Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-22
DEFINES POSITION
ON SUNDAY BALL
l. Pusey Wickersham Makes Pub
lie Acts and kilograms
Regarding Games.

| following statement from ! P,isey Wicker
| sham, president of the Board of Police
| Commissioners, relative to Sunday base
| ball The statement, which is signed by
Mr.. Wckcrsham, follows:
| Wilmington, Delaware,
| August 22, 1918.
Editor, Every Evening.
Wilmington, Delaware.
| Dear sir:
Referring to An article which appeared
! in your paper on the 10Th inst, entitled
| Deny Any Intent 10 Arrest Soldiers,
| | desire to make the following statement
| of the facts in connection with Sunday
| baseball in this city recently, inasmuch
as my name was mentioned therein.
It was reported early in July that n
game of baseball would be played the
following Sunday at the Harlan plant
A conference of the police commissioners
was called for consideration Of the matter
with Mr. Smith and MIR. Nickcrsham
present, MIR Mcgcar being out of town.
The subject was discussed. Mr. Smith
favoring the game, Mir Wickcrsham op-
posing IT The chief of police was there
fore instructed by the president, MIR
WickCrshani, to perform his duty and
stop the game The chief Of police, upon
investigation, found that there was no
game scheduled for this date
On July 10 the attention of the board
was called to the fact that il was reported
that game of ball would bc played at
Front and t'nion street on the following
Sunday The chief of police was in
structcd by the board the vote being
unanimous, to perform his duty and pre-
vent violation of the law, attested by
the following letter This report, how
ever, proved to be incorrect as no game
was played.
July 10, 1918.
c. \ Bower,
City
Dear SIR
] am directed by the Board Of Police
Commissioners 10 acknowledge receipt of
your favor of the 10th inst, with relation
10 the baseball playing at Front aud
mon streets on Sunday, and to advise
that the laws and ordinances IN force IN
this city will hc strictly enforced
For your information ! will add, how
ever. that should any such games he
PLAYED outside of the corporate limits OF
the city, il viii be necessary for YOU 10
take the matter up with the Office Of the
az tbOrncy-gcncra as We would be without
proper jurisdiction
ours very truly,
(SlgnCdl George Black,
Chief of Police.
on JULY 30 il was reported that the
Harlan team would play on Sunday,
August 4 ard the matter was again
discussed BY the board. and the chief Of
police was instructed to perform his
duty and Stor the game Mr. Aicgcar
concurring Mr. Smith absent The
chief Of police mad" all arrangements TO
stop this game, 0~ was duly published IN
The new spapcrS Of this city.
The following Is an extract Of the
minutes of the board August { The
matter of SUNDAY baseball was taken up
and discussed and on motion of Com
missioner Smith ii was decided "a permit
the Harlan team 10 play baseball on this
date, and that tho chief Of police make
such arrests after the game Is finished rs
NAV be necessary u bring the question
before the courts for a decision.
Commissioner Smith and Megcar
voting in the affirmative and President
Wickersham in the negative"
The following is an extract OF the MN
utes Of August IL.
The matter Of playing Sunday base
ball was taken up and discussed. and, in
the absence If Commissioner Megear,
Commissioner Smith stated that he was
of the opinion that the same action as
that taken on Sunday last be again taken
by The chief Of police at tho game schod-
ulcd for TODAY
After talk with Deputy Judge He'll
ings, the president stated that playing Of
game today would bc . separate offence
and that the resolution Is adopted Sunday
last would be carr ed on,
some future date he would call up the mat
ter Of tho proper Observance OF the Sunday
laws with a view Of determining definitely
Just how 10 instruct the force as TO their
action IN such matters
On the evening Of August II | noted
in the columns of Every Evening that a
game Of baseball would be played with
team from Camp Dix on the next day
Sunday / Immediately instructed the
chief of police to follow the instructions
Of the majority Of the board given him
for the two previous Sundays and directed
him to send the following telegram TO the
commanding general al Camp Dix:
August II, 1918.
Commanding general,
Camp Dix, \. j.
Evening newspapers here announce
game Of baseball in Wilmington tomor-
row, to be participated in by Camp Dix
first team. In view Of the fact that base
ball on Sunday is contrary to laws, |
am requested by the president of the
Board Of Police Commissioners to advise
accordingly.
George Black.
Chief Police"
In reply, the following telegram was
Camp Dix, August IS, 1918.
George Black,
Chief Of Police,
Wilmington, Delaware
Reference your telegram, manager
baseball team directed to call off Sunday
game in your city
'Westmore,
''AdIutant
From the foregoing telegrams il will
be readily seen that the statements Of
John l.. CoIlyer in the article mentioned
above are absolutely false
Trusting that you will give this state
ment the same publicity that you gave
the article Of the 10Th, ] am
Yours very truly
/. Pusey Wickersham