The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-27

MIKE heileN, washington new ATSl
baseman, reached this city from Gin
cinnati this morning.
Kelley Joined the team in Chicago.
where he was estopped from playing by
order Of Ban Johnson. president of the
American League, and Travelled with It
from the Windy City to Cleveland. to
Detroit. He left Detroit with the other
ball players but dropped of in Cincln-
natl. where ne spent yesterday discuss
ing his case with q prominent lawyer of
that city, who will represent him before
the National Commission.
Kelley is accompanied by his wife
and is stopping AT the Dewey.
Meeting This Week.
There promises to be a settlement of
the whole Kelley controversy before the
end Of the week. Chairman Hermann,
Of the National Commission. promised
Manager Candllon to call a formal
meeting Of 5hau body in a few days. to
decide the case and this is expected 10
be done before next Saturday
1t should be understood that the tele-
grams and letters in which Hermann
has said that he thought Kelley had
perfect right to play with Washing
ton pending a decision, and that Harry
Pulliam, president of the National
League, thought the same way, were
entirely unofficial. The latest phase of
Kelley's troubles has never been con
sidered at a regularly called meeting,
such as is scheduled for this week.
Under ordinary conditions It might have
been expected that Ban Johnson. presi-
dent of the American League. would
acknowledge the force Of the off-hand
instructions issued by Hermann. but
he refused 70 make any concession at
all.
Majority Decides.
A majority vote counts in the commits
sion. and If Johnson chooses to hold
aloof and not attend the meeting. Herr
mann and Pulliam can go ahead and
reinstate Kelley. Then. If Johnson still
refuses to allow him 70 play. the base
ball world Will be squarely confronted
with the question whether the president
of the American League is stronger
than both his own organization and the
the National Commission Such con-
tumacy in the case of a minor league
would be greeted with loud cries OF
traitor gutter. etc. and the league
would be promptly outlawed. It Will
be interesting TO note what will be done
with Johnson.
Barred by Secret Agreement.
As CantiTon explained it this morn
ing the meat in the Kelley cocoanut is
as follows
Kelley was manager Of the St. Louis
club, controlled by Lennon. St Paul
sold Kelley to St Louis. although he had
never signed q contract He was asked
10 accept $500 I'm St. Louis when he
was offered 81 800 salary and perquisites
which eventually made his income from
Minneapolis. in 1906. $500 He refused
10 go to St. Louis. claiming that he was
sold there as a vengeful trick and went
70 Minneapolis as president and man
ager. He tried 20 play there and was
ordered out of uniform because Of the
St Louis sale Also he got in bad in
St Paul. because a club official pre-
ferred charges, which were proved 20
be grOundless. against Umpire owen.
Here we approach the crisis.
The American Association magnates
held a meeting at which gentle
mans agreement was entered into. by
which the owners undertook 10 employ
Kelley in no capacity. In other words,
he was tacitly blackisted ia that
league, but, II was claimed, this motion
was never formally placed on the min
utes as n compelling cdlct o. the body
and was intended to be a secret under
standing.
How Washington Got Him.
The agreement went and Kelley's days
in the American Association were over
In the meantime, the CantiIlons, Joe
and Mike, wanted Kelley to manage tho
Des Moines club of the Western League
which they own. Later, Joe decided
Kelley would be a good man 10 play first
for Washington, a position which ST.
Louis had been extremely anxious FOR
him to fill. Joe offered 10 buy his re
lease from St. Louis for $3.50. but
Hermann told him that as St. Louis
had neglected to reserve him. he was
free agent and Washington did not have
70 pay for his release.
Then Ban Johnson butted in with tho
ultimatum that as Kelley had been Sc