Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-10
JOHN K. TENER
QUITS BASEBALL
Refuses TO Act As Member of Ma
tional Commission in Dealings
With Sister Leagues
GOOD FOR GAME SAYS BAN
VIII Not Cause Break in Relations
Between Two Circuits. De-
clares A. l.. Head.

New York. July 10-President
Tener OF the National league in a
letter sent yesterday 70 the club
owners OF his circuit severed diplo-
matte relations, so far as he is
concerned, with the American lea
que and refused 10 act longer as a
member OF the national commits
sion. which for IS years has gov
erned organized baseball.
The reason for Tener's act, he
states, Is the refusal OF the Phila-
delphia American league club to
surrender Pitcher Scott Perry 10
the Boston National league club,
IN accordance with a decision by
the commission awarding the
pitcher TO the Braves.
In this decision Chairman Herr
mann and President Tener, Nation
al league representatives on the
commission, concurred. President
Johnson Of the American league.
the only representative Of that
league on the commission, dissent
ed.
Tener's Swan Song.
Manager Mack OF the Athletics,
who is part owner Of that club. OBJ
tanned a court injunction restrain
ing the commission from enforcing
its order. President TeGer's open
letter to his league follows;
On the 18th of last month the
national commission, after careful
consideration of all the evidence,
made decision in what is known as
the Scott Perry case, resulting III
the awarding of that player to the
Boston club Of this league.
As soon as the president of the
American league had knowledge Of
the finding he advised the commits
sion as follows: Under no cir
cumstances or conditions will Per
" be turned over TO the Boston
club" Shortly thereafter the
Philadelphia club Of the American
league took the case TO the courts
Of Cleveland and asked for and
received an order restraining the
commission from putting its de-
cisiOu into effect and setting Rae
date of July 20 for a final hear
ing 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
a major league club has violated
its agreement in baseball law by
appealing the decision OF the com
mission TO the civil courts.
In my opinion, the defiance Of
our laws by the Philadelphia clu-,
Of the American league constitutes
n+ NJ
and good faith that this league can
Ilo longer, with honor, continue its
Iepresel1 alive on the national CON-
mission l beg leave. therefore. TO
advise you that hereafter | Will
give no attention or consideration
10 any cases submitted TO which
the American league is a party.
We cannot continue to malntaIn
our honor and self-respeCt by deal
ing with those who consider our
agreements and baseball law as
mere scraps Of paper"
Baseball finds itself, with re-
gard TO It's business, in an unfor-
tunate position. due to war condi-
tiOns, nevertheless it is most i'm
portant to keep our house in order
so that when business = adjusted
to normal conditions 1t may be
prepared for its share OF prosper
ity, and that with honor.
Ban JOhnsOn's Comeback.
President Ban Johnson OF the
American league, replying to tho
statement Of John 4. Tener, pTesI-
dent of the National league. that
he would have no further dealings
sion in any cases in which the
American league is a 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. Tener from the presidency Of
the National league occasioned me
no surprise" said President John
son From advices 1 have receiv-
ed from several sources the course
he has takNn Is absolutely neces-
sary for the welfare OF baseball
in view of the fact that he devoted
so little attention 10 the affairs
OF the game.
Declares Mack Is Right.
Morally and technically Manag-
er Mack OF the Philadelphia club
can be justified in the position he
has taken in the Perry case Gov
Tener has on one or two occasions
been q party to decisions Of the
commission that seemed unfair and
absurd TO me. but l never accepted
that as an excuse for declining to
serve as a member OF that BODY 4
I presume the present body
will find no difficulty in ably fill
ing the position Gov. Tener ha.
formally determined TO vacate."
No Break, garry Says
Atlantic City. y. j., July 10,
Garry Hermann OF Cincinnati. I
who with President Tener repre-
sents the National league on the
national baseball commission yes
terday said he did not believe the I.
controversy over the Perry case I
would cause the disruption OF the +
relations between the National and .
American leagues