The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-18
PULLIAM IS
STILLONTHE
WARPATH
Would Resign Presidency
Of National League Rather
Than Give In to Minors.

NEW YORK, Jan. R.-In a scathina
statement issued yesterday, Harry C.
Pulliam. president Of the National League
and a member Of the National Baseball
Commission, ~criticises p. T. Powers, presi-
dent Of the National Association Of Pro-
fessionaI Baseball Clubs. The controversy
between the two baseball leaders, has
grown out OF the passage Of a resolution
by the National Association last fall. The
resolution. Pulliam claims, is a blacklist
OF twenty-five players. and his opposition
to 1t provoked some caustic remarks from
Powers. Yesterdays statement is virtually
an answer TO Powers's comments, ana
Pulliam declares that any or all assertions
made he Is prepared to back up IN court.
In part 1t follows:
'"rhis Is my final say on the question OF
whether the blacklist perpetrated by the
National Association last October in New
York city. closing the door of employment
the United States and Canada shall pre-
vail, 1t Is now time for the National Conn
order that it should live up to the require
ments OF the NATIONAL agreement. which
was framed as much to protect the rights
VI pau players as the monetary interests
OF ] owners.
"P. 7. Powers says that the resolution
adopted by the National Commission in
list on twenty-five ball players, and that
Manager Birnham, OF Newark, who gave
out typewriter lists or players affected by
dhe resoluuon' was MOI authorized 10
Here is the resolution adopted by the
National Association. BY o'Rourke: Re-
ers ~adJudged guilty OF the offense known
rs contract jumping and placed on the
i n list by the National Association
snail be forever debarred from playing
with any club Of the National Association
excepting the Tri-State League, and hat
the National Commission Is hereby re-
| SDeCffulV rnnlpgfpd Ia pnfnpoa THU al
OF law With strict and infexibie impar-
TALLY 70 major league players Adopted.
Il submit that this resolution does black
llst players affected by it. This action.
boastfully termed by the men who perpe-
trated It as a slap at the National Commis-
ton of the baseball law. for the organic
law OF the professional baseball says:
Article VIII Section 5. player sus-
longer than ten days shall have the right
OF appeal to the National Commission.
which Is given authority to order his rein
cessive or not material. This aud other
questions may. be determined by mail vote
by members OF the commission
Powers says that conditions are intoi-
cradle. Powers. says rightly. The con
ditlons are intolerable when a great big
command OF go cites and 500 ball pleyers.
can sink so low that q mere HANDFUL OF
men can use { to vent THEN spite.
Powers also insin11ates that in cases
where major leaEtfe bail players arc co.
eerned the National Commission -reiA-
states those players that are wnuied ay
leithcr the American or National la-aEtt5s.
Powers knew this was a missta tement
when he uttered 1t. He knew that Sebring,
one OF the best ball players in the country,
was denied reinstatement not only once.
but twice. when the Chicago National
League Club was ready TO take hin and
put him upon its team. He knew that the
petitions of Owens and Reisling, of Brook
lyu, were refused. He knew that the pc
tition of Ward, of Philadelphia, was re-
fused He knew why they were refused;
ecaus these men were not right and it
was not yet time to extend leHicncy 10
them. for they had not eondolcd their
offenSes.
I'm conclusion, I want to say that until
now / have always liked Powers because,
while I do not think that he had all the
wisdom OF the world in bis craniDm, I
thought he was light and wanted to Do
the right thing. His defense of this black
list resolution proves that he does not,
and ] venture to say that when the import
of what was done by n few men in Oc-
tober is realized by the rank and file Of
the National Association its members will
~repudiate Powers and Burnham.
PERSONALLY. I am through with Powers
II may be necessary that one holding my
position should DO on terms Of friendship
with Powers on %ccouEt of his position,
and If such Is the caSe | shall respect
fully decline to serve further and ask
my league to elect my successor. The
task would be too hard. it would weary
me. HARRY G. pULLIAM-
president OF the National League