New-York tribune., 1918-07-10

liza! "N'
For some time the relations between
tho two leagues. or rather between the
officials of the two. have not been OF
.he cordial and friendly sort. Trouble
has been brewing fox some months. and
ratnrally those responsible have chosen
. time when the fate of the game itself
is hanging in the balance to air their
iittle grievances.
Letter His Medium
Tie rocket sent skyward throughout
baseballdom hy Tener was in the form
af letter to the residents of the Ma
.oral League clubs. in which he mott
fsd them he would have no further
dealings with the National Commits
sion. OF which he is q member.
The letter criticises the American
League with q violation of the national
agreement and quotes the president OF
the latter organization as advising the
commission when the Perry verdict was
announced that under no eircum-
stances or condition Will Perry be
turned over to the Boston (National
League club" Tener further states:
"The case above referred to probably
is the first instance where a major
league club has violated its agreement
by appealing the decision of the COM
mission to q civil court"
Il beg leave therefore," continues
President Tener, "to advise you that
hereafter I will give nc attention or
consideration to any cases submitted to
which the American League is party
The letter in full reads:
s'On the 10Th of last month the Ma
tional Commission, after careful con-
sideration Of all evidence, made de-
cison in what is known as the Scott
Perry case, and with which you are
familiar. resulting i'll the awarding
CT 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 circum-
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 decision into effect and
setting the date Of July 20 for a
final hearing of the case.
Ruling Is Final
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 appeal
ing 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 q
breach Of the agreement and good
faith that this league can no longer
with honor continue its representa-
tive on the National Commission. I
beg leave, therefore, to advise you
that hereafter I will give no atten-
ton or consideration to any cases
submitted to which the American
League is a party. We cannot con-
tinue 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 its business, in an unfortunate
position, due to war conditions.
Nevertheless, it is most important to
keep our house in order so that
when business is adjusted to normal
conditions it may be prepared for its
share Of prosperity, and that with
honor"
ATLANTIC CITY. n. j.. July g.
John K. Tener, president of the National
League, put the survival of organized
baseball squarely up to Ban Johnson
and the American League here to-day
when he declared that unless Connie
Mack, manager of the Athletics,
promptly obeyed the ruling of the Ma
tlonal Commission on the Scott Perry
case and turned the pitcher over to
the Boston National League club he
would no longer serve as member
OF the commission, the supreme court
Of baseball
=. Here is ny position" said Pres
ldeat Tener. "The merits Of the case
are inconsequential. The big issue
Is not who shall own Scott Perry; it
is whether the supreme court of base
pail Is indeed such. | decline to serve
on a body which cannot enforce its
own rulings, body which is rcpudiat-
ed ny individuals who have agreed to
and created it,
With the Nationa! Commission re-
pudiated the national agreement is
simply a scrap of paper"
Does this mean that you will re-
Slgn as president of the National
League if the organization does not
back you up in your stand, or in the
event of the league backing you up
does it mean war with the American
league" President Tener was asked.
War or no war-right is right and
~rong is wrong. and I will not serve
IN the National Baseball Commission
il cannot enforce its own rulings.
ms is my decision. and come what
VII. it Will not be altered"
GARY" Hermann. chairman Of the
National Baseball Commission. who is