Evening star., 1903-07-27
GAMES THROWN OUT.
Statement by Manager Leet of the Gun
ton-Temple Team.

Mr.. George X. Leet, manager of the
Gunton- Temple base ball team, has sent the
following statement to The Star regarding
the recent action of the board of directors
Of the Church Base Ball League:
Owing to the many inquiries made in re-
gard to the action of the board of directors
Of the Church League. In connection with
certain postponed and forfeited games, it
has been thought best to put before the
friends CT the association and public gen.
elally a plain statement of facts, which, 1t
is hoped, will explain few things not alto
gether understood.
First: Forfeited games-The rules of the
Amateur Athletic Association of the
Churches of Washington provide that
games shall begin at $50 pm. or not later
than 5:35. At this hour. on every date on
which the Gunton-Temple team was sched-
uled to play, there were at least nine mem
bers of the team on the field, in uniform.
On July 10, after waiting until 6:o5 for the
Wesley team and only eight men of said
team at that time being on the field In uni
form, the game was forfeited to the Cum
tons. On account of accepting this forfeit
they were charged with being unfair and
unsportsmanlike. Therefore the Gunton
representatives made the motion at the
next meeting of the board of directors to
call the forfeit off and play the game over.
ing the Sixth Presbyterians also lost a
game which they had taken by forfeit from
Wesley.
THE Gunton representatives then insisted
that If the hour for beginning games was
too early it should be changed: but that
whatever the hour, the rule should be en-
forced. To this the board agreed 1t so
happened that the very next scheduled
game came to the Guntons by forfeit from
Calvary. there being only three Of their
men in uniform al the time appointed. This
game. together with the one forfeited to
Temple by Wesley, on July 1S, was also
board. thus again violating the rules. To
this the Gunton representatives made a
mild protest and repeated the warning
against what was regarded as being not
only unbusiness like, but which might have
a disastrous effect upon the league.
"Second-Game between Gunton and
Sixth. July 20 Before the game COM
menced the manager of the Sixth was noti-
to participate in the game 1t would be pro-
tested II he Guntons lost. the reasons OF
course. being stated The game was play
ed, the player in question taking part, but
for some unexplained reason he was play
ed under an assumed name. The protest
was made at the board meeting, July Il.
but was not sustained. Another member of
the board (not from Gunton Temple) then
called attention to the fact that the Sixth
had played man for whom there was no
certificate Of eligibility; whereupon a men,
ber from still another church moved that
the game be thrown out, which motion was
carried.
From the date of the organization Of the
association, the representatives from the
Gunton-Temple Church have urged the en-
forcement of the rules, and advocated the
changing thereof II. and whenever, the
same had been proven unsatisfactory.
This is not an attack upon the other
members Of the board Of directors, or any
individual member thereof. but a simple
statement Of facts for the benefit of those
interested in the Gunton Temple team"