Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-12-27
THE PENALTY
Of DISHONESTY
AN INCIDENT OF THE EARLY
DAYS OF THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE
As.queI to the Exposition Of -Four
Players by the League in 1877.

10 WFlLo upOu Vase paAA III q 1AAS
t,rical maner and yet not fall into the
habit of quoting interminable stats.
tics is feat that probably few could
accomplish. Americas National
Came" volume of nearly 600 pages
in which A. G. Spalding makes his
bow as an author, is a most interest
ing work. containing as it does what
practically a compendium of the Incl
dents in the growth of professional
base ball, a period which is contem'
poraneous with the authors connec'
ton with the game, first as a player
and afterwards as club owner and
league director. OF the many evils
that had to be overcome and perman-
emily eradicated, that of gambling on
the results of games. which led to sub
ornation of players, was the worst
Only drastic methods could be OF
avail, and it required man OF deter
mination to AXE action and subse'
quently resist the pressure for rein
statement in behalf of the expelled
players. To the firm policy of Presi'
dentHulbert, who directed the dest-
inies of the National League as it's
second president, from 1877 to his
death in 1882, can be attributed the
honesty of the pastime and its hold in
the hearts, of the people, who know
that despite the glittering opportun'
tiles that would present themselves it
is strictly ION the level" The Incl.
dents that Mr.. Spalding relates in
his book in as follows:
Il shall never forget scene l
witnessed one day in the office OF
President Hubert, of the National
League lat Chicago, as a, sequence
of the expulsion of the Louisville
| playesr. Mr.. Hulbert's office was a
suite consisting of rooms connected
| by folding or sliding doors. was
| sitting in the reception room and Mr.
Hubert was at his desk in the inner
apartment, when the outer door open
ed and sorry looking speciman OF
humanity entered. 1t was midwinte1
and very cold, but the poor fellow had
no overcoat. His dustoovered gar
ments were threadbare and seedy.
Els shoes were worn through with
much tramping, while the red flesh
! showing in places indicated that II
stockings were present they affored
not much protection to the feet
Everything about the mans appear
ance betokened WEAKNESS and woe
His face was picture of abject
misery. The visitor passed me with
out a glance in my direction. His
eyes were fixed upon the occupant
of the other room. He walked
straight to the chair where Mr.. HUI
bert sat, and dropping to his knees at
the big mans feet, lifted his eyes in
| prayerful entreaty, while his frame
shook with the emotion so long res
trained. Then his lips gave utterance
to such a plea for mercy as might
have come from one condemned to
the gallows.
1.-THE man was Devlin, one of the
Louisville players. He had been a
personal friend of Mr.. Hubert, and
knowing that mans kindly heart had
felt that if he could only see him face
to face his friendship and the memory
of former days would cause him to
relent in his purpose of punishment.
How Devlin reached Chicago l never
knew. There was everything in his
condition and appearance to indicate
that he might have walked all the
way from Louisville. The situation
as he knelled there in abject hum
ilation was beyond the realm OF
pathos. It was ccene of heart-rending
tragedy. Devlin was in tears, HUI.
bert was in tears, and If the mists