The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-13

subject, We desired that Charley Frank 8
conduct be investigated. on account of
the use of rubber balls in that game, as
well as in a game against the Montgom-
cry club
You replied that you would call meet
! ing of the directors to pass on the sub
ject, but that you had set on foot an in
dependent Investigation of the matter, and
had not been able to find anything upon
which to base an action against the New
Orleans club" You further stated that
you considered New Orleans as neutral
point as Montgomery for hearing the
investigation.
Some Excuses.
We bad not pressed the charges against
Frank earlier because knowing your
prompt practice of taking cognizance of
all Irregularities in the game and investl-
eating charges of all sorts and character.
we thought 1t but natural that such a
serious charge as the fragrant use of rub
! Der balls would be taken up and investi-
gated by you as president of the Southern
! league, without requiring us to stand
! sponsor for an investigation especially as
one of the cases occurred with the Mont
gomery baseball club. over whose action
! we have absolutely no control Almost
daily the newspapers have demanded an
investigation of Franks conduct in the
matter referred to, as well as the conduct
of his players In other cases, particularly
the case of Breitenstein in assaulting the
umpire and using profane language In the
presence of ladies, at Memphis. You Will
pardon me for saying that many people
believe that Frank. in measure, enjoys
special privileges. especially in the way OIL
playing extra games on his home diamond
against the weakest team in the league
which practically amounts to gift to
him of such games; and, further, because
many people believe that he seems to be
immune from prosecution for the grossest
violation of baseball law such as the
use of rubber balls, a thing which strikes
absolutely at the honesty of the game.
Franks policy Is to get the best OF
everything and he shows lack of con-
sideration for other teams In the league,
as well as for his brother baseball play
ers whom ne does not hesitate to arrest
| and humiliate. We felt particularly hurt
| that Frank should have acted as he did
toward Jordan after we had turned
over our park In Atlanta to him when
his team was driven out of New Orleans
by yellow fever last summer although as
you probably know, this cost us several
thousand dollars. The people got so much
! baseball Iilat u0eN Detdlle llItu VI ~ anu
Franks team, having made a runaway
race for the pennant, the people prdc-
| tically took no more interest in our team
and almost quit coming to our games.
We feel that Frank is so intrenched IN
the Southern league that 1t would be
1 ridiculous I'm us to attempt to convict him
of these charges, although his conduct is
vioative of fair, clean baseball. Certain
newspapers in this league claim openly
that Frank has become so powerful that
he cannot be disciplined, and 1t is note
worthy fact that two years ago he per-
sisted in playing st. Vrain, an absolutely
| black-listed player, and when the other
teams would not play with him. he start,
ed litiga ton. which I believe you INFORMED
me cost the Southern league something
! in the neighborhood of $500 or $4,000
, and the league had eventually to capitu-
late and allow him to come back with his
team and play ball. This conduct is SO
recent and so notorious that 1t Is fresh
in the minds of everybody
Withdraws Charges.
We wish therefore. to withdraw our re-
| quest for an investigation of Franks con-
duct, because 1t would probably end in a
| farce We are especially moved to with
withdraw our request for this investiga-
ton, in view of the fact that you write
me that YOU have set on foot an indie
pendent investigation. and have not been
| able to find anything which to base
an action against the New Orleans club
If that is your opinion, it is unnecessary
for us to go any further.
Another thing which moves us to dror
| the matter is that you prefer to have the
matter heard in New Orleans. In all can
/ dor, we submit that New Orleans Is nc
more proper place for holding the meet
ing than Atlanta would be- During sucn
an Investigation Atlanta might become
personally unpleasant to Frank on &C.
count of the feeling among the people
| here at his conduct. and the same would
! doubtless be true of New Orleans with
! reference TO our representative there
You write me that my letter was "the
| first you have had which has any sem
l'blance what ever to a charge against the
/ New Orleans club for the use OF rubber
| balls at New Orleans yet we are In
| formed that certain members of the Mont
gomery baseball club went to your office
in Little Rock, when that team reached
| your city, and while you were out OF
town Mr. Clark Miller. your secretary
| was present. and they showed him the
rubber ball which had been obtained In
New Orleans by Apperious, the center
fielder of Montgomery, and which had
been cut open in Shreveport before Gilks
and found to be practically composed OF
\ tightly wound rubber strings. We pre-
sumo Mr.. Clark Miller, who presided in
your office In your absence. acquainted
YOU with these facts; and If. as president
of the league. you do not care to go into
J the matter. and as the Montgomery team
has no complaint to make. we have de-
cided not TO be responsible for an in
| vestigation. Moreover. practically every
newspaper in the Southern league has
commented on the Montgomery affair as
well as the Atlanta game.
However. If you desire. as president OF
! the league. to take up and vigorously
! fairly and mpartially investigate and
press these charges against Charley
Frank, we will take pleasure In furnish
ing you the facts in the MONTGOMERY as
well as the Atlanta incidents. furnishing
I Won the names of witnesses. and doing al
we can to throw all possible light or
! the matter
VIII Not Pay the Fine.
| AS to Franks claim against us for the
$500 penalty. We deny that we owe II
! either morally or under any rule OF base