Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-04-03
.SPALDING RESIGNS.
Probable End 0f,NationaI Base
Ball League War.
Place Will Be rendered to VIM. C.
Temple Of Pittsburg, Pa.
Once More Prevail.

League baseball war is practically end
ed. A. G. Spalding has resigned his
claim as chief executive of the big or
ganizati and the office will be ten
dered to VIM. c. Temple of Pittsburg.
There will be 10 further contest in the
courts.
Mr.. Spalding'S letter of resignation
was presented to the magnates at the
second days session of the peace con-
ference at the Fifth Avenue hotel. The
letter was presented by James Hart,
president Of the Chicago club, was ad-
dressed to the National League and
Association of Professional Baseball
Clubs, and read:
"Gentlemen:-In accepting the presidcn-
| cy of the National League to which office.
| was informed last December | had been
| duly elected, | promulgated the fol owing
platform as the policy of my administra-
ton:
ITO promote, foster elevate and per-
| petuate the game of baseball the nation
al field sport of America.
ITO eliminate all Objectionable feat
ures that may tend to degrade and de-
moralize the sport.
ITO inculcate in the governors Of the
games club officials, umpires, players ami
| everyone interested in or connected with
| the national sport, a realization of what
|
| the financial side of the game
d" TO cultivate among the players a-de-
sire for the highest athletic development
| that they may by their sBllfulness. in
| both on and off the field raise their pro-
| fession to a high plane and add lustre ana
| interest to the national game.
=" To establish a central governing body
| in which all professional baseball inter-
ests 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 in my
opinion make it impossible at this timc
| to carry out all the principles embodied
| in the above platform, and as no COM
pies will be satisfactory to me. l have
decided to discontinue further efforts in
this direction and hereby tender my res
isnation as president of the National
League and respectfully insist that it be
accepted without delay.
Il wish to emph1tically declare that l
belief that prolonging a factional politi
cal warfare into the playing season
would be disastrous to Inc public, inju-
rious to the National League in particu-
lar and to professional baseball players.
(Signed) A. G. Spalding."
Thus ends one of the bitterest inter-
national struggles that has ever
threatened to wreck the premier base
ball organization.
While Mr.. Temple has not been for
mally elected to the leagues chief ex-
ecutive office, it was decided unani-
mously TO offer him the place.
At today's session all were present ex-
cept Abel of Brooklyn.
At the meeting the magnates discussed
tbp af
with view of establishing some kind of
executive head for the league. Mr. Hart
arose and told of going to California
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 1t to Hart. Here Hart presented
me letter to the meeting. 1t is dated
March s.
There was some discussion as to what
should be done with it. Freedman and
his followers contended that Spalding had
never been elected president Of the league
and therefore could not resign the office
Ihe matter was solved by a motion to
simply declare the entire incident
CLOSED
Next came the work of selecting a pres
ldent for the league. The name of Ed
ward B. Talcott, former owner of the
New York team, was first proposed but
it was found that he could not accept tho
office as he would not be able to come to
New York to live
Freedman and Brush then put forth q
proposition to do away with the Office Of
president and which called, for the ap-
pointment of a committee composed OF
three members. in whose hands the gov
ernment power of the league should be
placed. There was instant opposition to
this and there followed a long-drawnout
discussion. Freedman and Brush finally
gave way and the matter of the presi-
dent was again taken up.
Soden of Boston, was mentioned but de-
clined. Hart proposed Harry Pulliam's
name. but Puliam in return proposed
VIM. c. Temple of Pittsburg.
Freedman was opposed to the selection
of any man until such man had come be-
fore the meeting and announced his atti-
tude and the nature Of his policy In case
of election. Freedman said he did nos
want to vote for. any man until he had
talked with him and knew what he pro
posed to do to better the baseball situa-
tion. 1t was pointed out that Temple
was a broad-minded man and one with 1
reputation for fairness and loyalty.
'sThere has been lot Of talk" said
Freedman, about taking my club away
from me. I want to know what you pro-
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