Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-06
CLUBS EX0NERATED
National Commission Gives Its
Verdict on Base Ball Case.
URGES ANTI.SCALPING LAW
IF Collision Existed Then It Was
Between Employees and
Spectators.
URGES ANTI-SCALPING Law

III lie lINeSllSdtlOll VI liChel sale DUT-
ing Worlds Series is the title of a
lengthy document issued yesterday by
the national commission of base ball. and
is the final official verdict in the noisome
ticket scandal of last fall. 1t is not a
sensational finding. The two clubs in
volved-the Giants and the Athletics-and
the regular officials of each club are eH-
onerated from any suspicion Of ticket
scalping. but there are references to John
Does. employees of the clubs, which I'M
knowns. it is limited. may have been in
collision with spectators However, the
report says that tickets i'm small lots NAV
have found their way into the hands of
spectators without club owners, officials
or employees being responsible.
The report has good deal to say about
the mail order plan tried by the New
York club. The commission says It made
a serious mistake in granting perm, Ssion
to sell tickets for three games and also
in permitting the clubs to conduct tneir
own sales. 1t adds that it is the COM
missions duty to do everything possible
to prevent a recurrence Of last falls hap
penings. Club owners are urged to seek
state and municipal legislation against
ticket scalping.
The commissions findings include the
following:
In New York the sale of tickets by
spectators was carried on almost eXclu-
sively in hotels, cafes, newsstands and
other public places. In Philadelphia. in
addition to the sales in these places. they
were also conducted by tie spectators in
the Hobbies Of the hotels and on the pub
lie highways.
In so far as the club owners or the
regular officials of the two clubs are
concerned there has nothing whatever
been developed. even by intimation, that
would in any way implicate any of them
as having been in collision with the ticket
spectators. but. on the contrary, it has
been shown that every reasonable pre-
caution was taken by both clubs to pro-
tect the public. Therefore the club
owners and the regular officials of both
clubs are completely exonerated.
If collision did exist, then it was be-
tween one or more employees of the re-
spective clubs and the ticket spectators
or some one representing them. although
such condition was almost impossible
I'm Philadelphia when the manner of the
distribution of the tickets in that city is
taken into consideration. However, if
such condition did exist i'm either city
then the club itself should not be CEN
sured unless 1T could be shown that it
did not exercise proper precaution to pre-
vent II.
1t is the contention Of the New York
club that tickets secured by spectators
through mail orders and at the public
sale were without doubt very large in
number They base this contention upon
the fact that they received great many
letters for mail orders which looked
suspicious. declaring. however, that many
suspicious letters were thrown into the
discard. They also contend that sus-
picfous individuals were put out of the
line at the public sale and yet in spite
of all care and precaution the club Off
Gals admit that the spectators obtained
worlds series tickets It must be evil
been secured by the spectators in any
great numbers through the mail order
system because it Is shown by the New
York clubs own statement that only
4.97f tickets were sent out through the
mails.
Members of the commission were be-
yond question justified in the expectation
as individuals that a thorough investiga-
ton would establish collusion between
spectators and one or more employees
& Two days in advance of the public sale
of tickets to the Polo Grounds every
newspaper Of promineno in New York
ran the advertisements Of every we'll
choice seats for worlds series games
would be on sale at his place of business.
On the afternoon prior to the opening
game tickets were on sale as advertised
by spectators in such large numbers as
to absolutely preclude the idea that they
were secured through the channels by
which the public was supplied. The pub
LEGATION of the advertisements referred to
carried with IT promises to patrons which
none without exceptional facilities for Sc
curing tickets could redeem.
1t is the contention OF the New York
club that mail orders for the series were
deposited in the various substations of
the post Office Tuesday evening, October
10. in time for night distribution in
some districts and practically complete
distribution in the city on Wednesday,
October IL, and that spectators with
tickets were thus enabled to offer tickets
a day before the public sale opened in the
st. James building. but attention is again
called to the fact that only limited
number of tickets were sent out through
clubs statement as being correct. that
they are prepared to submit to the com
mission letters and postal cards from
many hundreds of people who received
their tickets by mail and express salts
faction at the treatment accorded them,
clearly indicates that not a great number
Of tickets, II any. sent out through mail
orders could have been secured by the
speculators.
Oral and written complaints of their
experiences and observations to members
OF the commission by presumably reliable
parties contained offers to provide proof
In confederation OF newspaper charges
of collision, but almost Invariably the
complainant when invited to furnish facts
contented himself by celebrating on his
own grievances without supplying testi-
mony establishing the guilt or fixing re-
sponsibility on an employe of the club.
Notwithstanding two appeals to the
press and public for cooperation In max