The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-22

auu tO tChucI tuCtn Out fCdf " SuP- port and cooperation. Solicitor Dent assured us that if the law was vio- lated and the matter was brought to his attention in the proper way, the men who were guilty would be rigor- ously prosecuted. He said the law was perfectly plain, and there could be no quibbling about it. It was not the duty, he said. of the solicitor to initiate prosecutions, but he said he felt sure the sheriff would do his duty.
 When we saw Sheriff Waller he readily told us that 1t was his inten- tion to arrest every person who yio- lated the Sunday baseball law next Sunday or any other Sunday. He said he had already determined to go in person to Oak Park next Sunday and with his deputies to arrest every play CT who went on the field. When I asked him if the committee could be of any assistance to him he suggested that 1t would be better If some citi- zen would swear out warrants for the guilty ones. Captain Black and my self thereupon assured him that we would go with him to the ball park Sunday afternoon, and that we would swear sout the necessary warrants. hope The Advertiser will express our appreciation of the manner in which the officials met us."
 Speaking of the visit to his office of the committee, Solicitor Dent said there was no doubt the baseball players would be prosecuted if they undertook to play anywhere in Montgomery coun- ty on. Sunday, -s,.l. s
 'The law" said the solicitor. spec ifcally prohibits the solicitor from in- itiating a prosecution. The initiative must be taken by the Sheriff. who
 
 they play on Sunday. If by any chance they are not arrested they would very probably be indicted by the. Grand Jury on information. I pointed out to the committee that if the arrests were made by the police and they were con victed by the Recorder that their min imum fines under the statute would be s25 each. The Recorder sits as a magistrate, and he would try them un- der the statute and not under the po- lice regulations" Y
 It is said that Counsel for the Mont- gomery Street Railway yesterday ad- vised officials of that company that it would be a mistake to permit Sunday baseball at Oak Park which Is control- led by the company.
 MT. Ragland is Evasive.
 In the afternoon w. H. Ragland. vice president of the Street Railway and controlling stockholder of the baseball franchise announced that no attempt would be made to play baseball at Oak Park next Sunday.
 MT. Ragland made this announce ment with apparent reservations:
 Baseball will not be played at Oak Park on Sunday as long as I control it." said Mir. Ragland.
 How long will you control itT' he was asked.
 'I cannot say :tYou mean then" Mir. Ragland was asked, that baseball will not be play ed there next Sunday"
 Not if have anything to do with it." win you not be in control of the situation next Sunday?' MT. Ragland was asked -. T am not to be put in the position of making promises to the people of Montgomery in this matter" MT. Rag land replied. The baseball franchise | will pass out of my hands very soon and into the hands of Board of Di- | rectors. After that is done I will have no further responsibility. To be can did about it, I don't propose to have | a personal attack made on me in this baseball matter. I have too many oth- CT important matters to engage my at- tention, and my time, without being harassed about Sunday baseball. have said, and I repeat, that person ally l am opposed to Sunday baseball and will not permit it in my name. ] | cannot speak for the Board of Direc- | tors. which will soon have control of | the Montgomery team.
 So far as these baseball matters are concerned" MT. Ragland went on "I have had nothing to do with them | Our lawyers have filed the various pa pers in the courts in the controversy with Mir. Robertson and our lawyers have charge of the Sunday baseball matter. I simply pledge my word that baseball will not be played In Mont l gonery Aon Sunday as long as I have personal control of it.
 | The annual meeting of the old Mont. | gomery Baseball Association was tC have been held last night. but it fail. ed feE want of a quorum and was postponed until tonight It was inti. mated that counsel of the Montgomery Street Railway would have something | to say to the baseball magnates.