The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-30
Ewing Says He Will Get the
 Montgomery Franchise
MUST KEEP TIE CONTRACT
Mir. Ewing Takes Position That the Interests of Memphis Will Be Safer In the Hands of semmes.
 Issues Statement.
BY HOMER GEORGE.

| Memphis, Tenn. January 29.-(Special) The Montgomery situation, so far as
 Baseball is concerned, has taken on d rew phase. The people will see the game this year. but they will see 1t at High land Park and played by a team the property of R. Semmes, as originally contemplated when the peace agreement between the new and old league was rat flied December 15 in Birmingham. At least that Is what Caruthers Ewing and General s. T. Carnes say, and their say will have a whole lot to do with the mat ter.
 MT. Ewing gave out the following writ ten statement which he explained covered the position he had decided long ago to take.
 According to the way I look at this Montgomery muddle. there is no muddle. and MT. Ragland Is In no wise interested In the franchise. I insist that the Southern league made a contract with me as the representative of the new league, where by the Montgomery franchise was to be awarded to MT. Semmes. This contract was in writing, and no one had a right to alter It without my consent l do not think the gentlemen of the league will on consideration ever claim the right to alter a. contract with me without my consent
 Consequently I will urge on them tbat this contract has not been carried out and that the entire franchise and privi- leges must be placed in the hands of MT Semmes. Mir. Ragland must not and shall not, if l can prevent it, have anything to do with either the franchise, the team or the park; that should solely be in the hands of Mir. Semmes. It must be or, else the contract made at Birmingham has not been kept by the league
 My reason for wishing to give the franchise to MT Semmes Is to protect the Memphis interests, for he, in a measure, Is friendly to us. Last year we felt that we were given the hot end of everything from the opening of the season, because we stood alone, or virtually alone. We had six votes against us at all times and our enemies were able to force us around as they willed. We do not want to have anything like that this season. and we do propose to insist that written contract made with us is carried out to the letter, which simply means the fran chise and privilege must be awarded Mr. Semmes.
 Chattanooga has not nor has ever had a chance to get back in the league, and the men who are sending out the reports to the effect that they have, might as well change the subject of their writ ings. "CARITTHERS EWING. n
 MT. Ewing had Just arrived from New York via. Nashville. and had a long con sultation with Newt Fisher to whom he Iully explained the way he felt He says he Is forced to assume this stand in order to appear arbitrary in the matter, even declaring he cared not who had the fran chise so long as he could be assured of the proper vote in matters affecting the local association.s He did not state when the matter would be settled, but it will probably rest as 1t is now until the spring meeting of the southern association when the franchise will be made solely to Mir. Semmes, according to the written agree ment signed the night of December 15 in Birmingham by MT. Ewing, Judge Kavanaugh and Senator Foster of Shreve- port.