The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-03
TEMPLE TO BE PRESIDENT
PITTsBURG MAN WILL BE rendered
THE VACANT POSITION.
Text of the SpaIding Letter as Pre-
sented to the Peace Conference
by James Hart, of Chicago.

NAhAVA 18N1AAAft VI AA| Do VI coAAA6NN~Ht
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. which
was presented by James Hart. president
OF the Chicago club, was addressed TO the
National League and Association of Pro-
fessional Baseball Clubs and read:
"Gentlemen-In accepting the presidency
Of the National League, TO which office /
was informed last December L had been
duly elected. I promulgated the following
platform as TO the policy of my admins
tration: To promote, foster, elevate and
perpetuate the game of baseball, the ma
tional sport Of America; to eliminate all
Objectionable features that may tend to de-
grade and demoralize the sport; to incul-
cate in the governors of the game, club
officials, umpires, players and every one
interested In or connected with the ma
tional sport. that realization of what true
craftsmanship is, and to subordinate the
financial side of the game: TO cultivate
among the players a desire for the higher
athletic development, that they may. by
their s~killfulness, integrity and gentleman
ly department, both on and off the field,
raise their profession TO a higher plane
and add luster and interest to the national
game; to establish a central governing
bO0g III ali DlOAtSSlOlldl DdGtDdil III
terests shall be properly represented, this
body to be clothed with ample power to
carry into effect these and other objects
that tend to maintain the integrity and
high standard of the game
Conditions have arisen which. I'm my
opinion. make II impossible at this time to
above platform, and as no compromise or
modification Of these principles will be
satisfactory to me. L have decided to dis
continue further efforts in this direction
md hnrnhxr fnnAnE ~ 80 To- n - HWaa
ident of. the National League and respect
fully insist that it be accepted without
delay.
II wish alphabetically to declare that I
am prompted in this action solely by the
belief that prolonging a factional political
warfare into the playing season would be
National League in particular, and to pro-
fessional baseball in general.
"A. G. SPALDING."
Thus ends one of the bitterest internal
struggles that has ever shaker the National
League. a struggle that threatened to
wreck the premier baseball organization.
While Mr.. Temple has not been formally
elected TO the chief executive office OF the
League, it was decided unanimously to
offer him the place.
YOUNG A POSSIBILITY.
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 it was felt here tonight that he
might possibly decline the honor rendered
him because the League has decided to es-
tablish it's permanent headquarters in New
York. and he. being "A business man. NAV
not find 1t possible to spend all his time
here. IT has also been decided To make
the offices of president and secretary-treas-
urer separate. The latter office will. ac-
cording to the best information. be ten
dered to n. f. Young. Mr.. Young said to-
night he would accept the office, though 1T
necessitated his coming TO New York and
establishing his Office here.
At to-day's session all were present ex-
cept A. Bell. Of Brooklyn. The magnates
discussed the matter Of constitutional
amendments with a view of establishing
some kind of executive head for the
League. Mr.. Hart told of going to Califor-
MIA. when he talked League matters over
with Spalding. The latter said he saw he
could NOT accomplish some things he pro-
posed doing. and said he thought he ought
to resign He then wrote the letter and
gave il to Hart. Here Hart presented the
letter to the meeting. IL is dated March s.
There was some discussion as to what
should be done with II. Freedman and his
followers cOntended that Spalding nae
never been elected president of the league,
N'Nf ~ ~ AHNN
ter was solved by a motion 10 simply de-
clare the incident closed"
Next came the work of selecting a presi-
dent for the League. The name of Edward
Il. Talcott. former owner of the New York
League. was first proposed. but il was
found he could not accept the office, as he
would not be able To come TO New York to
live. Messrs. Freedman and Brush then
made a proposition TO do away with the
Office OF president and for the appointment
of a committee of three members in whose
- II nnuraH IF Hhn Il a DNu.
should be placed. There was instant oppo-
sition to this and a long drawn out dis
cussion. Messrs- Freedman and Brush
finally gave way and the matter of the
presidency was again taken UP.
SODEN DECLINED.
Soden, of Boston, was mentioned but de-
clined. Hart proposed Harry PulIiam's
name, but Pulliam, in return. proposed
William G. Temple, of Pittsburg. Freed
man was opposed to the selection of any
man until such man had come before the
meeting and announced his attitude and
the nature of his 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 ne proposed to do to better the
baseball situation. Ii was pointed out that
Temple was "A man and one
with a reputation for fairness and loyalty.
There has been a lot OF talk" said
IT . AAAAA eA11 N&.@A0 49, 1Aa. u AN
from me. I want to know what you pro-
pose doing about that. Does anybody want
TO take my club away from me?'
One of the Spalding followers disavowed
any and all intention of a desire TO take
Freedman's club away from him. The ques-
ton of Mr.. Temple was again taken up and
a unanimous vote taken 10 tender him the
presidency. Then an adjournment was had
until 5 o'clock I'm the evening. a telegram
was sent to Mr.. Temple. who is now In
Florida, advising him of the action OF the
League and asking him If ne would accept
the presidency.
II was nearly midnight when the League
meeting adjourned until tomorrow after
noon. Most of the night session was taken
up i'm discussing the playing rules and
schedule. 1t was decided Co play under the
same rules as last year. The foul strike
rule was incorporated in the book Of rules.
This rule was I'm force last season. but was
not i'm 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 before delivering the ball.
ne not being allowed 10 deliver more than
five balls before play.
SOden. Robson and Pulliam were named
as "A committee 20 decide on what ball is To
be used the coming season. Young. Hart.
Ebbetts and Dreyfuss were named as a
committee 10 take the three playing sched-
ules, go over them and draft a schedule
that they will probably submit TO the meet
ing tomorrow.
Temple L. an Ardent Fan"