Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-21
Denies PuI|iam's State
ment About Blacklist.
SAYS Pres. Hermann Not In
Accord With LatteI'S Views,
PuIIiam Says He Will Have Walter
Burnham's Scalp.

New York, jan. 20-fresident p. I.
Powers, Of the National ASSOCIATION oi
Professional Ias ei,ill LeaGGes, ycStcr-
day issued statement giving his slGe
of the controversy that has arisen
over the construction and purpose of
resolution passed last october by
the National Association affecting
players who jumped to the Tri-Statc
League when that organization vas out
OF the pale Of organized baseball.
President Harry Pulliam Of the Ma
tional League. and Il member 81 the
National Commission, claims the rcso-
luton blacklists - baseball players
for life and is "un-American, unjust
and ultra Russian" During the Octn-
Der meeting 4 list OF the players in
volyed was made public BY Il delegate
10 the meeting.
Powers refuses to regard the contro-
versy with Pulliam as a personal mat
ter and says it is merely q difference
Of opinion as to the purpose Of the
resolution. He gives out a telegram
from President Garry Hermann, Of the
National Commission. in which Herr
mann states h Mt in accord with
Pulliam'S views.
TOWeTS 1OIIN 'L At IA.
epistle written b. James H. O'Rourkc,
the author of the resolution, to Presi-
dent Pulliam in which O'Rourke says
in part.
You call said resolution 'un-American,
unjust and ultra-Russi1n.' Now as to
your reasons for this: Is it because you
believe the said resolution is predicatcd
on an actual blacklist as a living fact.
and OF this l had personal knowledge be-
fore said resolution waS proposed and
adopted? AS to the resolution. it was
diGnifed and respectful in language. and
not intended by the author to offend any
member of the National Commission. nor
do injustice to a single player, whose
rights I will go as far as any man in
championing and upholding. Mr.. Herr
mann wrote me regarding said resolution
prior to your Cincinnati meeting. My re-
ply Is in his possession. / assumed same
was read by YOU as well as by your asso-
Ciates on the board, and concluded my eX-
PLANTATION was eminently satisfactory I'M
I'll your letter came.
by the widest stretch Of the !magina i
ton l did not think it possible that said
resolution was susceptible to such an
Interpretation as to discriminate. estab-
1ish and build up and include within its
operation a speclal blacklist of the play
ers reinstated by the National Commits
sion. Such is not the scope or purport
of said resolution. nor was it contem-
plated by me when said resolution was
offered.
Il fully believe, as you do, in the rules
and regulations of organized baseball as
Jctn Nv,
because upon them depend the integrity
and perpetuity of the game. I believe no
player should be condemned without the
opportunity to be heard. if he so wills
and, furthermore, no player should be
adjudged guilty of the capital offense OF
ineligibllity unless adJudged upon the ev-
idence. and the evidence conclusive il
each and every individual case. This i.
only just and fair. and l am confident
that such men as you, having the C"ur
age OF your convictions and the best in
fercst of the game at heart. will Sc,
that no player suffers from the appica
1ion of this principle.
I'm conclusion. permit me to say tina
said resolution is in harmony with thi
sentiment. and that sail resolution i
neither the father of 4 blacklist. nn
American. unjust and ultra-Russian. hu
In substance reiteratior OF agrccmen
adopted by the National Committee an
National Association at the time OF al
mission of the Tri-State League"
Powers says, in conclusion. Il am per
fectlv willing to abide by the judSmen
OF the men Mr. Puliiam mentions. mem
bers OF the National Association. Chapi
of Rochester Potter of Buffalo. Bryce o
Columbus. Watkins Of Indianapolis. AT
mour of Toledo. Sexton or Rock Island
Joyner of Atlanta. kavanaugh of Litti
Rock, Shiveley of Kansas city. Carso
OF South Bend. Ewing of San FranCisc
and Dugdale of Seattle, as they We're a
present at the meeting in question an
Endorsed Mr.. O'Rourkc's resolution by
unanimous vote