Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-02
THE BASEBALL MAGNATES.
Plan for Preventing ROwdyism-A
aboard of Discipline"

ST. LOUIS. MO, March 1.-The base
ball magnates of the National League
were tired out with their late session of
last night. and it was long after 10 o'clock,
the hour set for convening, when they
came together. Very little business was
| transacted at the morning session. At the
afternoon session the doors were thrown
open to newspaper men, who were given
an opportunity to listen TO the report Of
the committee appointed last year to de-
wise means for doing away with rowdyism
| on the ball-hed.
John II. Brush, chairman OF the COM
mittee, presented the report, which embo-
died communications from magnates, UNI
pires, members Of the press, and others
interested in the national games. These
communications showed the necessity Of
adopting some measure to do away with
the evil. AS the unanimous view OF the
committee, Chairman Brush submitted
a recommendation for the suppression Of
obscene, indecent, and vulgar language
by players on the ball-held. The report
was unanimously adopted.
To carry this measure Of reform into
effect twenty-three regulations were APP
pended. The measure provides that the
regulations shall be explained TO and read
by every player and employee in the
leagL3, who shall then be obliged to sign
them. for the purpose of showing that this
constitution has been brought to their at
tension. 1t is provided that it shall be
competent for any person or persons,
whether player, manager, umpire, club
official OF any club. or spectator, TO sub
nit information and testimony in writing,
under oath, concerning obscene, indecent,
or vulgar language during the progress of
a game by a player or employee OF a Ma
tional-League club, of which they have
personal knowledge.
All such charges shall be submitted to
the president Of the league, under oath,
within forty-eight hours of its alleged
commission, and the president shall i'm
mediately furnish a copy OF the same
to the accused for his defence, If any,
with the written notice Of suspension.
Five days shall be allowed the accused
to reply under OATH and the case, when
thus prepared, shall be submitted by the
president to a tribunal of three judges.
selected by the league, TO be called 1.-The
Board Of Discipline" who shall have alb
solute authority TO acquit or convict
upon the evidence submitted, and from
whose decision there shall be no appeal
except TO the Board of Directors of the
league. The findings of the board shall |
be transmitted to the president of the |
When the members of the tribunal or |
majority thereof do not agree upon |
a judgment, the president of the league |
shall select some one of the opinions |
as the one to be followed, provided 1t |
be not the extreme penalty. and that |
shall be considered the judgment, and |
be enforced"
The penalties may be suspension for
days. for months, for the unexpired sea-
son, for a year. or for life, according
to the conditions, circumstances, and
nature Of the offence. The extreme
penalty imposed in this measure-viz.,
life expulsion" shall require the unani-
nous approval of the three members
of the tribunal, and before imposing such
a penalty the accused shall be notified
that he can defend in person and by
counsel, If he elects.
it shall be competent for either party
to case submitted TO the tribunal to
show, under oath, the character and
standing OF those who make the charge
and give evidence. and before life expul-
sion" can be imposed the accused NAV.
il he elects. have the opportunity of
the witnesses against !
him by dispositions
There shall be no appeal from n deci-
sion by the tribunal or a majority for
or reopening of a case, ex-
,ept by unanimous vote of the Board OF
Directors. based upon new evidence.
The tribunal shall be selected by the
National League. No one shall be mem
per who IS financially interested In a !
Tub. The first tribunal under this pro-
Vision shall be composed OF L. C. Krau-
hoff, OF Kansas City, who shall be Sc
ccted to serve three years: Louis Kra-
ner. of Cincinnati. who shall serve two
Years. ard Frank X. Stearns. OF Detroit,
dich who shall serve one year. and be-
,tn,.t.g with 1904 and aanh yenr fhaya. | :