The Washington times., 1903-12-18
AMERICAN RESCINDS
FOUL-STRIKE RULE
Magnates VIII Not Continue
the Experiment.
THE SCHEDULE is EXTENDED
Playing Season Will Open on April IS.
New Owners for the Wash
ington Club.


the American League yesterday. by a
unanimous vote. 1t was decided to abol-
ish the foul strike absurdity. Il was
also agreed to meet the National
Leagues bunch in the schedule and
play 154 games instead OF 40. The ac-
ton Of the American League magnates
in resembling the asinine rule which
practically declared that two parts of
an egg could be good and the other part
rotten. will be hailed with general salts
faction by that large portion of the
baseball-going public which knows the
difference between a passed bail and a
cross counter.
The National League pull-backs and
fossils. who always have. and doubtless
always will. consider Change" and i'm
provement" as Synonymous terms. who
have advocated the rule with much in
dustry. will in all likelihood see in this
action Of the American magnates an eff
fort to get away from the spirit of the
peace agreement.
Not one of the fathers of the foul
strike monstrOsity ever gave a good
reason for It's enactment. Hanlon de-
clared that II was formulated solely for
the purpose of heading off Roy Thomas
and Jim Hart, who, with Ned Hanlon;
claims joint paternity Of the rule. said
that IL was a good thing. because il
shortened the game. Against the con-
tention of both was the one irrefutable
argument that the new rule was not in
the interest of good baseball.
Foul Strike Rescinded.
Though the resolution to rescind the
rule was adopted unanimously, it was
not until the matter had been discussed
thoroughly from every angle. Some of
the delegates who We're against the rule
thought that any action on their part
might be construed as a sort of open
def TO the National. and an invitation
10 another two-handed deal. Others
were Indifferent as to whether the rule
was retained on the books A ma
5ority. however. favored it's repeal on
the ground that It was not conducive
TO the best ball playing. and that ii
robbed the game Of much of its spec
tacular interest President Johnson
himself took the latter view, and when
the question was finally put to vote,
not one club voted against the resoiu-
ton to repeal the rule so far as the
American League is concerned
Season Heightened.
Though the majority of the delegates
were opposed to the extension of ths
playing season, in view of the action OF
the National League in extending the
number Of games from 40 to 154. it {.
not clear that the Americans could have
taken any other course without laying
up trouble for themselves later on. Th'
Nationals had committed themselves e
the extended season. Had the Amer
leans stuck TO the 140-game idea ther'
would have been all sorts of trouble
WHEN it came down to the question o.
arranging a non-cOnhicting schedule
Experience has proven that the patrons
of baseball, no matter what their par
tisan affiliations may be, are averse Il
conflicting dates. Had the American
stuck to the shorter schedule they would
have been held responsible for the un
avoidable conflicts. and. incidentally. ;
club would have been put in the hands
of the Nationals.
1t is possible to give the public toe
much OF a good thing There is NJ
doubt that 154 games are more than thu
general public can comfortably digest
As a matter Of fact. there was som,
feeling in the American League favor
Ing the reduction Of the schedule Z
126 games. This would give the variOu
clubs the chance of playing exhibition
games in the spring and practically OBJ
viate the necessity Of playing double
headers IN the last half Of the season.
American Favors Peace.
That the American League is still il
favor of peace. despite its difference
with the National League. was show
BY the fact that at yesterdays session
the action OF the American League com
mittee on the new national agreemen
was formally approved and ratified. Tn
meeting also decided on the use Of
players contract uniform with that re
Gently adopted at the National Lsagu
meeting This will make it necessary 70
a player to report two weeks earlier 70
spring training OF be subject TO SIC
hno
One OF the important developments o
today IS expected TO be a definite an
nouncement regarding the new owner
Of the Washington Club. Presiden
johnson last night stated that tn
Washington matter had been adjuste
and intimated that at today's session tn
news would be given 20 the public
President Johnson thinks the meet
ing viii be able to get through it's wor
b. tomorrow night
The officials OF the league who wer
present at the meeting were:
Chicag o-Charles A. Comiskey.
Detroit-S. F Angus. Edward Barrow
and Thomas J. Navin.
ST. Louis-Robert l. Hodges, John +
Bruce and James McAleer.
Cleveland-J. F. Kilfoyl and c. N
SOmers.
Philadelps 'a-Benjamin Shibe. Fran
Hough. and Connie Mack.
New York-Frank Farrell and Clar
Griffith
Washington-Thomas LOTUS.