New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-01-18
STRIFE In BASEBALL
PULLIAM UP IN ARMS.
Says Minor League Blacklist Is IN
Violation of the Lac.

Harry c. Pulliam, president OF the Natlonal
League of Baseball Clubs and member of the
national commission has taken up the fight for the
twenty-five or more ball players who under a
resolution of the national association are ineligible
for all time to get employment by clubs In the
association The hands of the national commission
tied at the recent meeting by the declaration
of John Farrell, secretary of the National Asso-
citation of Minor League Clubs. that no BLACKLIST
existed. Since then Mr.. Pulliam has collected
enough evidence to convince him that Mr. Farrell
mistaken in his assertion. and that, whether
he not the resolution in itself is unfair and
in violation of baseball law.
Mr.. Pullidm issued signed statement yesterday
covering the question in which he said in part:
inns on the auesgon OF whether saa,
last OCTOBER Ia New YORK Clty closing me
Sse cities m the United states and Canaaa snail
prevail Ii is tor the National ComInls-
should 1--we up 70 Ine requirements of The national
agreement, which was framed as much 10 protest se
rights of bail players as the monetary iLeIess
p r. Powers has seen fit to throw mud at me
should be without feeling, because IL IS simply
oa o az S Sy ne Rational in
sion at the Eh Avenue h0tel IN Sa paysr
and that Burnham who gave out typewriter ns os
Authorized az to do So Let us see. the facts
Here is the resolution adopted py the Sauonai
Resolved That all National Association players
sanping and s@i Dlaeed on the ineligible list ~ ne
National Association shall be forever deoarrsd
fTam playing sReepng t fe
the National Commission is hereby respecs stric
and iniexibie impartlaty to major league players"
has been in this country long enough to under
stand the English language by ms 1 Wor am That
tins resolution does blacklist ball players anected
This action, boastfully termed slap at the Ma a.
tona Commsson and organize a o1ransc law
of professional baseball says; ,,s -, .
Article s. section s. player sus 3Ss fe Savs
shall have the right to appeal to the National Com
insateme @f it punishment excessive
merited This and other qm 1eSeTs may Of the
Take the case of T. D. wiltse who was bla lex.
resolution to prevail wtse cannot have his case
Is t task 6 5Gp yiaE out 1he
hs s d dared to offer an afront TO National Con-
mission refusal to let him n have was wns
to WItss t6ienslsss ball
Powers says rightly. The conditions are int9IeEa
pie wneh Command If two hundred and sixty
cities and five thousand ball players can become
nH en weak cah a a9e it te vent spite spleen
also hall bsvtT 4 9a m the Va
ton commission renstates those PLAYERS that are
wanted he Py knew. however, that sebring OF
the hest ball players in the country was denisa
Chicago National League Club. hoiders OF Ins
worlds championship ready TO take MN ana
nut him on the team: he knew that the petiIlons
of Owens and Reisling. Of Brooklyn. We're refused;
MS knew that the petition of Ward OF Phiiaoel-
phia was refused. He knew why they were re-
fused. because these men Were not rlgni. anu ~
was not vet time to extend lenfency TO theIn TOT
they had not atoned for their offences =.
In conclusion I venture to say that when the
import of what done by few men In Octo-
Der is realized by the rank and file OF the Ma
Potter of Buffalo; Bryce, Of Columbus: Watkins
of Jndarapolis: Armour of Toledo: Sexton, Of
Rock Island: Joyner, of Atlanta; kavanaugh- OF
Little Rock Shivlev. OF Kansas: Carson. or south
BEND: Ewing, of San Francisco. and Dusdale. or
Seattle. viii rise up in their power and indlgna-
ton and repudiate it.
P T. Powers, president Of the National Associa-
tion says that the not backlisted, and
that he will issue statement shortly covering the
resolution.
The present controversy grew out Of the partial
reinstatement of L. D. Wiltse, brother of Wiltse
who pitches for the Giants, for contract jumping
On his reinstatement he became ward so 10
speak. of the national commission and played with
the Newark club, of the Eastern League. of which
Walter Burnham IS manager. The Newark club
took exception to paying the national commission
$500 for the purchase of Wiltse, and later the Ma
tional Association adopted the resolution which, so
far as can be judged makes Witse and twenty-one
other players ineligible except with clubs in the
Tr-State League