The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-04
new CONSTITUTION
FOR THE NATIONAL
PuiIiam League Makes Black
list More Than a Mere
Scare Word.

NEW YORK, March 3.-The members
Of the National league. at their meet
ing today, ratified the report of the
joint committee on playing rules and
adopted the report of the committee.
consisting of Messrs. Brush, Hermann
and Potter, appointed at the annual
meeting last fall, to revise the consti-
tuition.
The new constitution makes some
radical changes, and completely dis
poses of any idea that either league
may have had in favor of consolida-
ton. The name is changed to read
National League of Professional
Baseball Clubs" and the report says
that it shall consist of eight cities,
Boston, New York, Brooklyn. Phila-
delphia, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, st. Louis
and Chicago, for all time *.
Section 8 of the constitution former
ly read ''or such other cities which may
be elected to membership by the
league" By it's action the National
league gives a permanent franchise to
the eight cities named. President Pull
liam explained it thus:
Owners of clubs may change, but
the cities where the clubs are owned
cannot be changed unless by another
change in the constitution of the
league"
In section s, referring to the admis-
sion of clubs. the word CLUB" is now
made to read company" the league iii
this manner reservfng the right to con-
troll its own membership.
Heretofore in the expulsion of club
it has required the unanimous vote of
the eight clubs to eXpel This has been
changed to read unanimous vote of
seven clubs" it being taken for grant
ed that the club to be expelled would
not vote for it's own expulsion.
/ According to the new constitution
the board Of directors may be called
to meet at any time by the president or
/ by two directors. new clause that
favors the players has been added to
section rs, and reads as follows:
. ANY player under contract or res
ervation who may consider himself I'M
justly treated or wronged by his club
shall have the right to submit his case
to the president of the league, who
shall, after soliciting evidence concern
Ing the matter, present the same to
the board of directors for a hearing,
Recommendation or adjudication
This gives any player the right to
appeal any real or fancied grievance
lie may nave 10 the president OF the
league.
{ The new constitution makes the pun
ishment of player who shall be dis
qualified for any crookednesS" black
listed forever. BY the old constitution
the. player could be reinstated by
three-fourths vote The position Of
supervising umpire" is abolished.
The following resolution, offered by
Edward Hanlon, of Brooklyn, was
unanimously adopted:
Resolved, that no club, member of
the National league, shall play any
game of baseball with any Independent
professional semi professional or anna
teur club containing in its team any
player or players ineligible under the
rules of the national agreement, or I'M
der suspension by any clubs of the
National league, American league or
National association, and, furthermore.
that no game of baseball shall be play
ed by any National league club with
any Independent club that shall have
played any games with any other in
dependent club containing such in
eligible or suspended player as hereto
fore described"
By resolution offered by Max
F1eisehman, of Cincinnati, the presi-
dent is to instruct all umpfres and
notify all club managers that after
the umpire has called play" at the
beginning of any championship games
there shall be no presentation of any
character to any player or manager
upon the ball field.