The Washington times., 1908-03-28
Joe CantillOn Accused
OF Breaking the Terms
OF National Agreement
Kind Intentions Toward Keey Stir Up Awful
Rumpus-Youngster Will Join Nationals in
Chcago-Club Reaches Houston.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

GALVESTON, Tex. March 81
They're on
The annual baseball row between Joe
Cantillon and his old pals of the ma
1ional commission has been started, and
a bruising contest is expected
II will be remembered that in The
Times Of March % I explained the
status of Bert Keely, the Chicago semi
professional in the Washington squad
No particular importance was attached
10 the story. which was merely intended
TO set Washington fans right about this
promising youngster. But, sakes aHVe'
that bit of camp gossip has started a
mighty rumpus. It has been used as a
ground for attacking Canullon. who Is
hearing I'D bravely, and says there Is
nothing 10 the charge he is covering up
Keely.
Sporting Paper Butts In.
The Sporting News of St. Louis, in It's
issue OF March %. has the following
editorial;
..The sport lead in The Washington
Times of March 20, written by its base
ball editor. VINO is with the NatohAlS
at Galveston. reads as follows;
By THOMAS S. RICE.
GALVESTON. Tex. March 10
The true inwardness OF the STATUS
of Bert Kelly. the Chicago semi
professional pitcher, who nad 1SeH
trafuine with the Washington CluD
aud made such a hit both as a pllC--
or and fielder. has come 10 lsnI
Washington is not 70 set heely'
Al least won't get him THIS year.
except. possibly, in great eL1S.
ge1cv Jimmy Callahan, the chi
cago semi-prof. masnatei ooUs,LC
Keely's release from alloItteI CS |-l.,-
for 5000 and values the yOuha9ttL
most highly. In fact, ne thousut
him such a prize that he was III
great fear he would be goDbled up
by a major league team. IheLSLoL0
he signed him TO contract MAeLS
nv Kealy is 10 get Sz,lo0 Tor TINS
wears work. Callahan then got an
tfHon 70 take keely 10 IelNesLoA,
both as a training measure ana as
q preCautiOn agalnst tamperlhg 10y
major rnagnates, In return Tor TINS
favor. Callahan, who realizes ne
would be practically unable 10 nold
KeClv against the big leagues, mas
agreed to sell the yOungster con-
tract 10 Washington az the emo OF
the season for what II cost MIN
namely. $500 Joe Canullon said TINS
morning he would willingly give
81 600 for keely, but VIII not inter-
fere with Galatians plans
IF the status Of Keely is correctly set
forth bv Mr.. Rice. the Washington club,
the American League and organized
baseball should call Manager Cantilon
OF. The carpet and teach him that II Is
as much Of an offense for a National
agreement manager TO lend aid and
countenance to an outlaw club as 1t Is
for a reserved player who refuses TO
report 10 his club, TO play with or
against a team under the ban. Section
2. Article VI, OF the National Agree
ment reads as follows:
ANY club or league which har-
bOrs a player who refuses to observe
his contract with club member OF
any party TO this agreement, or 70
abide by its reservation, Shau De
considered an outlaw organization,
and its claims 10 cOntractual and
territorial rights ignored
Callahan. his club and his league be
came enemies of organized baseball for
violating the section quoted, and nave
been promulgated as such by the ma
IiOnal commission. but II Mr.. Rice S
statement is true. the Nationals man
ayers policy in dealing with parties IN
der the ban of organized baseball is di-
ametriCdlly opposite 10 that outlined m
the basic law of the game. keeiy, who
has made such a hit as pitcher and
fielder is training with an American
League team for a seasons service in
the Chicago Independent League. He
did not 60 South TO be tried out with a
view OF strengthening the Washington
club, but 10 fit himself for a campaign
with the outlaw Logan Squares. COndi-
tioning this player is not the only serv-
ice CantillOn has rendered Callahan. for
Keely is under contract 10 the Wash
1EgtOn club, and therefore safe against
being tempered with by major mag
mates This unique case of covering
up has features that appeal % those del
egated 10 conStrue and carry out the
terms and provisions of the National
agreement. keely's contract with Wash
lngtOn, While formal. was not entered
into In good faith. The Washington
club does not expect the PLAYER serV-
Ices in 1908. and he does not look TO it
for his salary for the coming season.
II Il Is not binding as between the par
ties. IL should not be permitted 10 serve
the purpose for which IT was resorted
to-that OF protecting Cauahan's PLAYER
from National agreement clubs which
may desire his services. Cantinon's low
atty 10 the Washington club is put in
question by Mr.. RiCe's statement that
he would willingly give 81, 60 for Kelly
but viii not interfere with Callahan's
plans
The national agreement is manda-
tory on this point Claims Of outlaw
clubs 10 player and territory shall be
ignored. With Cantillon, however. he
plans Of his friend. callahan, are para
mount TO the provisions Of the national
agreement and the interests OF the
Washington club. to which he is under
contract Now that keely is an asset