New-York tribune., 1920-03-25

National League
Head Denies
Charges Exist
Will Welcome Any Evidence
Ex-Cub May Give as to
Gambling in Baseball

John A. Heydler, president Of tb'
National League, in aligned state
ment replied yesterday to the threa
of Lee Magee, formerly member O
the Chicago Cubs, to explode the big
gest bomb in baseball history" Mr.
Heydler said no charges were pending
in his office by or against Magee, ant
that he would welcome the receipt o.
any evidence from the player as t.
gambling conditions in the Nationa
League.
Mr.. Heydler's statement. which wa.
sent to Magee's attorney, r. S. Alcorn
follows:
"New York, March "a. 1920.
ain the press of yesterday is pub
lished an interview with Mr.. Magee,
(which reads as follows:
Next Saturday shall issue a
statement setting out both sides
Of my cases, and / shall also ex-
plode the biggest bomb in baseball
history. l have decided to burn
my bridges. and then jump off the
ruins-to shake the game from
stem to stern.
"If l am to be barred from
baseball III take some others with
me, players whose regulations are
supposed to be pure and unsullied-
yes, pure as level track since 1906.
I'll produce few cancelled checks,
interesting letters and data-to
sum it up. If fall l won't fall
alone, but in considerable crowd.
They talk about check Of
mine that came into the possession
Of the National League and about
a confession they say I made John
Heydler All right, those papers
will be supplemented by some
others, and that interesting stuff,
and l will not fall alone
mo charges are pending in this
office by or against Mr.. Lee Magee.
If | understand the position taken
by him in this interview he insists
that charges have been made against
him by some one; that they have to
do with gambling. and that he will
expose himself and drag others into
the matter with him.
"lf there are any others implicated
in the matters to which Mr. Magee
seems anxious to plead guilty, the
more quickly he names them and
gives proof Of their completely with
him or others the better it will be
for baseball. 1t is not necessary to
wait until Saturday or any other day,
as 1 say to you how that no atten-
tion further than this reply will be
paid to the matter unless Mr.. Magee
produces evidence duplicating others
with him or showing them to be
guilty of wrongdoing in which he
took no part.
dence the action of this league will
ho
"Yours truly,
Mr.. Heydler further authorized this
statement:
Certainly more than 80 per cent
honest and are a credit to their pro-
fession. We do not intend that the
1 per cent of undesirables, if such
exists, shall attach a stigma to this
honorable calling and so bring the
game itself into disrepute.
Whenever player falls short of
the high standard Of sportmanship
required of him in the leading ranks
of his profession, then this league,
and each of its clubs reserves the
right to say to such player eve do
not want you" This is not only our
privilege but our self-imposed duty
as the representatives Of this ma
tional institution of baseball.
Nor do we consider our powers
limited in such matters to be con-
fined to dishonesty or insubordina-
ton; but we include all questions of
gross carelessness, Indifference or
other conduct of the player that may
be regarded by the club or league
as prejudicial to its interests.
This is not a matter of law but
matter of principle, upon which pub
lie confidence in the game and it's
methods has been established. This
principle the National League will
strive to maintain at all costs and
hazards.
in furthering these principles