Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-12
FaVors an Extension Of Its Jurisdic-
ton.
WORKING OF THE BRUSH RESOLUTION
Bowling by Carroll Institute and
G.. A! G..
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES

Speculation has been rife in base ball
circles since the season of '9S closed over
the report Of the board of discipline on the
Brush resolution. 1t was ready for pre-
sentation to the league meeting in Decem-
Der, but for some reason was not made
public until yesterday. 1t will prove inter-
esting to the followers of base ball. 1t fol-
lows:
To the National League and American AS
ISOLATION Of Professional Base Ball
Clubs:
The board of discipline provided and
created under the legislation adopted March
l. 1898, generally known as the Brush meas
ure beg leave to report as follows:
First The members of said tribunal met
at the Southern Hotel, in St. Louis, on the
Both day of April, 1898, and organized by
selecting the following officers: President,
L. c. Krauthoff; secretary, Louis Kramer.
Second. At the same meeting the board
adopted and promulgated series of rules
and regulations to govern the discharge of
it's duties and the administration of its
functions. copies whereof are herewith
submitted.
Third. No complaint has been made to or
jurisdiction exercised by said board during
its existence.
Fourth. Our observation and experience
lead us to submit these suggestions and
recommendations:
d.
are limited to obscene, indecent and vu-
gar language upon a ball field by players
engaged in playing game of ball during
the championship season" The fact that
not a single complaint has been made to
the board of violation of this measure
necessarily proves one of two things: %
That no such occurrences have taken place,
and therefore the continued existence or
this tribunal is both idle and unnecessary,
or ca, that the machinery provided for
bringing such occurrences to the attention
of the board is inadequate. While no mem
Der of this body has direct knowledge that
the measure has been violated, a number OF
complaints have been made In the pubic
press and by individuals that such viola
tons have occurred, or, at least. that the
spirit of the legislation has not been OBJ
served. 1t is however, matter OF con-
graduation that these have not been many
in number, and comparison with the evil
dence before you when the measure was
adopted must be exceedingly gratifying TO
you. The fact remains. however, that II
the evil is to be exterminated section
must be amended so as to make 1t oblga-
tory unuer a neaSy penalty, upon all UNI
pres managers, club otnclals, payers ana
other persons subject to your authority to
Immediately report all infractions, and thus
put a failure TO report upon the same OASIS
as the commission of the offense itself.
b. Experience has also demonstrated that
ungentlemanly conduct on the ball field IS
far from being confined to obscene, lnoe,
cent and vulgar language. Profanity ana
insulting words, gestures and actions ana
similar conduct are quite as annoying TO
spectators, equally as reprehensfble and
constitute as powerful basis for reforma-
tory legislation. If the end in view which
is recited in the Brush measure is to be
attained through this tribunal its jurisdic-
ton must be greatly enlarged. Instead of
limiting its power to specifically described
words, the jurisdiction should be as broad
as that conferred (to cite an instance made
familiar by current history by the articles
and regulations governing the army ana
navy of the United States namely, so as
to cover any and all conduct or words I'M
becoming a gentleman and a professional
base ball player. The jurisdiction must be
as broad as the power to offend against
gentlemans code of respectful behavior.
This would leave it to the board to develop
the high standard which the public de-
mands shall be observed on base ball
fields to which they are invited under your
auspices.
c. Speaking frankly, unless these sugges-
tons are to be practically applied the
power to discipline offenders against the
Brush measure may as well be left where
1t IS placed in respect of things forbidden
under your constitution and rules and the
board of discipline be abolished. To the
end that you may consider the proposition
in its entirety, free from embarrassment
on their account, the members of that trib-
unal are ready and willing to resign the
positions for which you were pleased to
designate them. Respectfully submitted
LOUIS KRAMER,
F. K. STEARNS
l.. c. KRAUTHOFF
Members Board of DiscinIina