The Washington times., 1915-04-30
President Tener Rules Player
/ Ineligible Until After the
7 National Commission Has
Reviewed Situation.
Robert Ward Threatens to Go
\ Out After Organized Base
& ball Stars If Courts Award
I Benny to McGraW's Team.

The bitter war has broken ont all
over again between the Feds and cr-
ganized baseball over the signing by
the New York Giants, of Benny
Kauff, the Feds Ty Cobb. President
John K. Tener has ruled Kauff in
eligible to play with the Giants until
the National Commission reviews
his case. John J. McGraw, man.
ager of the Giants, says that Ban
Johnson told him to Ego after"
Kauff, promising to "stand behind
Him." Robert B. Ward, the Brooklyn
lnagnate, announces that "if the
courts award Kauff to the Giants,
the Feds will go after the stars of
organized baseball" Developments
are expected hourly.
When McGraw attempted to play
Kauff in center field against the Bos-
ton Braves, James j. Gaffacy, presi-
dent of the Boston club, refused to
allow his team to play against the
Feds latest jumper. Umpire Quigley
forfeited the game, 9 to 0, to the
Giants, and then Umpire Eason, af-
ter talking with President Tener
over the telephone, ordered both
teams to play, but refusing to allow
Kauff to take part in the game. He
threatened to forfeit the game to
the Braves, unless the Giants played
without Kauff. The Braves won, 13
to 8, and now McGraw wants to have
the forfeited game count for his
team.
New York had no right to play
Kauff." is the announcement from Presi
dent Tener. He is contract jumper
from organized baseball and ineligible
He must be reinstated by the Nationa
Commission before he can play. and ev
cry player in that game with him woulc
have rendered himself liable to suspen
sion.
E"Kauff deserted organized baseball
and played with an outlaw club. Their
are set rules and regulations which mus
guide the conduct of kauffs future re
lationS with organized baseball. In tn
first place he must make personal appli
cation to the National Commission TO
reinstatement He must submit minute
evidence in defenShe of his desertion
Then 1t will be up to the commission t
say whether or not the offender Is t
be forgiven.
You will realize that a great principle
is involved in this case, a principle af
fectng not only Kauff bat every othe
player who has deserted organized base
ball for the independents. There Is
rule in organized baseball which fixes
set penalty. under existing conditions
for just such an offense as Kauff com
mitted when he disregarded the reserv
clause Of the indianapolis American AS
socation club That rule, established
when the Pacific Coast outlaws wer
taken into our organization. provide
suspension for a term Of three years.
Il do not know whether or not tn
National Commission would see fit t,
take such drastic action against Kauf
II he we're to apply for reinstatement
But I do know that whatever action |
might take would establish a preceden
which would influence the possible ap
plication Of the many former players o
organized baseball now associated witt
the Federal League
II have not gone into this matte
without taking every precaution to b
right" came from John ]. McGraw
cat least one of the National Commisio
10 with me. Ban Johnson told me to &
ahead with kauff and that he woul
stand by me. l had wise counsel a
everv step.
For a long time the New York clu
has enjoyed the permission of the In
dianapolis American Association Clu
to deal with Kauff. He had not jumpe
a contract merely disreRardinP the re