The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-11
COL. RUPERT RAPS
NAYIN FOR PROTEST.
Detroit Club Owner Is Charged
With Illegal and Unsports-
manlike Action.
YANKEES THE TARGET
No Complaint Probable Had
Not Huggins's Team Beaten
Tigers for Third Place. =
ny CHARLES r. MArHIsoN.

The attempt Of Frank Navin, presi-
dent of the Detroit baseball club. to de-
prive the Yankees, who beat the Tigers
for third place In the American League
race. OF the victors' share of the worlds
series receipts, yesterday brought a
sharp rejoinder from Col. Jacob Rup-
pert, president of the New York Amer
lean League club. President Rupert
shows that Navin's action was appar-
emily taken solely with the view OF pre-
venting the Yankees from getting the
10 per cent. Of the receipts of the Reds
Sox series, creating the strong inference
that, had the Detroits won third place,
the Wolverine magnate would have re-
Trained from entering a protest. Col.
Rupert In his >eply says:
Mr.. Navin's protest was filed with
the commission on September 20, and
after reciting the fact that the New York
club had been pitching Mays after his
alleged suspension by President John
son. concluded as follows: If the New
York club finishes third in the race for
the American pennant, ] desire to pro-
test the games In which this player has
been used and would like to have the
commission take action on same
"On the 7th inst the New York club
filed Its answer with the commission. in
substance as follows:
"On August IA the New York club in
stituted In the Circuit Court, Wayne
county, Michigan, an action to restrain
Mr.. Johnson. both individually and as
president Of the league and the Detroit
baseball club from doing certain things
based upon the purported suspension of
Mays. On the same date Judge Webster
issued an order, which stfll remains in
full force and effect, which order. in
hripf apiQined the Dafrnit no
Company, its officers. agents, players
and employees
I'D From interfering with the per-
formance of the contract between the
New York club and Mays: (2) from re-
fusing to play with the New York club
according to the established schedule on
the ground that Mays had been sus-
pended; (3) from refusing to play with
the New York club according to the es-
tablished schedule unless Mays was
omitted from the team. % and from
playing otherwise than in accordance
with the established schedule of games
which are part OF the established
schedule.
Suddenly Reverses Attitude.
THE Detroit club acquiesced In the
order of the. court and allowed the sea-
sons games to be played through in
accordance with the prescribed schedule,
Notwithstanding the fact that Mays had
pitched In many games after the date
Of the injunction order. When the order
was issued Detroit was in second place
and not until II had been dislodged from
that position and the New York club had
won third place did the Detroit club re-
verse its attitude of complete acqui-
L.. .ft L..
injunction order and enter its protest.
I'm other words. Detroit was willing
to accept the benefit OF the protection
which the court order threw about the
established schedule until II found itself
displaced from the third place and par
ticipation in the division OF the world
series receipts, and then 10 a spirit which
II Is difficult to reconcile with good
craftsmanship 1t has made a cry OF pro-
test. not to the court that issued the
order but TO the commission.
Court Order stu stands.
1.-THE court order however, still stands
in full force and effect. unchanged and
unmodified, and the protest lodged with
the commission is in its purpose a fla.
grant breach Of the spirit II not the let
ter OF that order for the Detroit club
now seeks. after the established schedule
has been played through. to destroy tina,
schedule and to refuse to have the New
York club officially credited with games
played in accordance Herewith.
THE New York club holds that the
commission has no authority to enter
tain or to act on the protest, and that
to do so would be in violation of the
order of injunction, would be contrary
to law and to the rights of the New
York club.
Attention was also called to the fact
that the action of Mr.. johnson in-pur-
porting to suspend Mays was formally
resoinded by the board of directors Of
the league at a meeting held on Au'
gust IA.
This protest from Mr. Navin verihei
my opinion OF the gentleman's sporting
calibre. and It Is my belief. based upor
his well known timorousness. that with
out suggestion OF support from the
self-constituted powers in baseball hi
would not have had the temerity to sc
boldly champion his untenable position