Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-07
Herman Talks
on Kelley Case.

The editorials in the st. Louis Sport
ing News UPON the Kelley case, which
The Star reviewed last Sunday,
stirred up President Hermann of the
National Commission, and he has come
back hot footed at Editor Flanner Of
the Mound City paper. Mr.. Hermann
goes over the case. taking the same
position that The star did that Kelley
has done nothing dishonest, and right
fully claims that it is for the interest
Of baseball mat the decision or rulings
Of 4 majority Of the National Commits
sion should be final upon all matters
brought 70 il for considC ration.
In regard to the assertion that the
National Commission mad no jurisdic-
tinn in tn" ease. Mr.. Hermann says:
"A majority of the commission has
issued an "rdrr that there will be no
Interference with Kelley pending a
final Investigation Of the matter by
them. a majority ruling should in my
Judgment be at all times respected by
an parties. Mr.. johnson, however has
instructed his umpireS To- keep Kelley
OF tie field. | DO not know what
he bases his action upon, unless he
cOnGtrlieS the action of the American
Association Of Dec. 2 to be q perma-
nent disability against Kelley. The
American Association contends that il
never intended IT as such: there has
been no ruling Of The commission that
it should lie construed as such, and |
therefore hold that if there ~ interfcr-
cnce With Kelley. he has his redress
to the commission, whether he is a
player, owner, manager, or anything
else.
If the records Of the American
Association show that Kelley has been
disqualified for crooked practices, |
certainly have no knowledge of it. I
DO not know when the American Assoc
citation investigated the matter, whcth-
er it mad any testimony before it other
than that shown in the transcript sent
to the comr3issi0n. ! have read this
transcript OF the testimony several
| times again this week. and i venture
to say that there is not one man in a
| thousand unless he be prcjudiced. that
would adiudge Kelley guilty of the
charges made, taking the testimony
as submitted, rs 4 basis.
In conclusion, my understanding of
the Kelley case is as follows:
list. Has the St. Louis Club lost
title to this player for failure to put
him on its reservation list last fall or
not? This matter is now squaroly
before the commission for it's decision.
"a. | contend that Kelley has
neither been convicted nor acquitted Of
the charges filed against him in the
American Association, but that thn
resolution adopted by that association
simply made him ineligible in that
| association, especially SO, if the quail
iICatiOn that it placed on il, that he
| should not be deharred from earning
a livelihood in any other association.
is taken into consideration.
I'd. | contend further that if the
action Of the American Association
| taken in the Kelley case is to be con-
strucd as being q permanent incligi-
blity against him in all organizations,
then his redress Is by appeal to the
National Commission.
in conclusion. ! contend that n ma
jority view of the commission should
at all times be respected by all per-
sons operating under the national
agreement. and especially by the mem
bers Of the National Commission. If
! one person has 4 right to deviate from
the ruling Of the ma jorty, then every
one has. What the result in such an
event would lie you know as well as
/ do.
an the present case I believe a very
serious mistake is being made in not
respecting the ruling Of q majority Of
the commission. and particularly so.
as that ruling is only a temporary
one"
Last weeks Sporting News takes up
Mr.. Hcrrmann's letter and endeavors
to offset The presidents claims. The
Sporting News makes the serious mis-
take Of making fish Of one and fowl of
the other in claiming that Kelley, as
q manager. comes under the rulings Of
the commission, but that Kelley as a
player does not. From an unbiased
point Of view, it looks as though Pres
ident Hermann has got the dots" on
some ono, and by reading between the
lines it is not difficult to locate that
particular person.
Kelley has been out all week with
the Washington players. ana is in al
most first-class condition. 1t will nat
urally take some time for him to get
back mis- batting eye in facing the
American League tWrlerS, but Man
agCr CantillCn stands ready to play
Kelley just as soon as the National
Commission turns him over to the
Washington Washington Star.
Washington Star: Manager McAIeer
and his band of Brownies are inIWash-
ington and are quartered at the Ar
lingtnn. McAleer was somewhat cast
down over the injury to Niles in Sun
DAYS game, which deprived him of
batter who was leading the American
League. but he says his bad luck can't
keep mp all the time, and that he is
looking for good break shortly Mac
says he knows nothing of the Kelley
case, and refuses to discuss II ona 1yav