Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-31
NO MORE CHURCH GAMES.
Guntons Won Championship and Will
Contest No Further.


rectors of the Church League has ordered
the Gunton and Temple teams to play two
additional games for the championship,
the former organisation has decided not to
play as 1t believes the trophy Is already
won.
Regarding the controversy. Captain s. B.
Seay of the Guntons this morning said
to Star reporter:
I'm behalf of my associates on the Gun
ton-Temple base ball team. l desire TO
make public the following statement In
connection with the cup so kindly presented
by your paper to the winning team OF the
Church League Of Washington.
ION the evening of August g. 1903, at
meeting of the board Of directors of the
Church League, the following resolution
was adopted:
".'That two more games shall be played
to decide the championship; that the play
ers who may participate in the two games
shall be limited to players who have par
ticipated in games prior to the game played
on Monday.
'.To properly appreciate the above resolu-
ton permit me to say that the cup was
presented for award to the winner OF
series of twenty games, to be played by
the teams belonging to the Church League,
the final game to be played July %. This
series resulted in a tie between the Gunton-
Temple team and that of the Temple Bap-
tist When this situation became known,
an exhaustive search was made OF the
records of professional base ball for a SINH
lar condition. No precedent having been
discovered a meeting of the board of d.
rectors was called and 1t was decided by
majority vote that one game should be
played by the teams tied for first honors to
determine which should receive the cup.
This game was played Monday. August "A.
and resulted in a victory for the Guntons.
1t is but fair to say, however, that before
the game the Temples entered a protest
against certain players on the Gunton team.
1t was not alleged that they were not ei1g1-
BILE, under the rules Of the league, to play,
the only contention being that they had not
played on the GuntOn team before. Regard
ing the eligibility of players. the consttu-
ton provides that they must be connected
with the church on whose team they play.
and must sign certificate to the effect
that they have never received money for
playing ball. Our men had all fully COM
piled with these requirements.
ITO revert to the last resolution of the
board Of directors, the Guntons. q mat
ter Of principle, respectfully decline to play
any further games for a cup which has al
ready been fairly won and which is now in
the possession of a member of the club.
They feel that they are entitled to the fruits
OF their victory. and decline to place them
in further hazard. To meet the Temples in
two additional games would be pure gra-
tufty on our part. Should we win them,
we would be in the same position as we are
at present; we have nothing to gain by
playing them. ss
1.-THE position of the board Is too undig-
n1fied to merit discussion. Aside from the
facts that Its powers are circumscribed and
limited by the constitution of the league
together with the obvious unfairness of
such ex post facto regulations as 1t now
seeks to impose, there remains the question
of how 1t will enforce the resolution yet to
be met It's former requirements were fully
met by the Gunton team. the deciding game
was played. the decision rendered in our
favor and the cup turned over to our sec
rotary at the termination Of the game. and
Is now its the winning teams) property.
Does the board still seek to make resolu-
tons concerning cup which has passed
forever from its control? II 50. by what
authority is 1t Invested? If the boards
ground be tenable. the Guntons can never
feel secure in the possession Of their hard
earned and highly priced trophy. The board
may. forsooth, next week or next year. or
some time In the dim VISTA Of the future,
decide that instead Of two, our team must
play twenty-five or fifty-two or any ar
bitrary number of additional games in Or
der to retain possession Of it's prize.
is 1t not incredible that a body of fair
minded gentlemen could have arrived at a
decision SO lamentably lacking in every ele-
ment Of justice and equity? While I would
be the last to ascribe any improper motive
as the incentive to its latest resolution, it
would certainly be Of interest to the public
II the board could be induced to discover
the reasons which impelled 1t to its present
absurd and unworthy position.
1T Is certainly to be hoped that in the
interest of fair play and clean sport, such
as has hitherto been the rule in the Church
League. the board may consent to recon-
slder It's action and not allow itself to be
made party to any plan which seeks to
beIttle the Guntons' victory or hopes to
In the league and rightful possessors of The
Evening Star cup,"