New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-04-30


fore any claim the Indianapolis asso-
citation club may have had upon Kauf
| has lapsed with time. Further, what
ever moral claim might still exist had
been transferred to my club by In
dianapolis.
Kauff Free Agent.
But what is still more important,
| Benny Kauff was a free agent before
| he signed a three years unbreakable
contract with the Giants today. Last
| year Kauff was the property of the In
dianapolis Federal league club, an or
ganization which since has become de-
funct When Robert B. Ward nego-
tiated for Kauff's services Business
Manager Dick Carroll of the Brooklyn
federals decoyed the player to the
clubs training camp at Browns Wells
and signed him to a three years con-
tract That contract Robert B. Ward,
president of the club, repudiated.
Ward told Kauff that Carroll had
contracted for higher salary than
he would pay. He tried unsuccessfufly
any number Of times, by bonus ar
rangements and what not, to make
the outfieider subscribe to a new doc
ument at lower remuneration. Ward
! not only refused to make good the sad
airy obligations contracted by his agent
Carroll. but steadfastly refused to give
Kauff a copy of the original document.
For the past two weeks Kauff has
tried unsuccessful1y to come to an un-
| derstanding with Ward. He finally
notified the president of the Tip Tops
| that unless he received a satisfactory
| answer by noon today he would con-
/ tract for his services elsewhere. That
| IS just what happened.
"I have not gone into this matter
b1indly," McGraw continued. Il took
no step in the matter without the ad-
vice and assurance Of wise counsel.
Kauff is the property of the Giants and
1 do not intend to have him kept out
of the game. Application for his re-
instateme nt will be made to the Ma
tional commission members at once by
wire. At least one of the National
| commission is with me on the propi-
| sition. Ban Johnson told me to go
ahead with Kauff and that he would
! stand behind me-"
Hampstead Claims to Be Right.
| President Harry N. Hampstead Of
| the New York Nationals refused to
| go into detail in the matter of Kauff's
| connection with the Giants.
| at can assure you positively" he
| said. that the New York club has
violated none of organized baseball's
rules in signing Kauff. We have acted
| throughout in the best of faith and
time will prove the justice of our con-
| tentions."
President John K. Tener seemed
quite positive that Kauff would not be
eligible to play in New York livery for
some time if ever.
"Kauff, said he, deserted organized
baseball and played with an outlaw
club. There are set rules and regu-
lations which must guide the conduct
of Kauff's future relations with organ
lied baseball. In the first place he
must make personal application TO
the National commission for reinstate-
ment. He must submit minute evil
dence in defence of his desertion. Then
it will be up to the commission to say
whether or not the offender Is to be
forgiven.
you will realize that great prin-
, cile is involved in this case, prin-
ciple affecting not only kauff but ev-
cry other player who has deserted Or
ganized baseball for the independents
There is a rule in organized baseball
I
ing conditions, for just such an offence
as Kauff committee when de disre
: garded the reserve clause of tbs In
dianapolis American association club
That rule established when the Pa
cific Coast outlaws were taken into
our organization, provides suspension
t for a term of three years.
1T do not know whether or not the
| National commission would see fit tH
: take such drastic action against kauf
| if he were to apply for reinstatement
, But I do know that whatever action l
| might take would establish prece
l dent which would influence the pos
;. sible application OF the many formo
= players of organized baseball now as
, | ISOLATED with the Federal league"
t Mr.. Tener also spoke in no uncer
= tain terms of his displeasure at hav
e ing his league confronted with ever
= the technicality of contract tampeT
60 ing at this particular time when tn
fundamental principle involved is still
!, ! being considered by Judge Lands o
e Chicago.
r Robert B. Ward, president of tn
" Brooklyn Federal league club, whel
g informed of Kauff's desertion to tn
IL Giants, declared most emphaticall
= that the player was bound to his or
8 ginization by ties that could not b
= broken by outside parties Mr.. War
refused, however, to discuss any pos
sible action on his behalf until h
" | learned just what attitude Presiden
a Tener Of the National league Nigh
oSS11pna