Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-09

The national baseball commission.
meeting Monday at Cincinnati, raped
to enforce a veteran" agreement. held
the rule as enacted in this organization
10 be null and void. and proclaimed
Muscatine legally pcnnant winner of
the Central Association. The result of
this decision, at this particular time, is
expected TO complicate matters at the
Cedar Rapids meeting Wednesday, and
serves to intensity the promised fight
between President Justice and Mana
ger Ned" Egan.
The commission held that the only
test that should be applied in the en-
gagemenr of minor league ball play
er upon his willingness to play for
salary within the prescribed limit Of
the club desiring his services is his
eligibility to contract. In announcing
the ruling the commission said:
The national associations officials
and mem Ders will be held 10 strict &C
count 10y the commission If this ruling
is not respected and enforced"
The railing was made as result OF
the resolution adopted by tho national
board at New Orleans, reCiting that the
Muscatine club had subscribed to and
voted for a rule prohibiting the en-
ployment of more than five veteran
players on its team.
In this resolution the national board
said the Muscattne club subscribed to
the rule IN 1915. but had resisted the
enforcement Of the agreement in 1915
and concluded the resolution as fol-
lows:
"Resolved. That it is the sense OF
this board that Manager Egan. Of the
Muscatne club has appeared before
the courts of baseball with unclean
hands; and De it further
"ResOlved. That this board further
declines to place its stamp Of approval
on the winning of remnants by such
unfair and unsportsmanlike methods.
Justice Tardy in Action.
The commission declared that at the
close Of, the season, when the Musca-
tine club compla ned to the commission
that its league refused to count some
Of its victories in the official standing
because Of its alleged violation OF the
veteran PLAYERS rule, the commission
formally not fed President Justice that
such legislation was null and void.
There was, however. no doubt in the
minds Of any director who was a party
70 the agreement. either in 1915 or 1915,
that the agreement was legally inef-
feCtive. but the managers Of all clubs.
with the exception Of the Muscat!ne
pilot. were fair enough to abide by al
agreement 70 which they had been
bound by the directors Of their clubs.
There IS no appeal from the decision
Of the national commission. and its
ruling must be taken with the best
grace possible to indicate that Musca-
tine. regardless Of all moral rights, &
the championship club Of the Central
association. 1t also means that any eff
fort 70 burden the association with
veteran" rules, or other provisions
which are effective only insofar as an
agreement between men is binding,
will find no favor hereafter
While a majority Of the directors OF
the league have believed that the vet
eran" rule was beneficial to the league,
AND that K alone saved some OF the
.tlub members from financial ruin, and
Mr. Egan was one Of the loudeSt in ad-
VOcacy Of the agreement to Mr. Egan
alone ran be charged the failure Of the
plan. His attitude has been generally
condemned. and local fans may have
the satisfaction Of knowing that II the
pennant were to be voted at Cedar
Rapids tomorrow the league would