New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-19
PROTEST AGAINST A
FRAUD Of BASEBALL
Lynch and Hermann Join Ban
Johnson in Opposing the
LITERARY" Player.
AN INJURY TO THE SPORT
Baseball Writers Association
Also Condemns Practice OF
Deceiving the Fans in
Buying Names.

Buying Names.
Another gun was fired yesterday IN the
war against fraud on baseball ana I
form Of buncoinc the fans. Thomas >.
Lynch. president Of the National League
and August Hermann. chairman OF the
National Commission. joined with Byron
Bancroft Johnson. president Of the Amer
lean League In taking up the cudgels
against the so-cailed literary PLAYERS. who
for a consideration sien newspaper ana
magazine articles which they do not write
and i'm many cases DO not even suggest.
on top Of this :he New York and Brook-
lvn charters Of the Baseball Writers AS
ISOLATION in meeting AT tn. offices oil IN,
New York club Of the National League. In
the Fifth Avenue Building, adopted reso-
luton condemnine the practice. when is
calculated to deceive the baseball 1eadlhS
uublic. 10 lower the tone and dignity OF
the snort TO cause serious friction IN the
various teams and 10 misrepresent the
aims OF the baseball writer's
Mr.. Lunch expressed himself foricbly IN
a letter to the Baseball Writers Assocl-
alton. He SAID that the players inviting
j
ne would gladly put an end to II II IL was
in his power The letter in run ioIo"S q
Gentlemen: | am unaterably opposed
20 baseball PLAYERS writing for the news
papers and think the practice Shoud pe
stopped. ! regard II as Dad loi me Ia,, us-
The PLAYERS unWitunglN dre DONG pdse-
ball an injury. They do not write the
stories which appear over ther Slena
lures and they should not he permitted
TO fool the public. II !, We're Wl VIM my
power 20 put stop 10 the pIdV'iN'
would gladly do so.
The PLAYERS are butting into the sphere
Of he baseball writers when theE pose 4
PLAYERS would like il if the writer's should
seek 10 infringe on the players rsntS.
This also goes i'm the case of umpires. !
hope your chapter will be able 10 check
''''' (sirnedj T. J. LYNCH.
August Hermann. chief owner Of the
Cincinnati Reds and chairman of the
National Commission went so far as TO
cav that he was in favor Of some base
ball legislation that would put stop TO
the growing evil. but realized that the
final decision rested with those who con-
duct the newspapers.
He dep ecated what ne was pleased TO
call the imposition on the public OF al
eyed expert articles by players and Of
fered his help and cooperation in dis
courc1nc the practice in the future.
Mr.. Hermann letter follows in full:
Gentlemen: Personally and officially
am opposed to the imposition on the pub
lie Of alleged expert articles on baseball
nv nlavere who have attained prominence
in their profession and will heartily CO
operate with the National Baseball Writ
ers' Asso riatiOn IN any movement 10 stop
the practice
National League and the National Com
Jnisson I have fully realized and appre-
ciatcd the splendid services those who
report ball games and comment on con-
ditions have rendered i'm popularizing the
snort and putting il on high plane.
In my Judgment the ballplayer should
stay I'm his sphere. and If he is not amen
able to the control Of his club IN this
matter, favor the enactment Of legiSla-
ton that will protect newspaper writer's
from competition OF this kind.
! feel sure that newspaper publishers
and managing editors will. on proper pre-
sentation OF the matter. decline TO use
these special articles. which, on account
OF their excessive number. have ceased
10 become attractive to readers:
realize. however. that the final de-
csion rests with those VINO conduct
newspapers. and without their cooper
alton legislation will be of little avail.
tsIsned1 A. HERMANN. chairman.
Ban Johnson. president Of the Ameri-
can League. who was tho first TO institute
a crusade against the player-writer on
The ground that most of the "stories"
were pure fakes. and that spirit OF en-
nifty and strife was aroused among the
players who were unjustly criticised by
oil OLE
the Baseball Writer'S Association empha-
sizing his position. II follows:
Gentlemen: Personally. | am very much
opposed 10 this brand of Journalism
These stories are seldom the product OF
the players whose names are attached
They are pure fakes and an imposition
upon the public.
have had much correspondence with
American League club owners and mana
gers on this subject. and they all strongly
urge that PLAYERS shall not be per1nitte ed
newspaper publishers and managing edi-
tors are fully advised as TO the manner
In which these articles are produced, !
am sure they would Join with US all I'm
wiping out the evil.
The American League will he glad 10
cooperate with the Baseball Writer'S As
ISOLATION in any movement looking 10 the
adjustment OF this form OF journalism.
(Signed) p. Il. JOHNSON.
Members of New York and Brooklyn
chapters Of the Baseball Writer'S Assoca
ton discussed the question from all an
gles at the meeting yesterday The situa-
ton was p delicate one, as the feeling
was expressed by some that any action
might be wrongfully construed as petty
in the light of competition. whereas tho
chief cause for objection lay i'm the fact
that these signed stories in some cases
at least worked n deception, and in n