The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-29
BIG BANQUET MARKS
CLOSE OF "BK" LEAGUE

Offacials of the Institutions players OF
| tho teams, officials OF the league. ana
invited guests attended banquet last
night, celebrating the official closing OF
the season OF the b. I. D. league. The
banquet was given in the dining room
OF the American Railway Express COM
pany, where a most excellent chicken
dinner was served. Favorable comment
was passed by all present on the ex-
oellent service and the manner In which
the affair was handled
During the meal an orchestra fur-
nished excellent music.
J. ]. Kennedy, OF the Provident Life
and Accident Insurance company,
president OF the league. acted as toast
master. In his opening address, Mr..
Kennedy outlined the history OF the
birth" OF the B. I. T. leauge. He
stated that the league had Its tncep-
ton In the home office of the Provident
Life. After organizing team there
II was decided TO try to secure teams
to play games and Mr., Kennedy volun-
teered to secure teams and also sug-
gested the advisablity OF organizing a
separate league. After consultation with
President Mcclellan. Of the Provident
Life, who is an enthusiastic fan" II
was decided to invite the leading In
stitutions Of the city to join In the for
nation OF baseball league. The Ham,
ilton National, First National and Chat
tanooga Savings banks agreed to join
with the American Railway Express and
Provident Life and Accident Insurance
company and the league was launched,
committee appointed and Mr.. Kennedy
unanimously elected as the first preis-
dent. Mr.. Kennedy called special at
tention TO the fact that the league had
finished n successful season without the
necessity of calling a meeting Of the
grievance committee to settle any dis
putes, and the season closed without
game being protested, which he
claimed was n record unequalled by any
other league. In fact, as an evidence
Of the quality OF the institutions form
ing the league, and their mutual con-
fidence in their 'gentlemen's agree
ment," Mr.. Kennedy announced that II
had been decided TO return all cash
forfeits and the league would continue
In future without cash forfeitures being
required. Mr.. Kennedy complimented the
players on the clean sportsmanship they
had displayed. and on the fact that
they had given to Chattanooga ms good
quality OF amateur baseball as could
be had In the country, and pointed out
that the games had been free from
rowdyism and everything but n friendly
spirit Of rivalry which had done much
towards bringing about n friendship be-
tween players and institutions which
would be productive OF good results 10
all concerned
In introducing Mayor Chambliss. Mr..
Kennedy stated that he was Of the
opinion that the honorable guest. with
Keen foresight. had seen tho possibility
Of trouble II he had TO face The fair
suffrngettes while their momentous
question was being settled. and had
therefore quietly sailed beyond the
three mile limit" 20 the "peacefui'
shores Of Bonnie Scotland and ireland.
hur had returned In time 10 he present
at the p. l. T. league banquet
Mayor Speaks.
The mayor complimented the league
and all its PLAYERS on the excellent show
lng they had made and for the good
they had done towards bringing clean
baseball to Chattanooga. The MAYOR
then explained that IN his orncini ca
nncity NJ vice president OF the provi-
don't Life company he was Justified IN
stating that he was sorry his team had
mo- won but nevertheless prasented the
Gun IN Capt. Harrington. ~ the Amer
icnr Express with compliments ~ the
League and his personal congratulations
Mr.. Harrington accented the Gun on be-
taN ~ his tenn and the American
railway Express conpany and pre-
dicied success for his team neYt wear
Mr.. Kennedy then introduced Com
missioner WaaFTnAn. Mr.. waHsnan eN-
nlained that President Kennedy had
''hounded'' him ~ much for grounds ~
tho heeihninR Of the season that ~
vas finally forced IN give the r. I. r
Vague the diamonds they reduested--
bu, now that he had seen what quality
N organization they had--gnd what a
"nne follow" Kennedv wad. { hat the
" T. 7, league could have rs choice
~ grounds IN 'hs future.
President Kennedy then called m
Taylor Durham. o. the chnttanooFa
savings bank, g n. Strauss. Of the
Hgmilton bank; Gov lands, of the
American Railway Express; Leslie