Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-19
Love Feast Of Baseball MagnaIes
Differences All Smoothed Out-Pullam to have Leave of
Absence-Further Investigation of Bribery.

Chicago, Feb. 18.-Factional strife
in the National league of baseball
clubs was ended at the closing ses-
sion of the magnates' meeting today,
when President II. c. Pullam was
granted an Indefinite leave OF absence
at his own request so that he may
recover from the nervous strain to
which he has been subjected for some
time past. In the meantime his post
as chief executive of the league will
be filed by John A. Heydler, at pres
ent secretary and treasurer of the Or
ganization.
The disagreements between Presi-
dent Pulliam and certain National
league owners caused most of the dis
cussion during the closing hours of
the conference and while the president
lived up to his announced intention of
remaining away from the meeting be-
cause he was weary of conflict, the
leagues representatives spoke of him
as an efficient head and voted unani-
mously to grant him an indefinite leave
of absence. To leave nothing lacking
in a way of good feeling as marking
the last of the meeting, President
Charles Murphy Of the Chicago Ma
tional league club apologized in open
meeting to President Ban Johnson Of
the American league who was at the
session upon an invitation to tell what
he knew of the alleged attempt at
bribery OF Umpires Klein and John
stone during the closing series in New
York between the Chicago Nationals
and New York Nationals. The entire
bribery problem proved to be so diff
ficult of dealing that it was decided
that the statements of the umpires
and all evidence in the hands of the
special committee appointed to inves-
tigate the affair be turned over to the
committee to be acted upon as that
body may determine.
Chairman Hermann Of the commit
tee may call a meeting of the base
ball authorities to start getting to the
bottom of the scandal, but after the
close Of the league meeting he ex-
pressed himself as undecided when the
matter would be called up for consid-
GRAFTON. The information presented by
Ban Johnson to the National league
magnates was kept a secret for the
time being, the matter being consid-
cred of such vital Importance to the
national game that 1t was deemed de-
sirable to withhold rumors and allie
cations until the national commission
is ready to report.
, No Passes for Championship Games.
Respecting the subject of tickets for
the championship series. the nagnates
adopted a rule that no passes be Issued
to players either for the home grounds
or while they are in other cities. Pro-
vision will be made for issuing passes
to the wives of players, but hereafter
the chosen friends of diamond stars
will be obliged to dispense with free
admissions. The leagues directors
decided also to do away with e''free la
dies days" at any of the National
league ball. parks.
The proposed amendment to the
national agreement was ratified by the
league. Clubs in the major leagues
will be limited to 25 players each be-
tween May Is and August 20 and to
85 players after the latter date mem
toned. In the class "A leagues they
will be limited to 16 and 25 by the
same arrangement as regards dates.
After considerable discussion it was
decided that dates for postponed
games shall be fixed by home clubs on
the days Of postponement
Some Players Traded.
Today trading was not particularly
active. President Comiskey announc-
ed that Fred Parent, the Chicago Am
erican league shortstop, had signed
contract for the season Of 1909 and
plans are almost completed for the