Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-06

leagues higher than Class b. This
would have permitted the signing of
veterans" from Glasses C and B.
The Joker" was discovered, how
ever and the rule now in effect was
adopted, without dissenting vote. It
must be noted that this was the first
year that Marshalltown had accepted
the rule without protest. Every club
in the league set its stamp of approval
on the action, including Muscatine,
and Manager Egan was present at the
meeting. and knew of its adoption and
what the penalty would be for yiolat-
ing the rule.
Only Gentlernen's Agreement.
1t now appears, from Muscatine &C
counts. that the rule was merely
gentlemen's agreement" and therefore
not binding. However, ali managers
accepted the rule and pledged them
selves to abide by it's provisions. 1t
is believed that aside from Muscat!ne
all have faithfully done so. If there
have been any violations they have
been unintentional. and had violations
been discovered, even the the club
violating the rule had been innocent of
intentional wrong doing, the penalty
would have been imposed and the in
cident closed. In proof of this, one has
but to turn to the records of 1913 and
1914, which show that several clubs
were penalized, altho in most cases
the men entering into the agreement
were not Intentionally violating the
rule and the punishment meted out
was borne without the fight that has
marked the present case.
Cooper Case Example.
The Cooper case, Of last season, is
the most notable example of the APP
plication of a penalty for violation of
the rule. Cooper. a member of the
pitching staff of the Clinton club, was
protested as veteran. The manager
of the Clinton club produced letters
from the manager of the Davenport
club from which Cooper was obtained,
which purported to show that Cooper
was not veteran within the meaning
of the Central association rule.
The directors of the Clinton club
were undoubtedly innocent of the real
status Of Cooper and they fought the
case. After reviewing the case al
some length President Justice an
nounced that Cooper was not vet
cram" Later, howevr, Cooper was re-
leased. by the Clinton club, and Frank
Boyle, then manager of the Keokuk
club. signed him. believing that he
came with clean record. Cooper
played with Keokuk for some time and
toward the close OF the season, after
keokuk had pulled into second posi-
ton, a second protest was lodged
against Cooper, this time from Man
ager Egan. Egan pushed the case and
showed coTciiis.%Giy tina! Cooper vas 2 !
veteran" Many games won by keo-
kuk were thrown out. and as a result |
Egan's Muscatine club was pulled intol
second place, and Boyles team dropped
to fifth position.
At that time Egan found the rule !
served his purpose Now when it is
shown that he is the vioator the case
is, entirely different, and President |
Justice maintains Egan is not showing
good craftsmanship in refusing to ac-
cept the same medicine he insisted ~ |
given as "cure-all for baseball ills" |
one year ago. s-
Position Of Local Club.
The Marshalltown club has not been |
greatly DESTROYS of winning the cham |
pionship this year. Tt was not with |
the intention of "robbing" Ned Egan
or the Muscatine club that 1t objected
to the manner in which Eean was
running his club. regardless Of rules. !
Its contention was that X the rule was
to remain in effect II should be err
forced. or il should be resc,ndsd and
give all clubs alike an opportunity 20
get the players of more experience.
Under the Egan plan the club d.
rectorS might better meet at the OPEN
ing of the season. take an invoice Of
the cash on hand, and award the pen
rant to the club with the biggest bank
roll. and thus do away with the task
of fighting for the pennant on the
playing field
It is said that Muscatine is cut some
$4,000 or $4,000 this year in producing
It's worlds beating aggregation. There
is probably no doubt but that its ball
team has cost too much money The
regulation Of the salary limit in minor
leagues is established by the national
commission and Is not set by the
leagues themselves. If the national
commission sees fit to insist that the
Muscatine games be reinstated. Il
might go further and determine what
Egan paid for his ball club.
What Are Rules For?
Regardless Of what the national
commission may do, nowever. the meat
of the matter IL this: Eight clubs
agreed to abide by rule. unanimously
adopted at a meeting of the league.
Call It rule OF "gentlemens agree.
nent." as you viii. it is expected that
It's provisions be adhered TO or the
penalty provided for its violation be
inflicted The action Of Esan demon
strates pretty thoroughly that such
rules or agreements. providing they 80
not meet the sanction Of the national
commission. and every man party to
the rule in question knew that this
agreement did not meet the approval
NTNyTY VTYNnr NO DNTAI1