The Washington herald., 1910-08-02

representing them az the various meetings that 10
has been difficult for them to gather all the facts
and circumstances which occurred while their various
representatives were present.
The last game Of the regularly adopted revised
schedule was set for Saturday. July l6. On July
Is tWen5y-f0ur hours before said last game a spc-
cal meeting was called. at the instance of the
managers Of the Washington Loan and Trust Com
pany TEEN and the Commercial National Bank
team. and the game scheduled for the 18th was
postponed despite the vigorous protests at such
tion by the manager Of the American Security aIlG
Trust Company team. the president Of the Bankers
| League ruling as follows
Extract from minutas) that the game
should not be postponed. in view q the objection
Of the oontesting teams. and that he did not see
sufficient reason for pOstponing q that the schedule
of games had been adopted By all the members Of
I the league"
| The reason advanced b. the manager Of the Wash
| ingVn loan and Trust Company team was that
several Of their players desired % participate IN
game with the Baltimore Bank Clerks
| The minutes quoted in this section should show
that there was only one objection 70 the postpone
ment Of this game and that from the repre-
sentative q the American Security and Trust Com
pany.
The game with the Baltimore Bank Clerks" was
the annual game between the Washington Chapter
/ American Institute Of Bankers. and the Baltimore
Chapter American Institute Of Bankers. fer val
liable cup donated Jointly by the two chapters This
| is game in which almost every bank man in the
/ two cities is interested The Baltimore Chapter
had gone % great expense 10 entertain the local
chapter having ordered a banquet music and spe-
cial cars. and arranged for the use Of a diamond at
one n the country clubs. Several players from the
Washington Loan and Trust Company picked
ard understood some OF the men from the
American Security and Trust Company were slated
for the Washington Chapter team. ard all the
ro0frs n the league desired % 60 over and % have
disappointed Baltimore Chapter under the crcIm-
stances would have been In very bad fom-
The meeting OF July 10 was nos called az the
Instance n the managers Of the Washington Loan
and Trust Company and the Commercial National
teams. but by the president the written request
OF al Of the managers. EXCEPT the American Sc
curity and Trust Company and the vice president
and treasurer. Three days prior 10 the meeting two
members verbally requested the president 20 call
meeting. and on the following day a written re-
quest sent 70 the president and owing 20 the
fact that both Of these requests were ignored. II
became necessary 20 have al o. the members above
mentioned ask for the meeting with but twenty
four hours notice Even at this time the meeting
might have been avoided bat the manager Of the
American Security and Trust Company. 81 response
% the requests for postpOnemsut earlier IN the
week acted in such a dilat0ry and evasivo manner
and did not give conclusive answer until the morn
ing Of Friday. July IS The meeting Was then
called as stated. being necessary under the circIm-
stances
AT this sane meeting Of the board Of managers
July Is the board ordered that all 81 the games
which the Riggs National Bank team had PLAYED be
thrown out. the American Security and Trust Com
pany suffering by this action the loss Of two games
The American Security and Trust Company has
ever desired the Bankers League 20 be strictly an
amateur organization. as well as has The leagues
president. and IL was on this account the question
Of what constitutes a bona hde omploye was raised
This Is a question Of vital importance not only 20
our league but % amateur sports throughout the
District. One Of the cardinal principles Of the
Bankers League is that there shall 5e no question
as 20 the eligibility Of the players used and the
sense q article XII given 10 the fore part of this
letter Is 20 the effect that such players shall be
bona hde hank clerks and not men employed 10
ether walks Of life. Every Of the players of the
team representing the American Security and Trust
Company are and have been bona fde hank clerks
taken on IN good faith clerks. and they are on
duty during the entire working hours Of the bank 20
When the Riggs team resigned IL bad played a few
games with different teams In the league. and had
forfeited and also some postponed games neceses-
sary on account Of rain Two 81 these POSTPONED
games were with the Commercial National Bank. Il
was manifestly unfair 70 some Of the teams Of the
league % allow matters % stand IN this shape and
to correct this injustice board took The most rea-
sonable alternative and threw ont an games which
the Riggs fad PLAYED forfeited which action was
satisfactory every team IN the lcaguc Including
those teams that bad from themI EXCEPT the
A. S. T., which claimed the game 70 had won
and the game 70 had been forfeited by Riggs
Ihere has been no question raised as % whether
any PLAYER In the league IS an amateur or pro
fcssional The eligibility Of the PLAYERS IL cues.
board Of managers. and when that body has de-
cided the matter. it should end there Under the
circumstances. and with grcai respect 20 the commits
sloH. we feel that in justice ~ ourselves and ~
spect Tor the banks We represent this is a matter
solely IN the discretion q the board Of Managers
and properly so. Your honorable body surely was
not constituted FOR the purpose Of deciding Ques-
ions provided for hy the constitutions Of leagues
and passed on hy the board Of leagues
The eligibility rules Of the Bankers League have
also been violated by the team representing the
National City Bank, IA that it PLAYED a man who
neither worked iu their bank or any other place"
This Is an exceedingly vague charge 10 names or
dates are given 0f the PLAYER or the game or glues.
whether National City team had played a man
VINO neither worked in their bank or any c.her
place. may or may not he correct: but il is a
fact that no such question has ever been raised
either at meeting OF outside and 50 far as
known. all Of their players. well as those Of all
teams IN the league, are eligible. charge Of .his
character should be made to the league board and
not 20 the amateur commission. We regret that
you have been bothered with IL
The commission VIII please note that although
tho game with the Washington Loan and Trust
Company was played on the eth day q June the
protest 70 the game not presented % the board
until the 18th day q June at which time The Com
merci9I National Bank team manager nled his
protest against the game they played with our team
on the 18th n june. the two protests being idcnt
cal IN language aud filed and passed by the usual
vote-as OF one protest-at the same meeting
These protests we're the ground that the
Riggs National Bank. at that time was still In the
league although they had disbandod and RESIGNED on
the 81 Of June-the resignation being refused for
reasons stated before-Bnd the players Of the Riggs
team had AL been released on the d Of June) and
the American Security and Trust Company team Ind
played-n the one game two men whom the Riggs
team had released who were ernployes Of other
banks and in the other game a man who was an
employe q the Riggs National Bank and A man
who was employed IL another bank. although all
Fheza had faar- r~ls D.
prior 20 June las IS shown hy letter exhibited
with this letter. and were told they we're free To
play with whom they pleased
This matter has already been presented but Il
might be here added that the Riggs manager did
not consider his resignation as accented and who
present and voted at meetings and took part in
general proceedings as late as June l6. Further
more. at the meeting Il June l6 at which SIX
teams were represented. including Riggs. there was
a unanimous vote to throw out the two games Of
june and Il, and. as before stated American
Security and Trust representation specifically de-
caring the protests were proper and would offer no
objections to allowing them at any rate it Is diff
cult 70 see how this question Of these two games
can in any way affect the Standing OF the American
Security. as they played over the games which
were thrown out and won both. Il seems that
change has meanwhile come over the American
Security and that they have reversed their position
completely in regard 10 this matter.
AS the commission viii understand none a the
players in the Bankers League are under contract
/ TO play ball, and may, when released. play with
whomsoeYer they please.
Prior 70 the game which the American Security
and Trust Company played with the Washington
Loan and Trust Company team on the 7th. the
Washington Loan and Trust Company team took
player whom the Riggs National Bank manager had
released in the same manner as he did the men who
played with us-one Sweeney by name A pitcher
and played him IN game against the Rigs Ma
tional Bank. which the Washington Loan and Trust
team won, yet this game not protested
This question IN regard 10 Mr. Sweeney has never
been before the Bankers Baseball Ieaule In anv
shape whatever. and submit the Commission
would hardly be doing iultice 10 the league 10 nasg
or matter which has not been acted upon bv the
Bankers League
The proper ruling with reference to the status Of