Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-04
RESIGNS At LAST
Re~linquishss All claim to Presidency Of
National League.
ENDS THE BITTER INTERNAL STRUGGLE
MaEnates Tender the place 60 will
liam c. Temple OF P%ittsburE,
Former Owaer ef smoky
CITY Club.

A. O.. s~palding has resigned his claim as
chief executive Of the big organization and
the Office will be rendered TO william G.
Temple Of P%ittsburg. There will be no
further contest in the courts.
Mr.. spalding's letter Of resignation was
presented to the magnates at the second
days session Of the peace conference at
the Fifth Avenue hotel. The letter was
presented by James Hart, president Of the
Chicago club.
The letter was tddressed to the National
League and Association or Professional Base
Ball clubs and reads:
Gentlemen: In accepting the presidency
of the National league, to which office /
was informed last December ] had been
duly elected. | promulgated the following
platform az the policy Of my administra-
70 promote, foster. elevate and per-
petaGts the game OF base ball. the national
teld sport OF America.
To Elevate sport Morally.
TO eliminate all Objectionable features
that may tend TO degrade and demoralise
I'D inculcate in the governors OF the
game. club officials, umpires. players and
every one Interested IN or connected with
the national sport a realization of what
true Eportsmanship is and to subordinate
the system OF the game.
cul ivate among the players a desire
for the highest athletic development, that
they may. by their skilfulness, integrity
and gentiemanly experiment, both on and
OF the field, raise their profession to a high
plane and add luster TO and interest in the
national game.
in which all professional base ball interests
shall be properly represented, this body to
be clothed with ample power to carry into
effect these and other objects that tend TO
the game"
Impossible TO Garry Out Platform.
Conditions. have arisen which. in my opin-
ion, make II impossible at this time TO
carry out all the principles embodied In the
above PLATFORM and as no compromise or
r'Qdihcaton OF these principles will be
continue further efforts in this direction
and hereby tender my resignation as presi-
fully insist that II be accepted without de-
1 wish to emphatically declare that l am
prompted in this action solely By the be
lief that prolonRing a factionai political
warfare into the playing season would be
distasteful 10 the public, injurious to the
National league in particular and 20 pro-
fessional base ball in general ResPect-
Thus ends one Of the bitterest internal
struggles that has ever shaken the Ma
tionsl league and which threatened to
wreck the premier base ball organization.
While Mr.. Temple has not been formally
elected to the chief executive once Of the
league It was decided unanimously to offer
him the place.
Temple n Man of Means.
Mr.. Temple was at one time owner Of the
Pittsburg club. and is a man of large
means. It was he who donated the Temple
cups to be played for by the clubs finishing
FIRST and second at the end OF the league
season. He is known as a lover Of the
sport, but ii was felt here tonight that he
might possibly decline the honor rendered
him because the league had decided to es-
tablish its permanent headquarters In New
York, and he, being a business man. may
not find 1t possible to spend all his time
here. 1t has also been decided to make the
Offices OF president and secretary-treasurer
separate. The latter once will, according
TO the best information. be rendered to n.
E. Young. Mr.. Young said tonight that he
would accept the once, though IL necessi-
tated his coming to New York and estab-
fishing his ofhcS here.
Freedman and his followers contepded
that S~palding had never been elected preei-
dent Of the league and therefore could not
resign. The matter was solved by a mo.
tion to simply consider the incident closed.
TalbOtt's Name Presented.
As concerning the work Of selecting a
president for the league the name OF Ed.
ward B. Talbot, former owner Of the New
York franchise. was FIRST proposed, but Il
was said that he could not accept the once
and he would not be able to come to New
York to live. Freedman and Brush then
made & proposition to do away with the
once OF president and for the appointment
OF a committee OF three members, in whose
hands the governing power Of the league
should be placed. There was instant oppo-
sition to this and q long draNn-out discus
sion. Freedman and Brush finally gave way
and the matter OF the presidency was again
taken up.
Soden OF Boston was mentioned. but de-
elined. Hart proposed Harry Pulliam's
name, but Pulliam in turn proposed william
G. Temple Of Pittsburg. Freedman was op-
posed to the selection OF any man until
such man had come before the meeting ana
announced his attitude and the nature of
hk policy in case OF election. He said he
did not want to vote for any man until he
had talked with him and knew what he pro.
posed to do to better the base ball situa-
ton 1t was pointed out that Temple was
. broad-minded man and one with a repu-
tation for fairness and loyalty
demands TO Know.
There has been a lot OF talk" said
Freedman, about taking my club away
from me. l want TO know what you propose
doing about that. Does anybody want 10
take my club away from msH"
One OF the Spalding followers disavowed
any and all intention OF o desire 70 take
F~reedman's club way from him.
The question OF Mr., Temple was again
taken up and a unanimous vote taken 10
tender him the presidency.
A Telegram was sent to Mr.. Temple. who
is nov in Florida. advising him OF the &C.
tion OF the league and asking him II he
would accept the presidency.
IL was nearly midnight when the leagus
meeting adjourned until tomorrow after
noon. Most OF the night session was taken
up In discussing the playing rules and
schedule. II was decided 10 play under the
same rules as last year. The foul-striks
rule was Incorporated in the book oil
rules. This rule was in force last season.
but Was not In the book OF rules"
Il was decided that the pitcher should
not have more than one minute In which
10 warm up prior TO any one inning befor,
delivering the bah. he net being alloEsC
10 deliver more than ave balls before play
sOden. Robson and Puliam were named
a. = committee TO decide on what ball Il
10 be used the coming season.
N-uua. h. Ekkzae - -