
sion of the facts regarding the presi-
dents mountebank actions. is highly
appreciated by every member of cur
club, including Yours truly,
F. NJ. GUNN.