The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-23
HERMANN ON
INELIGIBLE
PLAYERS
Head of National Commits
sion FavOrs Punishment
of Contract Jumpers.

Garry Hermann, chairman of the National
Commission, in a lengthy message to Secre-
tary John Farrell, OF the National Associa-
tlon, states that he is in full accord with
the resolution offered by O'Rourke that
players adjudged guilty OF contract jump
ing should be placed on al Ineligible list and
forever debarred from organized baseball. 3"
Hermann. however, holds that no play
er should be placed on such a list unless
he had first been given a hearing in his
own behalf if he so desires, and that, fur
ther, II he shall be judged guilty, he shall
have the right Of appeal"
Hermann also says that the National
Association should not be held responsible
for the list of players in the controversy
lie says: This list was prepared under
the rules OF the commission and promul-
gated by it,
The sole objection to the o'Rourke reso-
luton has been that II seemed to be passed
in defiance Of the National Commission,
and threatened n blacklist of players rein
stated by the commission. This O'RourSe
denies, Farrell denies and Powers denies.
so there seems to be no reason of Looking
for any fight on the part Of the National
Association against the National Commits
sion.
Chairman Herrmann's telegram to Far
rell reads as follows:
IF Pulliam is correctly quoted in paper,
I am not in accord with some OF his
criticisms pertaining TO the action Of the
National Association at its annual meeting.
In the beginning | too felt that yonr ae-
lions, if published statements were cor
rect, were entirely unwarranted. Sincs
then, however, have been convinced by
your official records, by letters from
O'Rourke and others. as well as youl
personal statement. hat in many instances
published reports as to your proceedings
were grossly misrepresented and wholly
unwarranted. National Association should
not be held responsible for list of Ineligible
players in this controversy. With the
exception of the name OF Player Camp
boil. this list was prepared under the pro,
visions Of the rules OF the commission and
with resolution orered by O'Rourke that
players ad1udged guilty of the offense
known as contract jumping should be
debarred from organized baseball. Hold
however, that no player should be placed
on such list unless he has been first giver
a hearing in his own behalf If he 81
desires, and further. that II adjudged guilty
he shall have the right of appeal.
IF 1t concerns a mino League player,
this appeal must first come to the national
board. The commission has SO held in tbs
Messerly case. Contend, further. that u
this application is refused by the national
board, then the player has a right &C
appeal to the commission, and under artt-
Gle 8. section 8 Of the national agreement
all such players may be reinstated by the
commission. This. however. should only
be done where the facts absolutely war
rant 1t. In the Wiltse case 1t was admit
ted by Ebbetts at the National League
meeting and at the recent meeting Of thu
commission that the player had been I'm
fairly dealt with. Under these circum
stances the duty devolved upon the com
mission or upon any one else who had TIL
matter under Investigation to immediately
restore the player to good standing.
hold, further. that when the commission
re%instates a player there can be no inter
ference anywhere.
AUGUST HERMANN,
Chairman National Commission
As to the support which President Johr
T. brush. OF the New York Nationals, IL
supposed to have promised President Pull
liam. It appears by his latest statement
that the support is decidedly half-hearted,
and he is more thar a little sarcastic in
some OF his references in a recent inter
view. in which he said:
THE National League has indorsed
President Pulliam by electing him the
head OF our organization, and l sup
pose we shall have to uphold him
In his present controversy. But at
that / can see several inconsistencies III
Pulliam's statements President Pulliam,
In the National League, is n one-man
power. He has the right to penalize any
player by a fine or to suspend any player
for a month-and without appeal. This
was the authority President Pulliam in
sisted on after the McGraw case went
against him In Boston two years ago.
Pulliam threatened to resign unless he
was given this power, the same he has
threatened now, unless the National Asso-
citation reselnds hat blacklist resolution,
II have always favored a court or body
of final appeal continued Mr.. Brush, land
was in favor Of the Fleischman resolution
that caused so much talk some time ago,
As to the merits of the controversy be
tween Pulllam and Powers, I have nothing
to say, but It will not iniure baseball,
whichever way it goes, for the simple rea-
son that the public doesn't care a cont
mental about It. 1t doesn't bother me d
whole lot, either
AS to the National Association prevent.
ing the reinstatei players rom securing
positions In organized baseball. it is said
that tips have already been given out re-
earding Wiltso, to the effect that he Is tr
tiptop form. Joe Bean, according to ru-
NOR. has been advised that he should sign
him for the Jersey City Eastern League
team.
Baseball contract Jumping should be
treated the same way that Hall, Dcvlin
Craven and Nichols were dealt with by
the National League In 1915" said a well
posted baseball magnate yesterday. '"rhey
should be blacklisted. Violating contracts
Is a crime which strikes at the funda-
mental principles OF tire national game,
and IN declaring in favor of such a policy
by passing a blacklist resolution the Ma
tlonal Association of Minor Leagues evi-
IDENTIFY had the best interests Of baseball
in view. That is why baseball men can
not understand PuIliam's present attitude
in regard to men who have openly broken
contrac cts, Organized baseball should be
a unit in declaring that offenders Of this
class should be forever debarred from play
ing with recognized leagues or clubs. The