Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-10

Iftsiii Tpfp VI VIC htttf<htTt
price Boston was assured ITS rights
! 10 the player would be protected if Perry
ever returned 70 organized baseball
| Early in the present season the pitcher
returned to the Atlanta club and WAS sold
10 the Philadelphia Americans and Is
playing with that club.
When the decision Of the National
Commission was made public Connie
Mack. manager Of the Athletics, obtained
! a court Injunction al Cleveland on juno
II preventing the Boston Nationals
from interfering with the activities OF
Perry until the case could be argued on
its merits before the court and final
decision gwen.
TENLR Is FIRM.
President Tener's letter, addressed TO
each Of the club presidents OF the senior
league, charges the American league with
violation of the national agreement and
quotes the president of the latter organ
ization as advising the commission when
the Perry verdict WAS announced that
under no CircumstanccS OF conditions
will Perry be turned over 10 the Boston
National League Club
Tener further states that 'tthe case
above referred 10 i probably the first in
stance where a major league club has vlo-
lated its agreement by appealing the de-
clsion Of the commission To a civil court
Il beg leave. therefore, continues
President Teucr, Ito advise you that here
after viii give no attention OF considers
ton to any cases submitted 70 which the
American League Is a party.
President 1cncr's letter to the National
League club presidents reads.
u J. -
tional Commission. after careful considera-
ton OF ali evidence. made decision in what
is known as the Scott-Perrv case, and with
which YOU are familiar, resulting in the
awarding of that player II the Boston
club of this league
"As soon as the president of the Amcri-
can League had knowledge Of the finding
he advised the commission as follows:
" I nder no circumstances or condi-
tons Will Perry be turned over to the
Boston club Shortly thereafter the
Philadelphia club of the American League
took the case 10 the courts Of Cleveland
and asked for and received an order
restraining the commission from putting
its decision into effect and setting the
date of July 20 for a final hearing Of the
case.
Under the terms of the National
Agreement the ruling IN any case brought
before it in which it has jurisdiction, Is
final
The case above referred to IS probably
the first instance where q major league
club has violated its agreement in base
ball law by appealing the decision Of the
commission to the civil courts.
"In my opinion. the defiance Of our laws
by the Philadelphia club Of the American
League constitutes such breach Of the
agreement and good faith that this league
can no longer, with honor, continue its
representative on the National Commits
son. beg leave, therefore, to advise you
that hereafter ! Wlll give no attention or
consideration To any cases submitted TO
which the American League IS a party. We
cannot continue to maintain our honor
and self-respect by dealing with those who
consider our agreements and baseball law
as mere scraps Of paper
Baseball finds itself, with regard TO
il. business, in an unfortunate position,
due to war conditions; nevertheless it IS
most important 20 keep our house in order
so that when business is adjusted to nor
NAL conditions, it may be prepared for
its share Of prosperity, and that with
honor.
Chicago, July President Ban John
son, Of the American League, replying 10
the statement of John X Tener, president
of the National League that he would
have no further dealings with the Ma
tionaI Baseball Commission in any eases
in which the American League is party,
said last night that he feared no break in
the relations with the National League, as
he understood President Tener would
shortly resign.
THE contemplated resignation Of Gov
ernor Tener from the presidency of the
National League occasioned me no sur
prise" said President Johnson. Prom
advices / have received from several
sources the course he has taken is abso-
Iutely necessary for the welfare of base
ball in view Of the fact that he devoted so
little attention TO the affairs Of the game.
Morally and technically Manager
Mack, of the Athletics can be justified in
the position he has taken in the Perry
ease Governor Tener has on one or two
occasions been a party 10 decisions of the
commission, that seemed unfair and alb
surd to me, but | never accepted that as
an excuse for declining TO serve as
member Of that body.
II presume the parent body viii find no
difficulty in ably filling the position Gov
ernor Tener has finally determined to
Yacate.