Evening star., 1908-01-19
WHY CHICAGO WAS
REFUSED A. A. CLUB
National Base Ball Commits.
sion EIaborates Upon Its
Recently Announced
Decisions.

CINCINNATI. Ohio. January lS.-Al-
though the decision of the natlonai pase
ball commission on the various resoiu-
tions presented by the American Asocia-
ton was announced at the time OF the an
nual meeting last week. the full expiana-
ton of the reasons for its action was
not given until today. when the iindins
was formally promulgated. Regarding
the request for Endorsement in the at
tempt to place an American Association
club in Chicago, after stating that the
subject was not within the jurisdiction OF
the commission. the report says:
'The commission, however. is prepared
at this time TO go on record as opposed
without qualification to territorial in
fringement of this kind. and will strongly
recommend that the petition he denied.
The foundation upon which crSani nized
base ball rests today is the respecting of
territorial rights, the enforcement OF all
contracts, the reservation of players and
the opportunity provided for players to
advance in their profession and receive
adequate compensation for their serv-
ices. TO encroach upon either of these
provisions would be like pulling the cor
ner stone from the foundation. If one
league would have the right to- encroach
upon the territory of another, then all
leagues must. have the same right. Ii
such condition existed. nothing but
chaos and disaster would follow.
crowned on This Plan.
The proposition to draft players only
from the clubs in the next lower league
is disapproved, because it is in violation
of that object Of the national agreement
which provides for the promotion of the
welfare of ball players as class by de-
veloping them and perfecting them in
their profession, and enabling them to Sc
cure adequate compensation for their ex-
pertness. A player in class d could ad-
vance to a a;or league only at the end
Of three years, which the commission be-
lieves to be wrong.
The national commission expressed ap-
proval of the suggestion that major league
clubs be limited to twenty-five players
at any time, and that only eighteen play
ers be carried during the playing season.
The reason given for opposing the
change in classification of the Pacific
Coast League and others is that when
the Pacific Coast League was admitted
to organized base ball it was distinctly
agreed that it should be class A league
So far as the other leagues mentioned
the Southern and Western, are concerned
the National League of Minor Leagues is
said to have full authority.
The resolution aimed against the farm.
ing of players is approved in principle
the commission stating that it had al
| ready adopted measures to the same end
No Reinstatement Here.
Disagreeing with the request for re-
| instatement of certain ineligible players
it is stated that where applications fol
reinstatement have been refused by the
commission, that action was only taker
| because the facts in each case warranted
such refusals, and this applies particu'
larly to those players whom the Anne ri.
can Association has asked the commits
sion to reinstate, viz: Sebring, Reisling
Owens, Wiggs and others. The commits
| sion has also gone on record as holding
that it would not consider an application
| for the reinstatement of a minor league
player unless such application has beer
| first heard by the proper officers Of tht
National Association"
In conclusion the report quotes from
the national agreeme mt that portion Civ
ing the commission authority TO orde:
| the reinstatement of players under props.
cnnlitiO ions