Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-26
MORLEY HEARS
FROM HART
LOCAL MAN RECEIVES LETTER
FROM MAGNATE
Communication Fails to State Atti-
tude of National Commission
on Newton-Chase
Case

| silence, the eastern baseball moguls
have finally broken into murmurs as
to their attitude in connection with the
Newton Chase muddle. Manager Nor
ley has received from President James
A. Hart of the Chicago National club
communication which is evidently
intended as an official declaration
emanating from the big league officials
1t is distinctly unsatisfactory docu-
ment to those who have the good of the
Los Angeles club at heart, and while
1t is as indefinite as 1t is unsatisfac-
tory, IL has not tended to increase
Manager Morley's hope of retaining 81
grip on the two clever members OF the
Los Angeles team. But to quote Mr..
IIarts mssive:
CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 1905
James f. Morley, Los Angeles, Cal.
Dear Sir Your telegram was re-
ceived when l was in New York. 1
took up the matter with Mr.. Hermann
and he informed me that Mr.. Bert was
thoroughly cognizant of the status of
Newton and Chase. He said that your
i league did not claim the extension of
the drafting period last year until after
l the draft was made. L know that 1t
was discussed in San Francisco and
that Mr.. Johnson said that the Ameri-
can league would agree to the eXten-
sion. I brought the matter up at the
i National league meeting year ago
and our league also agreed to the eX-
4 tension, but as / understand it from.
Mr.. Hermann your people did not ask
for it last year, but have asked for the
extension in the future. 1 am, very
truly yours,
i JAMES A. HART
To those who have been following
the developments in the agitating
question whether doc" Newton and
IIal Chase will pursue the horsehide
for another year on the coast, it will
appear that the foregoing letter is an
extraordinary document in many ways,
1t is really a work of art in the fact
that it answers nothing and states
nothing which can be construed into
being a decision of the gentlemen OF
the National commission on the Los
!, Angeles claims for the services of the
two ball players in question. The in
ference that Los Angeles or any OF
the Pacific Coast clubs are hankering
for an extension of the drafting season
is amusingly erroneous.
Bert May Act
The efforts of the minors have been
combined toward limiting and pre-
venting the annual invasion of the,
predatory magnates. rather than in
creasing the length of the open sea-
son when nifty stick handlers who are
numbered among the stars of the
minor leagues can be considered legiti-
mate game While Morley is still in
the dark as to the final outcome of the
prevailing "unpleasantness," he is
hopeful that President Bert will adopt
strenuous methods to maintain the
rights of the Los Angeles club.
But Eugene F. has never seemed par
ticularly anxious to go cunning for
the naughty old magnates. who have
been waiting around for a grab at
Seraphic stars.
In the hope of urging Bert to become
real brave and make an effort to put
metaphorical salt on the tail of the
National commission the Los Angeles
magnate has dashed off the following
weighty missive, which explains sue
cinctly the contentious of Los Angeles
I in the muddle:
LOS ANGELES, Feb. "a, 1905.
"E. F. Bert, San Francisco-My Dear
Bert: Yours of the 21st inst. received.
You state that the National commission
will have to decide the Newton-Chase
protest. l have telegraphed both Hart
and Hermann. received a reply from
Mr.. Hart, and it seems that for some
unknown reason they expected us to
claim an extension of the drafting sea-
son, while, as Mr.. Hart states in his
letter, it was discussed in San Fran
cisco, and Mr.. Johnson said the Ameri-
can league would agree to the extern
sion. Now what am l to do? know
1t was thoroughly understood when we
Joined the National association by
Hart, Johnson and Hanlon, as we'll as
ourselves, and they have absolutely no
right to take these two players. 1t may
take extreme measures upon the part
of the Pacific Coast league to retain
them, but the National commission in
/, sisted that we line up to the San Fran
cisco compact so far as Dillon was
concerned. Now 1 will insist that they
, line up to it in all other respects. Win
you kindly write me particulars as to
what you have done in the matter and
what action you will take If they re-
fuse to abide by their agreement? /
do not doubt that if you take de-
cided stand and insist, that they would
give up their claims to these players.
Sincerely yours,
JAMES #. MORLEY"
Members of the Los Angeles team
are beginning to arrive in town. Arthur
Ross is the first to arrive from foreign