The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-09
RYAN CHARGES MATHEWS
WITH UNFAIR NE H0Ds
Local Manager Says Leader OF Build
ers Deliberately Moved Base
Closer to Plate.
SERIOUS If PROVED TO BE TRUE
No Denial Yet, Though President
Boatwright Has Been Notified OF
RichmOnd's Protest-Inyestigat
Should BE Thorough and Quick.
ny GUS NIALRERr.

Announcement that Harry Matthew'S,
manager of the Newport News Club In
the Virginia League, had deliberately
moved second base on tho diamond In
Newport News several feet nearer the
plate than required under the rules,
has not been denied by the directors
of the Newport News organization.
Ray Ryan, manager of the Colts. has
entered protest with President J. o.
Boatwrlght. of the league. upon games
played in Newport News on June /.
April 90 and % because Of his discov-
cry.
If the charges made by Ryan prove
true. they are serious; II not, the i'm
putation that Mathews has rosorted
TO unfair tactics In order to viii bail
games should be cleared away. 1t
is obviously the duty of President
BoatwriEht to make II thorough and
speedy investigation. He has written
Newport News and reply to his let
ter has been sent. Just what that reply
is still is II secret.
1t Is by no means as trivial Il mat
ter as tho Newport News press would
mako IT appear. Tho foundation upon
which baseball Is built is it's absolute
honesty. its craftsmanship and it's
frccness from chicancry and crooked
dealing. Tho statement that, even If
true. the fact that the base I'm Ques-
ton had been moved In. would effect
both teams alike, IL ahaurdly pucrilc.
The homo club, knowing the distance
would he at Il tremendous advantage
over the visiting club. playing under
the theory that the diamond was laid
out In regulation manner.
Ryan is confident that he can prove
his case He says that he took actual
measurements with n tape line. and
that this evidence has been sent to
the president. II Ryan took measure
ments with tnpci!nc. and II no had
witnesses while measuring, that Ia
conclusive evidence, and would hold In
any court Of law. SO far as we ara
concerned we Will let Matthews have
hts day In court before passing judS-
ment. If guilty. nc should be more
severely dealt with than merely losing
the games protested. IL innocent. he
should he cXonerated and quickly.
Following arc specials to The Times
Dispatch from Ncwpor, News and from
Roanoke. where Manager Matthews
now is with his Builders:
Roanoke, Va. Juno S.-Managcr Mat
thews. OF Newport News. when asked
concerning tho charge made by Ryan
that he tMatthcws) had moved his
second base in seven feet, said there
is absolutely nothing TO II. Il think
II Ryan wants to protest games that
ho had better keep within the salary
and player limit; on his last trip tn
Newport News he brought fifteen men
with him. Is the way tho Newport
News leader expressed himself. Mat
thews was most Indignant concerning
tho matter. and said he did not caro- TO
discuss * amy further.
Newport News. Va June Sowing
TO the fact that Manager Matthews has
not returned from his last road trip
since notice Of protest was hlcd by
club will not discuss III" charges that
second base on Tho local diamond was
out Of place further than to shy that
Ryan's statement as To distance are
that IL was moved back because Mat
;hcws was unable 10 throw tho full
distance. as he has caught only one or
two games here, aud the chief trouble
Of Cilocison has been that he has been
throwing too high.
Secretary Locke has replied 10 tho
letter of president lfoatwriGht concern
ing the matter. but his letter was not
made public. While the officials OF
tho club take the matter lightly. and
are said to 10 able TO rcfutc tho claims
of Ryan NJ Ia the distance, local fans
are greatly stirred by what they term
the hands Of tn. Shipbuildcrs. They
claim II was as fair for one catcher as
the other, In addition. the alleged
moving-in of the base would give tho
not nay" go inr Ia go. and Matthews.
with his weak" arm. would have had
to use much more spced.
The only wild throw over the bag
MADE hY Ryan here would have cleared
tn" head "f Ihc second baseman had
the bag hccn many feet further back
POOPhY AMI uni cThcc