The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-13
HOW A CORRESPONDENT, IN AN IDLE MOMENT, PAINTED AN NISTON DIRECTORS IN UNCOM- ELEMENTARY AND UNJUST LIGHT-THE DIRECTORS, INCL DENTALLY, DENY ACTIONS AS CHARGED AGAINST THEM

| Tn the Ledger of Tuesday afternoon ap- peared a highly sensational story in refer enoe to the Anniston club of the South eastern league and the president of the league. Practically, the same story ap- peared in the News.
 1 If the Ledger secured the story from a correspondent, the correspondent played scurvy trick on the Ledger. The same applies to the News.
 | And when it is demonstrated that the Ledger and the News have published | stories in which truth is conspicuous i principally through it's absence, there is no doubt but that the Ledger and the News will make exhaustive examinations in an effort to find the light
 The Ledger under an Anniston date line proceeds to say:
 At a meeting of the Anniston Base ball association, held here last night, President Roberts of the Southeastern league was severely criticised and con- demned by the Anniston directors" It is a paragraph in which there is not a scintilla of truth.
 1 The Ledger then says: 'The Anniston directors are seriously considering with drawing from the league on the ground that President Roberts and others in of ficial capacity. they say, are doing all | in their power to keep Anniston from winning the first rag"
 | At the Monday night meeting. in fact, the directors went on record to the eff feet that Anniston would finish the sea- son if it trailed all other clubs No di- rector or directors stated that the presi- dent was doing all in his power to pre- vent Anniston from winning. | The Ledger then proceeds: "The direc- tors stated that in their opinion Roberts is incompetent to hold the position of president"
 The directors made no such statement as that.
 The Ledger then proceeds: "A resolu- tion was passed condemning President Roberts" No such resolution was passed.
 And finally the Ledger says: ''The local association is very much wrought up and the question of withdrawing from the league is being seriously considered"
 Anniston is not seriously or otherwise considering withdrawing from the league.
 As stated, practically the same sensa- tional remarks were printed in the News. |
 Monday night The Age-Herald received by wire from A. D. Manning. a Hot Blast reporter acting during the illness of Harry M. Ayres The AgeHerald's regu- lar correspondent, a report practically to the same effect as was the Ledger's | story.
 Just previous to the reception of the story, the sporting editor of The Age Herald had received report over the tel- ephone from c. H. Mitchell, president of the Anniston club. in which 1t was stated what had really occurred. The Age-Herald. believing therefore that the story was inaccurate in every essential detail, refrained from publish ing it.
 Tuesday. the sporting editor of The Age Herald attended meeting Of the direc- tors of the Anniston club. At that meet ing he read the story filed by Manning. which was practically the same as that published in the Ledger and News Tues day afternoon One of those who heard the reading was A. D. Manning, who had written that which was read
 Every member of the board of directors denied what had been sent purporting to be true account of what had occurred, Judge Ebert Willett, one of the promi- nent citizens of Anniston. and a director of the club of that city, was especially kind in refuting the assertions of the correspondent.
 To that gentleman, who fortunately is known all over Alabama. the Ledger and News are referred if the Ledger and News desire to obtain the truth of the situa- tion.
 The directors of the Auniston club. at their meeting Monday night, did pass resolution demanding that the president attend their meeting Tuesday afternoon.
 Before the president was apprised of their resolution. however he had prom ised Wiley Tunstall to visit Anniston on Tuesday. Mir Tunstal is an ardent fan and desired that the president witness the work of Umpire Lauzon.
 It is barely possible that had the pres ident known in advance that the directors had demanded his presence that he would have unwisely refrained from complying with the demand Now. however. he is glad that he did not know in advance. Tuesday afternoon Umpire Lauzon worked a perfect game. If he missed single ball or strike no one who saw the game can point that fact out.
 Ana IurtnefnOles III justice ID tne uhi- pire. the following should be stated: A. D. Manning. the rerorter above referred to. did make an affidavit to the effect that Lauzon had stated that he would put Manager Fisher out of the game on the first provocation-or a statement in substance 10 that effect
 During the meeting of directors Mir Lauzon was summoned. That to which Manning had sworn was read to the unl- pire in the presence of Manning. Lauzon very quietly but with significant empha- sis said: ''I deny having made any such statement" Following that remark, there was deep silence for moment. Then Mir Lauzon was excused.
 And. furthermore. the directors of the Anniston club have no criticism to make of the action of the president in suspend ing and fning Outfielder Wasem for his trouble with Umpire Chestnut in Rome last Saturday.
 The president. as a matter of fact agreed to reinstate Wasem Immediately on the condition that Anniston would