New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-07
Baseball Writer'S Case
Against McGraw Opens

pudiated the original interview OF MS
own accord
g. McGraw also admitted that he did
not want 10 sign the reputation with
the word "scurrilous" left in, after one
or two other amendments had been
made. and that Mr.. Sullivan advised
against signing il. But he (McGraw)
was told that zone or two of the di-
rectors had 10 catch a train West; that
Mr.. Tener did not feel any luminosity,
and that he had better sign, Mr.. Hemp
stead advising it, SO the signature
went.
Did Not Read Articles
Q. This from Mr.. Littleton to Nc
Graw-"Yoy say in your reputation
that, after carefully reading certain
newspaper articles, etc. that they were
untrue. Now, did you read over these
Mr.. McGraw-"No, only read the
underlined sentences IN MERGERS
story" .
Dir. Littleton-"Then you repudisted
something which you had not Scent"
NcGraw-"Yes
10. Mr.. Littleton-"You say you told
the newspaper writers you were helping
them by signing the reputation ?"
Mr. McGraw-'Yes."
Mr.. Littleton@'Do you consider that
referring TO any one as "scurrilous"
and calling him a liar is helping him
very much? If so, in what way"
No answer.
II. McGraw stated that he had been
told that there was possibility that
he might be suspended for the year
without pay and that libel suits would
be brought against the papers. Presi-
dent Tener answered this by stating
that no threats OF any sort had been
made against NcGraw and that no
thought of libel suits had been enter
tanned.
y. Mr.. Littleton brought out this
point: zone of the baseball writers
chief complaints il that they were
branded as writer's of scurrilous artl-
clcs and were made out as liars with
out being given a chance 10 defend
themselves or offer any testimony IN
rebuttal." The blame here was Fixed
upon the league and all concerned with
the reputation meeting. Chairman
Toole stated that the league had no
such intention, when IL gathered; that
the meeting he'd been called 10 bring
about discipline. But" said Mr.. Liz
Teton. cit isn't what you met to do
or meant TO dots what you actually
did"
Unfit to Print
10. Mr. Ward brought oct the po M
that baseball writers do not always
quote the men they interview verbatim.
To which Mercer replied: NO, we
dor't. Much Of the language used IS
too forcible TO be printed IN a news
paper" ~,
il. Mr.. Littleton TO McGraw: "D!d
you at any time after the Mercer IN
terview and the others were printed
deny before Mercer or any other news-
paper man that you gave out this
interview until you were called upon 70
sign this reputation 2
Mr. McGraw: mo, did not
The matter, as it now stands, is a
matter of veracity between NcGrew or
one side and Mercsr, Crane, Slnnott
and Graham on the other-not only a.
to the original interview, but in re
gard 70 .he statement that McOra"
claimed he was coerced.
Mercer says that he got an inter
view from NcGraw and that Gfterward
McGraw read az d o. K.'d II. AcGray
says he didn't give any interview and
that he didn't read II afterward.
Mercer, Crane, Sinnott and Graham
say that MeGrGw told them, IN effect,
that he was forced 20 sign under press
ure. McGraw admitted that no press
ure was brought.
In other words, as Bill Week. Of
"The Chicago American" remarked,
"McGraw and the National League
branded newspaper writers as scurrll-
Gus liars in order that a couple OF oil
rectors could catch train West. What
could be simpler"