New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-19
Upholds
Pres. Tener in
McCraw Case
Giants Manager Ordered to
Answer Counter Charges
of National Head

The board Of directors OF the Ma
tional League at special meeting at
the leagues headquarters, s West
Fortieth Street, yesterday substan-
tiated President John X. Tener's PEN
atty of discipline meted out to Man
ager John J. McGraw of the Giants for
his assault upon Umpire William
Byron after a game in Cincinnati some
ten days ago
The board Of directors not only backed
President Tener in his exceptionally
drastic discipline imposed upon the
New York manager, but voted TO call
upon McGraw to appear in person to-
day to defend counter charges that
have been preferred against him b.
the executive Of the parent major or
ganizaton. It is understood that the
New York club has ordered McGraw TO
be at to-day's special meeting of the
board of directors of the National
League. called for 10 o'clock at Mr..
Tener's Offices
Tener's comeback at McGraw is
based solely upon newspaper inter
views forwarded by newspaper men
travelling with the Giants. In these
interviews McGraw is quoted as saying
that the president OF the National
League is incompetent: that he directs
the affairs of the circuit IN ways
biassed 70 the welfare of the Phlladel-
phia club; that the present incumbent
Of the chair is detrimental TO the best
interests of baseball: that the presl-
dents arbitrary action In imposing
such drastic discipline upon McGraw,
while Byron. a party 10 the fight and
its instigator. was allowed to go free.
was nothing short of personal persecu-
ton. McGraw has been ordered 70 ap-
near to-day either to repudiate the
statements credited 20 him or to sub
stantlate them.
Hampstead Appeals Case
Yesterdays meeting was delayed sew
oral hours because OF the fact that
President Harry II. Hampstead of the
Giants was late in arriving from In
Gianapolis. Mr.. Hampstead immedi-
atelv addressed the board and stated
that he wished to make an appeal from
President Tener's verdict in the Nc
Graw-Byron battle. The other seven
club presidents. who with Hampstead
, comprise the board of directors. re-
fused TO entertain this appeal. They
pointed out that Section % of the Ma
tional League constitution provides
that the president shall be sole and
final Judge in the matter of imposing
penalties for misconduct. the only OK
ception being in case Of expulsion OF
player or manager.
The New York club has taken its ap-
peal under Section 30, of the constltu-
ton, which reads;
Section 30. The President Of the
league shall have power, upon proper
proof, to suspend for definite pc
riod and TO impose a fine not ex-
cceding $500. upon ay league mana
ger or player guilty, in public, OF
gross misbehavior, including intoxl-
cation, fighting, quarrelling. indie
cency or other scandalous conduct,
whether on or off the playing field,
during The season. when the same Is,
in his opinion, calculated to bring
disrepute upon the National League
or the national game. Such fine, II
the same has been fixed at the maxi
mum amount, or suspension, II the
latter is for period of more than
ten days. or both, can only be re-
mitted or modified by the board, after
hearing upon appeal duly prose
cuted.''
Evidently the New York clubs pro
test was based on the fact that Presi-
dent Tener's fine exceeded the maxi-
mum amount Of 5000. and was, there
fore, illegal. However. the board 50
far cxonerated its executive that u
declared the $500 not excessive, IN view
OF McGraw's grave action.
Umipres Give Testimony
While no official confirmation could
he had OF the fact, it is well known
that EMPIRES Byron and Quigley. who
ofiiciated in the game at Cincinnati
which produced the famous alteration
appeared before the board Of directors
and satisfied that body that McGra"
was at fault. .,
IF McGrsw has been properly quoted
By the New York newspaper men &C
companying the Giants. a storm may
he expected AZ to-dsy's session Of the
board Of directors McGraw is supposed
to have accumulated a number of all
davits from eyewitnesses to prove
that Byron was the aggressor. Inc
Giant manager has never been known
TO quit under fire.