The Washington times., 1911-03-02
OUESTIONUP AGAIN
AS TO AMATEURlSM
District Baseball Commission Faces Old ISSUE and War
on Professionalism Is Urged BY Speakers At
Reorganization Meeting.

Amateurism or professionalism is an
issue which the baseball commission of
the District will be forced to face at its
next meeting.
For several seasons this question has
been the most mOoted one before the
amateurs" Of this city, and there have
been various suggestions made, but
never any definite action.
At last nights meeting of the anna
teur baseball commission, at Spalding s,
c. f. Edwards, president of the Mar
quette League. served notice that he Is
ready to offer an amendment to the
regulations barring from all games un-
der the commission, all men who have
ever played on teams under the Nation
al Baseball Commission of America. He
said he realized that such a rule would
mean the elimination of a number OF
players who were prominent last year,
but he believes such an alteration will
do much to do away with the wrangling
that has disturbed the amateurs in the
past. Because of the seriousness Of the
situation, Captain Edwards did not ask
for consideration OF the amendment last
night. but asked that all delegates be
prepared to meet the question at the
next meeting In the meantime the pro-
posed rule will be brought up before the
committee on the constitution, which
will report back to the commission.
Eligibility Rules.
In connection with Captain Edwards
statement came a communication from
Z. n. Rawlings, secretary of the Tri-
City Amateur Baseball League, in which
he stated that New York and Philadel
phia had voted to drop Washington un-
less assurances were received from this
city that the eligibility rules of that
organization would be upheld. Last fall
Washington won a rather hollow VIC
tory in the competition with the other
two cities because of the difference in
the rules which obtained here and in the
other places, so President Young in
struCted the secretary to write to Sec
retary Rawlings for a copy of the code
that is supposed to govern the inter-
city contests. What action will be taken
will not be decided until the rules have
been presented to the amateur commits
sion in session.
A meeting, for the purpose of re-
organization, was held last night at
Spalding, and, after two hours SeS-
sion, all business before the board had
been satisfactorily conducted. In addi-
ton to R. II. Young, president; H. V.
Shurtlef1, secretary ana w. y. 1ndcner,
treasurer, the following represented the
different leagues: H. E. Meyers, the
Sunday School,; II. T. Worley, the
Commercial; A. L. Riddle, the Inde-
pendence; Ross Blosser, the Capital
City; F. B. DevereauX, the Bankers;
Capt. Z. c. Edwards, the Marquette;
J. H. Anderson, the Departmental, and
Zed Copp, the Olympic.
Committees Appointed.
Most of the time was devoted to rou-
tine business, and it was agreed to ap-
point the following committees:
Selection of official baIl-H. A. Meyers,
William Reet, and Ross ]. Blosser.
Revision of constitutional. E. Ed
wards, H. V. Shurtleff, ]. Miller Ken
yon, and Thomas Kirby.
Conference with River View team-W.
9. Thacher, Zed H. Copp, and c. E.
Edwards
Thomas c. Noyes, president of the
club; n. z. Young, former |
president of the National League, and |
the sporting editors of the Washington |
newspapers were unanimously chosen |
honorary members of the commission.
H. F. Worley, who has been identified i
with baseball in this city for number |
of years, gave notice that, because of |
the stress of business, he has been /
forced to withdraw from activity in the