Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-06
TIE DIAMOND.
National League May Be Once
 More Disrupted.

The Davis Matter Has Stirred Up a
 Nasty Mess-Arnerican League is II
 Again Quietly Enjoying the Situa-
 tfon-Results of Games in All
 Leagues -Meriden After Holyoke for
 First Honors.
 Once more the National leagne is in the depth of trouble, this time through the action of it's president in practically granting permission to the New York Club to play George Davis bin retaliation for the deal whereby Norman Eberfeld became member of the New York Americans The strengthening of the Hghlanders in the eyes of Brush and Pulliam con Hstituted an offense against the Ma tionaI league and without considering the consequences, seemingly with a desire to .tget eEen," Davis was allow ed to play with. the Giants. The ami mus of certain clubs of the old or gaIfZation against the American league is apparent. The intent to re ta1iate is so plain that he who runs may read. The transfer of EHberheld from Detroit to New York did not car ry with it the right of the National league- to play Davis, since Davis is and will be the property of the Chicago American league club until released by that organization If Davis was eligible to play with the New York Nationals after the EIberieId deal he also was eligible before it was made.
 EIberield was acquired by the New York Americans because President Gordon and his associates made Presi- dent Angus of the Detroit club the most advantageous offer for him. Oth- CT clubs made a bid for his services, among them the Philadelphia, St Louis and Cincinnati National league clubs. There was nothing in the peace treaty which said EIberfeld must re main with Detroit or that he could not be transferred to New York or any other team. He was the property of Detroit, awarded by the peace commis. sioners, and the owners could do with him whatever they saw fit.
 He could remain in Detroit no longer because of a disagreement with Mana ger Barrow, and negotiations were opened with several clubs for his transfer. The New York Americans offered Long, Courtney and bonus for him, the offer was accepted and De troit released him to New York. That is all there was to it
 A week before it was announced that Brush could play Davis President Pu11iam, in speaking of the reported A K broacfed in the middle Of the playing season and that he was aVerse to any thing which would distract the atten- ton of the public from the pennant race Evidently Puinam is not con sistent, for by his action in the Davis case he upset the baseball world, brought the politics of the game to the front and. for the time being at : least, reIegated the players and the race for the flag to the background.
 MT PuIliam is supported in his ac- lion by five clubs a majority of the National league. New York, of course. is one of them. Brooklyn and Boston also are with him because they are bit ter against the American league and would uphold any action of the Ma tional so long as it tended to injure Johnson and his associates. Phiiadel- phias' new owners, having come into the league after the war was settled, and with nothing to gain or lose also stand by Pulliam. It was only natur- al that Barney Dreyfuss with whom Pu1liam was associated for years in Pittsburg and Louisville, should favor :. the leagues president, but what of the three clubs whose owners constituted with Pufiiam. the National league's peace committee? Why were Herr mann, Hart and Robison not consult ed before permission to play Davis was granted to the New York club? Those three men have baked, and rightly, too, at Pulliam's action, and thereby the National league once again is divided against itself, the conse- quences of which may be far reaching if not downright disastrous.
 MT PulIiam would have shown skill and diplomacy in the Davis case had he submitted Brush's letter to the en- tire league befoer passing upon it. It was a matter which called for grave consideration, since, as has been shown 1t is likely to cause a renewal of the hostIfties which were brought to a close with the signing and ratification of the peace treaty. Only last Decem- DCA the 1Ndt1oAA<I ie<1Sue IuEeW up US hands and acknowledged it was worst ed in the two years war. Is it any better equipped to make another fight now than it was during that period when the clubs stood as unit against the American league? Rent by the dissension the playing of Davis has caused, it would be an easy task to whip It once again, and the prestige it enjoys would be wiped out forever.