The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-06
Must Explain His Deci-
sion in Virginia Lea
que Trouble.
CASE CARRIED TO
AUGUST HERMANN
Chairman of National Commits.
sion Says That Williams Still
Is President of League, and
That Full, Fair and Com
plete Hearing of Contro-
versy Will Be Given.
ny GUS MALBERT, SPORTING EDI-
IEQl 1

TOR Of THE TIMEs-DIspATCH.
Cincinnati. Ohio. February 81. II.
Farrell. secretary OF the National Az
ISOLATION of Professional Baseball
Leagues and chairman OF the National
GoarG OF Arbitration. will have to
answer to the National Commission,
and explain his decision recently rend-
cred In the matter OF the Virginia
League when three clubs were ad-
vised TO withdraw from the parent
organization and form another league.
August Hermann. chairman OF the
National Commission. decided that
much to-day when he Instructed repre-
sentatives of the Virs.ni League to
lille with him formal request TO de-
termine the present status OF the Eir-
gina organization. This request has
been hleu and coLies have been sent TO
the other members of tie commission
with the recommendation that the
matter be reviewed at once because
OF the rapid approach of the playing
season.
Petition Presented.
The petition from the Virginia
League. ADVISED and approved BY
Chairman Hermann, follows:
The virginia Baseball League re-
spccuully requests that your body in
rcsusate ano determine the present
status OF this organization In view Of
CERTAIN ICi'HSs puUtlSncu In the pup
lie press OF the state OF Virginia, pur-
porting to be the decision OF the Ma
tionai Board OF Arbitration through its
chairman. J. II. Farrell. chairman OF
the National Association OF Profess,
Sionai Baseball Leagues
tSiSnedJ &C. r. WILLIAMS,
President Virginia League"
When c. r. Williams, president Of
the Virginia League. and Gilmore
licins. president OF the Roanoke club.
In the same league. walked into the
office of August Hermann this after
noon at o'clock, by appointment they
found man who was as conversant
with conditions In the virginia
League as any man who has Followed
the various meetings by actual at
tendance.
He had spread before him the min
utcs OF the various meetings. and also
copy OF the league constitution No
question ever was raised az TO the
constitutlonality OF the constitution NJ
Tho Virginia League. Nh Hermann,
in practically his opening remarks.
gave IL as his opinion that Williams
was still the president of the league.
He was also of the opinion that the
National Board had approved the con-
sitution OF the Virginia League when
II rendered It's decision In New York.
As TO the decision rendered by Far
reil. he gave no expression OF opin.
ion. He could not. To have done so
would have been to take just such
action as Farrell took. not give the
other fellow chance, and August
Hermann is far too big a men to do
anything of that kind. But he did re-
view the situation. He did listen to
everything the men had to say. He
did express himself in regard to the
bigness of the issue. He did say that
No irr0
g'nia LeaCLe and involved conserva-
tion OF property rights. he did say
that ]. II. Farrell would have to tell
tho commission why and how he
reachtd his conclusions through his
representative, ]. r. Carson. He did
say that the Virginia League would
have a full. fair and complete hearing
before the body of which he Is CHAIR
nan.
Must be Fright and Fair"
Concluding an hours consultation.
Air. Hermann took occasion to re-.
mark by way Of parting that the mat
ter must be settled on basis of what
was right and fair. He requested that
history of the conduct OF the several
meetings be sent him so that no could
communicate the history to hIs asso.
aiates on the commission. When IL
was pointed out to him that Farrell
had never notified any Of tho clubs In
the league, with the execution of
Lynchburg. Danvilie and Richmond, OF
any action taken by him. and that no
reply either to letters or telegrams
could be secured, he shook his head
and said nothing. But to the observ-
Ing there was vast meaning In his
silence. August Hermann said en-
phatically that he would see that the
entire matter was thoroughly aired
and that ]. H. Farrell would state up.
on just what grounds he rendered his
decision.
The National Commission at any rate
does consider Itself fully qualified to
enter Into n hearing OF any matter
and fabric OF organized baseball.
AS to whether or not Farrell had a
right to advise three clubs opposing
Williams to withdraw, at the same
time granting them protection for the
cities which rightfully belong to the
agreement. and to three additional
cities making 1t impossible for the
three clubs that have acted regularly
to organize another league In the
State, he kept silent. but again his
silence gave more eniishtenm,ent than
During all Of this hearing A. ].
Flanner. assistant secretary OF tho
commission. was present He made
notes and ne READ earefIsly the records
his chief all data was carefully ar.
ranged so that 1t COULD be intelltgently
presented to the commission whom that
body reviews the situation n
Has Made Serious BIunder.
Farrell, harping upon his telegraphie
lcontlnued on eighth paEo5. Z