The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-18
TIGERS DEFY BAN JOHNSON Detroits Refuse to Play Un-
 less Ty Cobb Is Re
 instated Enough Men to Go on Field to Save $5, 900 Fine ' Johnson Is Obdurate


 flicting announcements had been made players of the Detroit American League. this afternoon, it was formal ly announced that so far as possible the men would protect Manager Jen- nings.
 Under this agreement, it was under stood that enough regular players would go on the field to make up a team after Jennings procured ak available outside players. It was said that Jim McGuire, former manager of the Cleveland team, would catch and that Jennings would play one of the positions.
 The men said they were firm in their stand but that they would protect Jennings against a fine of $k,0O0 which might be assessed if he failed to produce nine players.
 Hughie Jennings has organized a scrub team to face the Athletics. to- day, in place of the mutinOus Tigers less ny Cobb is reinstated.
 Washington, May 18.-The entire Georgia Congressional delegation, this afternoon, sent the following tele- gram to their fellow Georgian. Ty D, .
 "As GeOrg1ans, we commend your action in resenting an unca1led for in suit. We hope for your complete exA oneration and speedy restoration to place in the clean sport of baseball. We are proud of your record as a leader in your profession"
 The message was signed by the two Georgia Senators and the II Con- gressmen. :.
 Cincinnati, May 1a.-'nTy Cobb will not be reinstated and if the Detroit players or those of any other club of the American League refuse to play. ened to do, they also will be punish ed"
 This was the answer here. today. by President Ban Johnson, of the Amer jean League, to the threats of the Detroit Tigers to strike if Johnson did not rescind his action in suspending Cobb for an assault upon a spectator at the New York-Detroit game.
 Johnson says he personally witness cd the offense for which Cobb is un- der suspension and declared the as- s4ult wholly t1nwaFtanted.
 s-The leas1ie vyH make the. club owners sand aside and will act di- rectly In all such caeee, said John son.
 He said he had wired Manager Jen- nings for full particulars in the case and when he received the data would make Cobb's suspensfon definite.
 Johnson said he had no fear of a strike by the Detroit players or play CTS on other clubs in the American League and that he sent word to Hughie Jennings to order his men to play, this afternoon. as usual. M
 Cobb is a fiery-tempered Georgian and that may have something to. do with his action" said Johnson.
 ''No player has any right to attack abusive language to player all the player has to do is to notify the um- pire and the umpire will call a po- liceman to put the spectator out of the park.
 ""There was a policeman within 20 feet of the spot where Cobb attacked the spectator, continued Johnson. ''He could easily have. called the of- ficer instead of taking the matter in- to his own hands"
 This is the first time in a long time that President Johnson has refused to. reverse decision when protest was made by players. Members of the Cleveland team threatened to strike. last spring when Johnson re- fused to postpone a game between the Detroit and Cleveland teams so the Cleveland players could attend the funeral of Addie JOSE, a Cleveland pitcher, and Johnson was finally forced to call off the game.
 Johnson said, today. that he will stand pat in the suspension of Cobb despite a movement of American League players to form players as- sociation.
 "CoPb has been In similar trouble before" said Johnson. "He attacked a spectator in Detroit once and got into trouble during the worlds series in Pittsburgh. There was a warrant out for his arrest for trouble in a hotel in Cleveland" s