Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-09
KING PULLAM
MA Y RESIGN
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION MUST
REsclNp RESOLUTIONS
MINORS FAIL TO KEEP BIG
LEAGUE AGREEMENT
Leaders Say Politics of the Game
Should Be Played as Fairly
as Contests on the
Diamond

NEW YORK, Feb. S.-President
Harry c. Pulliam of the National
league yesterday made the posi-
tive statement that unless the Ma
tional Association of Professional
Leagues 1.-THE minor league body re-
sends the socalled unjust, un-Amer-
lean and ultra-Russian' blacklist reso-
luton that organization passed last oc-
tober he will resign his position as
president of the National league and
wash his hands of organized baseball
forever.
II am in dead earnest in this matter,
said Pulliam, 'ani IL the decision is
against me the National league will
elect my successor at its February
meeting. L. l go down in defeat l will
retire from the game that L have
served faithfully for fourteen years.
without regret. l will have that which
had when / entered the game, viz,
my self respect. 1 win have in addi-
ton the gratitude of the ball player
the clean ball player-who knows what
l risked to preserve his rights; and
will have also the respect and conf
dence of the grea. ball public, who be-
lieve that the politics of the game
should be played as Clearly and as fair
" In the legislative halls as the game
itself on the diamond. So, therefore, If
seemingly defeated, the victory will be
pine.
ION January 16 p. T. Powers, presi-
cent of the National association, in an
authorized interview stated that as a
result of the compact with the Tri-
State league twenty-five ball players
were doomed to remain for life in that
organization; and, quoting from his
own words. he says: Now, then, on
top Of that agreement, to which the
national commission was a party, the
latter body has turned round and rein
stated some of these players. Does
that action dovetail with the original
agreement
ION January IS Powers said: There
is no blacklist, but there is an ineligible
list
ION January g Powers spoke by the
card, reiterating the statement of
President T. II. Murnane of the New
England league, made over his sigma
ture, The National commission has
now reinstated four men who were on
the ineligible list for jumping con-
tracts"
PulIiam claims the National associa-
ton by its action violated section of
the national agreement, which reads:
1T shall have for it's objects the pro-
motion OF the welfare CO ball players
as a class by developing and perfecting
them in their profession and enabling
them to secure adequate compensation
for expertness." He also says there
was a violation of the section reading,
"A player suspended by a club or
league for a term longer than ten days
shall have the right OF appeal to the
national commission
What Powers Really Said
Pulliam said further: IT note that P.
T. Powers takes great satisfaction from
broadcast statement from
August Hermann, chairman of the
commission, in which MIR.
Hermann defended his position. That
fact does not surprise me, notwith
standing that = have thre letters from
Mr.. Hermann, written in November
after the action of the National asso-
citation, In which he says over his own
signature that the action of the Ma
tional association was unwarranted
and would not be allowed to go unno-
ticed by the national commission.
Hermann Politician
"Mr. Hermann is a politician-a
great politician-and that explains the
reason why he takes different posi-
ton in January, 1908, to that in No
yember, 1907. Whoever saw a poll
tician stand hitched to any proposition
for period of three months? I never
did. As a weather prophet the genus
politician can give the United States
weather bureau cards and spades In
ascertaining which way the wind blows.
"In conclusion, / want to say that
my position In this matter is fixed and
irrevoca Bile. I know only one system
of life, and that is to play the game in
the open and deal the cards above the
table"