The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-08-04
Wants Big organization
Of Amateur Baseball Code
President w. H. Anglin Of Northern Association
States Why Present Rules Do Not
Cover the Situation

II am at a loss to understand how an,
one can violate law unless it is a law,
and defy anybody to show me wher'
: the Commission is working under ans
real league rules at the present time
said Mr. Angiin, President Of the North
ern Association. yesterday, in answer ts
q question as TO whether he thought ths
reinstatement of several ball players
would tend to bring dissatisfaction
among the members of the commission
Mr. Anglin contends that there are nc
rules of the Amateur Commission which
will hold water. 'Of course" he said.
'there are some specific rulings made to
cover an anticipated emergency. and
several subterfuges that can be con-
strued for or against any case that
might be brought before the body. but
as far as a bylaw for the commission
TO act intelligently upon. there is no
such thing"
When asked IL he didn't think it an
aspersion upon the commission to make
a statement of that kind, and that, too,
in face OF the declaration of President
Young that the commission violated its
rules ne said: Il have the utmost regard
for the sincerity Of every member OF the
commission. and law or no law, j do not
believe there is a man in the body who
would take an undue advantage Of any
member of the body, and certainly not
of any member of amateur ball, who
makes this commission possible"
Backs His Point.
NOW, appreciate when a man ac-
cuses the present bylaws as being a
mere prostitution OF the English language
st is up TO him to sustain his point
That I am going to do. and all i ask
of any one is to follow me closely: The
constitution and bylaws of the Amateur
Baseball Commission consist only OF It's
name, who shall be members. its objects.
its powers, the transfer or withdrawal
of teams. officers, and meetings. board
of directors, duties of officers, amend
ment and adoption Of playing rules. Not
a word in regard to the status of the
player In the commission; not q line as
to the status of a manager in the COM
mission; not line as to where and how
Its own members even derive their
power-which to-day is mere usurpauon
and abuse of privilege.
Now, let us take Section g. which IS
about the only one that has any real
bearing on baseball 1t says: -
In the event that a club resigns or with
draws from a league without such per-
mission Gin writing and signed by two
thirds of the clubs of the league from
all of its players under agreement be-
come the property of such league. where
managers have first claim on their serv-
Ices
Thus making it possible for five out
of six teams in a league to withdraw
and the remaining one teams refusal 10
waive on ninety players holds them as
the property Of the league until the sea-
son closes Then pass on to Rule of the
D,,IA1 I'D ia
ruling of this commission a league shall
consist of four or more clubs or teams.
II, through Withdrawals or for any rea-
son that cannot be anticipated. less than
four clubs remain In an organization
prior to August /. the commission may
rule that the league has disbanded with
out completing its season
Team Can Hold Ninety Men.
"As stated above, the one team can
hold ninety men who has withdrawn or
been released by their respective mana
gers until August l. and at this psyche.
logical moment, after the season has
gone, the commission may or it may
not rule the leagues season closed, when,
as a matter of fact. they should stand
automatically suspended at all times with
less than four teams.
that little word may taken from the
GODDESS Of growth and increase SO fire.
quently used form the compound lenses
of the potential mood that It Tenders
what should be a law a shift or ex-
pedient or other article to escape censureI
or the force OF an argument. 1t can
be used even to justify opinions as well
as conduct
Rule am willing to pass without
comment at the present time
Rule 8. - In any case in which
II is charged that a league, to benefit
by the exemption clause, is fulfilling the
word of the law and evading its spirit,
the board of arbitration shall be COM
petent to determine on the facts in the
case and its decision shall be final.' Here
we have the arbitration board. Again
Rule 10 very bluntly says "a player may
petition the board Of arbitration for
transfer or release or appeal to It from
any decision affecting his status and ap.
pear before the board In his own behalf"