The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-03
Puliar7l Sticks To His
 Decision Or Tie Game

New York, October a-President Harry c. Pulliam of the National League of Baseball Clubs tonight rendered a decision on the protested New Chicago game played on the Polo grounds here Sep tember g. President Pulliam rules that the game was a tie and that the Chicago club has no claim in equity for a forfeited game on September 24. when Chicago holds that the tie game of the day previous should have been played of.
 President Pulliam, in explaining how he arrived at his decision, gives in detail the various protests made by the manage ments of the Chicago and New York clubs. Chicago first appealed from the decision of the umpire and claimed the game as forfeited to it. On the morning of September 24 Chicago served notice on President Pulliam that it withdrew the protest and on September 25 Chicago served notice on President Pulliam that New York had failed to play the game off the previous day.
 On the same day the New York club gave notice of appeal from the decision of the umpires calling the game a tie, and on September 30 Chicago formally waived it's rights to the five days in which it was given to reply to New York, resting it's case on the report of the umpires and claiming thereby a forfeiture.
 In disposing of Chicago's claim Presi- dent Pulliam calls attention to the first protest made by that club, which, under the constitution of the league, made 1t im- possible for President Pulliam to set date for the playing off of the disputed game. When the protest was withdrawn the next day, MT. Pulliam says it was too late to have the game played off, and this being the case, the third claim of Chicago for forfeited games was without basis.
 MT. Pulliam then takes up the New York protest against the decision of the umpires. He describes the play and says that to score the run Merkle should have touched second base. There was no evil dence to show that he did do this, MT. Pulliam sets forth, and on the contrary, Umpire O'Day claims that Merkle did not touch second base, so was forced out. MT. Pulliam says it is not claimed in any of the affidavits filed by New York that Merkle touched second base.
 The whole dispute comes down to question of whether the umpires shall be upheld or not, MT. Pulliam declares. In conclusion MT. Puliam says:
 Much as I deplore the unfortunate ending of a brilliantly played game, as we'll as the subsequent controversy, l have no alternative than to be guided by the law. believe in sportsmanship, and will go as far as any one to achieve its ends, but would 1t be good sportsmanship on my part as president of the league to repudiate my umpires simply to condone the undisputed blunder of a player?
 ''The playing rules say that the decision of the umpire on a question of fact is final This whole controversy hinges on a simple question: Was Merkle forced out at second base? Umpire-in-Chief O'Day says he was, and Umpire O'Day is no novice, and there is no reason to doubt his accuracy in his decision. As an um- pire he ranks second to none. He has been before the public for 20 years as player and official and his integrity has never been questioned.
 "I rule that this game ended in tie score, and that for reasons stated above the Chicago club has no claim in equity for forfeited game.
 "Ths ruling is subject to appeal to the