The New York herald., 1922-02-15
Accepts Explanations of Eb-
bets and BreadOn in Tam
pering Matter.
NO STAR PLAYER PRIZE
Draft Problem Again Passed
on to Landis by National
League.
BY DANIEL.


the schedule meeting of the National
League at the Waldorf-Astoria yester-
day afternoon. Nobody was even ex-
PEELED from the organization. William
Il. Bakers charges of tamperin6
against Charley Ebbets and Branch
Hickey developed half a dozen impas-
stoned Patrick Henrys and more labial
punishment than a National League
session had produced since the old
stormy days of the -Heydler era.
But, as had been expected-and per-
haps, in some quarters, feared-no-
body was disabled.
After long debate over the allegation
that Ebbets, through Wilbert Robinson,
had tampered with Arthur Fletcher and
that Hickey had approached both Fletch-
er and Lee Meadows, Baker announced
that the explanations were satisfactory
and that he would not file formal
charges. However, "the league felt that
in view of what had happened the
president of the Philadelphia club was
fully entitled to the explanation he had
demanded and it went on record that
AL club officials their club agents and
managers must not in any manner what
soever tamper with the players of an
other club"
In other words, the league required
each club to give a new pledge that 1t
would not indulge in the hundred or
more forms of tampering. In addition
the league gave Heydler the power to
take complete charge of that situa
tion and instructed him to keep an eye
on IT.
Hot Shot EnIivens Meeting.
Take it from those on the inside, the
cause celebre-the famed Baker charges
provided a rather pleasant hour in
what otherwise was rather dull meet
ing-though, no doubt, 1t was a very
important one all the way. After Baker
had enumerated the heinous crimes
charged against the Brooklyn and st.
Louis clubs, their owners. agents, mana
gers, assigns and heirs to have and to
hold--to wit, that they tried to grab
one player who was not playing and
pitcher who Is threatened with Phila-
delphia until he has whiskers down to
his Ebbets and Samuel Breadon,
pinch denying for Hickey, began to
make Demosthenes look like a subway
guard with a stutter.
Baker called In Irving Wilhelm,
manager of the Phillies, who, according
TO Robinson, had given him permission
to approach Fletcher. Wilhelm made
himself ''solid" with Robbie by declar-
ing that he never had told the Brooklyn
pilot that he could talk to Fletcher
about coming to F'latbush. Wilhelm
said that he had had some words about
r.rttt - IN.,t rt,It-
idle woros.
On the st. Louis side of the case ii
developed that in mid-season of 1921
Baker had given Hickey permission to
speak to Fletcher. But Baker did not
mean that permission to extend through
the campaign and into January. Hickey
evidently misunderstood William F., and
William F. apparently misunderstood
Hickey. So here we are, with nobody
disabled.
Fletcher Wants to Return.
incidentally, it is interesting to know
that there is a strong chance that
Fletcher will be back with the Phillies
this year. He has written to Baker to
send him a contract Baker has re-
piled that Fletcher must be reinstated
by Judge Lands before a contract may
be offered. Baker offered the manage
mcnt of the Phillies to Fletcher I'm the
fall OF 1920 and again last winter be-
fore he signed Bill Donovan. There
isn't a club in the league which would
not welcome the former Giant back
The justly famous draft question came
in for an extended treatment. After
taking UP various solutions expoundcd
by lGbbets and others the league decided
TO hand the hot chestnut right back
again to Judge Landis who. the club
officials believe. was hired TO handle
their hot chestnuts. They passed this
resolution
Resolved. That every action of
Judge Landis in the matter OF the
draft is indorsed by the National
League and he Is assured of the sup
port OF the league in whatever future
steps he may take in connection with
bringing about the restoration Of the
selective system"
1T is known that the league absolutely
declined to raise the offer of $500
made to the Glass "A leagues as "a
drafting price.
The league declined 10 follow the lead
<bf the American League in providing
for q $1,000 prize for the player who
has been Of greatest value to his club
throughout the season. II will be recol-
lccted that this scheme was adopted at
tho American League session in Wash
ingtQn the other day. The National
Leaguors held that there already was
altogether too much individual starring
md that the incentive of prize for
'hc one shining light would not be con-
duciv> 10 team work
So next season Ruth and Cobb and
Speaker and Collins will have IL out for
prize costing 1000. while Hornsby
md probably Roush and Frisch and
others will be fighting for nothing moro
than the pcnnant and "a matter OF
SALARY. Pretty tough on the National
LcagIers, that!
Heydier announced that he had re-
ccived word from Representative Long
worth Of The Ways and Means Com
mitteo that the proposed doubling of the
amusement tax, as provided for IN tho
bonus bill, would include baseball ad.
missions. II the bill is passed baseball
admissions will be taxed 30 instead OF
10 per cent.
Tho league received an application
from the. international League for an.
other years lease on the old Federal
League park at Harrison. N. j. which
is used by the Newark Club. a similar
application has gone to the American
League. Hcydler said that he had beer
instructed to inform the Intcrnationa
that 1t could have tho park only II II
~>toolS over the lease for four years--thc
uneNpircd term OF the contract int