The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-11

To the Board of Governors of the Greater
 Birmingham League of Amateur Base
 ball Players:
 At a meeting of your honorable body held at the Birmingham Athletic club on the 3oth day of September, 1909, the following motion was made and duly seconded, and passed That question of allowing or disallowing the protest of Grasselli Chemical Co., against Besse- mer be left to the decision of the presi- dent, also that Grasselli's claim as to the pennant be referred to the president"
 Grasselli protested games played at West End park on September 23. "A and 27. last, alleging that Catcher OMara of the Bessemer team had played ball for money with the Albertville, Ala, team of this year This protest was supported with a statement from the manager of said team that O'Mara did catch two games on July 5, 1909, for which he was paid $15 and expenses. Also that O'Mara was paid s22. 50 to catch three games at Anniston. In presenting his case in de- fense of Catcher O'Mara, Manager Gref- inkamp of the Bessemer team introduced 1 an affidavit that Player Perkins of the Grasseli team had played ball for money with the York, Ala, team this year. The board of governors refused to take any action on the matter and same was referred to the president for settlement.
 Examined Records.
 have given this matter much thought, have examined the records thoroughly, have dissected and analysed our own con stitution and bylaws appertaining to the question, also the laws of the Amateur Athletic union, and those of the National Association of Professional Baseball clubs. It has taken no little time and study to arrive at just and equitable conclu- sion The situation was found to be in i a state of almost irreconcilable confu- ] son The rules of the Amateur Athletic union must be interpreted in strict ac- l cordance with their letter, and to one not familiar with them they are quite com plicated It is unfortunate that the man. 1 ager of the team did not study them in order to obviate, if possible, a predica- ment of this kind.
 I shall first call your attention to the law bearing upon the matter. and quote | first from our own constitution and by | laws, as follows:
 T. This organization shall be known as the Greater Birmingham League of Amateur Baseball Players.
 '2. The object of this league is to fos- | ter, improve and perpetuate amateur | baseball in the Birmingham district. | "s- The membership of this league shall be limited to amateur baseball teams residing in the Birmingham district"
 Basic Principles.
 It will be observed that the funda- | mental principle upon which the City l League structure is based is it's enforce | ment and maintenance of amateur base ball, and to further accentuate and make more binding this principle, article 14 was incorporated in our constitution, as follows: Should any matter be brought before the league not fully covered by this constitution and bylaws, the ruling on said matters shall be that as used by the constitution and bylaws of the Anna | teur Athletic. union."
 The question arises at this point, what | is the test applied in the determination | of when an amateur becomes a profes- sional?
 To determine this question, quote from | the laws of the Amateur Athletic union, | page 160:
 | An athlete becomes a professional if | '1 Enters a competition for money or | for prizes of more than $35 in value. "3 Accepts a purse of money | "5 Enters a competition open to a | professional, or knowingly cOmpetes with | & professional
 "An athlete is disqualified from com ! peting as an amateur who has entered ol | competes against others than registered | amateurs in good standing
 I quote further from page 16l:
 Bar Against Amateurs.
 "An athlete cannot compete as an anna | teuY who has coached or instructed fol money or received excessive expenses, ol played with or against professionals 1T basebaH. except that this shall not appll l 10 the individuals of a team composed entirely of amateurs which has played arainst a professional team. single professional player on team makes th' team professional
 | [ ouote further from page 8:
 ssMo person who, at any time since th
 oroanization of the Amateur Athletic
 union has knowingly become profes
 sional shall be relnstated as an anna
 teur"
 particularly direct your attention t
 the following. on page 97:
 Any person receiving compensation 10 services performed in any capacity Il