The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-15

nave rclnStatcu from fOllOWlng their pro-
fcssion In the minor leagues the National
commission will see that such oppression
is stopped or else go out Of business"
This is how President Harry Pulliam Of
the National league feels about the issue
precipitated by the refusal OF the National
association TO abide by the commissions
action in reinstating certain players who
were placed on the minor league blacklist
last October.
"The National association exceeded its
Authority in declaring players ineligible
without hearing declared Mr.. Pulliam
yesterday, land It's unwarranted inter-
ference with the prerogatives vested solely
in the National commission has gone. far
enough
''If the National commission cannot pro-
tect the ball player as well as the club
owner then we might as well throw UP
the job Tho blacklist has no place in
baseball. We intend 10 see that justice Is
done these players. They can get a fair
hearing before the commission and any
ruling that is made will be enforced. /
am going to fight this thing out 10 fin
ish. because / have been attacked be-
cause on my opinions in these matters"
under the collar is putting II mildly. He
Is making a special study of the now IA
nous blacklist and is putting the matter
directly up TO President Powers and Sec
retary Farrell OF the National association.
lie has written TO Farrell asking him to
state the assoctions official stand on
the matter OF Ineligible players. Farrell
has publicly denied that there is a black
list, Notwithstanding the fact that p
players were sentenced for life 10 the Tri-
State league last fail.
When the commission met last week in
Cincinnati, Puliam arise in open meet
ing and condemned the blacklist. Secre-
tary Farrell broke in on Pulliam and in
formed him that the alleged list was a
newspaper fake and that he knew OF no
blacklist. Pulliam was dumfounded. Far
rell reiterated his statements In the hear
ing OF several newspaper men. President
Pulliam said:
IT cannot understand Mr. Farrells at
titude wideawake veteran baseball
man like him should certainly know
where his organization stands. The play
ers understand themselves to be under
the ban; so does Tim Murnanc and other
minor league officials. II Mr.. Farrell has
allowed this thing to continue two months
without rectifying the alleged mistake,
then he should issue a bulletin on IL at
once. ! wrote TO him almost a week ago,
but have received no answer. haven't
heard from Mr.. Powers, either"
PULLIAM'S LETTER.
Following is copy of Pulliam's letter
to Farrell;
New York, Jan. Z.
81 II. Farrell, ESQ. Secretary National
Association, Auburn. N. Y:
Dear Sir-At the open meeting OF the
national commission held i'm Cincinnati
on Jan. 6. you stated In reply to an as
sertion made by me, that the National
Association had not taken any steps to
place certain ball players reinstated by
the national commission. on the blacklist
OF the National Association regardless OF
their reinstatement by the national cont
mission. The players ! mentioned. among
others. were William j. Campbell, Lew
d. Wiltse and Otto Deininger. This
morning | note in the Chicago Record
Herald of Sunday. Jan. >. signed arti-
Gle by Mr. Tim Murnane, president of
the New England league, and member
OF the executive board of the National
Association. He states over his own sig
nature that the National Association did
place these men on the blacklist of the
National Association, Notwithstanding the
fact that the national commission had
investigated their cases and found then,
worthy OF reinstatement
II quote you from his language as fol-
lows:
The national commission has now re-
instated four men who were on the In
eligible list for jumping contracts. Dein-
inger, Heydon. Campbell and Wiitse.
-Four aces, as IL were, back in tho bust
ness-one to be allowed TO play with or
ganized baseball the country over (mean-
Ing Heydon) and the other three still
handicapped and barred from the nation
al commission. No doubt the national
commission acted from the purest mo-
tives when IL whitewashed this quartet
IF what you stated In the open meet
ing OF the national commission is true
N hat oil
truth. then, in your official caracity as
secretary of the National Association YOU
should issue bulletin and correct the
wrong impression that now prevails in
the baseball world that those men have
been blacklisted since the action OF the
national commission. and also call the
attention of Mr. Murnane to the state.
mont he is making over his own sigma
ture that is not warranted by facts
Either Mr.. Murnane Is right or YOU
are right. and In justice TO the PLAYERS
involved their status IN the national as
sociation should be announced In no un-
certain terms. If what Mr.. Murnane
says Is true. / give notice as one of the
members OF the nationaf commission that
j propose to take steps i'm the immediate
future 10 test the right Of the national
association TO override the decisions of
the national commission.
Respectfully yours.
II. c. PULLIAM.
"P. S.-I most respectfully call your
attention TO the detailed report Of the
proceedings OF the last annual meeting OF
the national association. as published In
the Sporting Life Of Nov. 0. These pro-
ceedings were reported by +. c. Richter.
the editor r-in-chief Of said paper. You
VIII note In the report OF the third days
proceedings that the statement OF Mr..
Murnane Is corroborated In detail. II
MI Richter Is wrong in his rerort he
should be asked to correct IL. in order
10 remove stigma that now exists
against certain players throughout the
United States"
THE BASEBALL LAW
The association usurped n prerogative
md a right vested only In the national
commission when Il TOOK official action
against these players" said P,illIam "As
my authority for this statement I will
quote section OF article OF the peace
agreement. which was entered into on
Sept. IL. 1903, at Cincinnati by the
A ArrRar ,1 ost ora