Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-19
NATIVITY SUSPENDED Il
BY BASEBALL MOCULS
Failure to Accept Neutral
Umpires Results in Dras.
tic Action by Directors,
BRIDESBURC CANCELS


L the Philadelphia Baseball Associa.
tion since its organisation occurred last
night when the Nativity Catholic Club.
one Of the best-knowr teams in the
independent ranks and managed BY Phil
Hasserty, was suspended.
This was the decision Of the Board OF
Governors following receipt Of letter
from Father Edward I. Harkins, spir-
itual director, In which he said the Ma
tivity Club would make It's own assign.
ment Of umpires and would not accept
the ruling which said otherwise. Father
Harkins' letter said the decision was
final and the club would not alter its
stand. no matter what the consequences
Article IA reads: "Ths Board Of Ar.
bitration shall formulate plans, duties;
rules and regulations for the appoint
ment, supervision, removal and quail.
fications Of umpires to the end that the
umpires officiating in interclub games
shall be wholly free from the influence
OF any club, or member Of any club,
in the association"
Vice President Removed .
Luke Keoueb, second vice president
Of the association, said there was no
mistake about the matter, and Presi-
dent Donovan related talk with
Father Harkins held during tho day.
As result Keough, who was also the
Official representative Of Nativity. was
dropped, and Bill Gleason, OF North
Phillies, elevated to his position. This
left a vacancy In tho Board Of Cover.
nors, which was filled by the election
Of Harvey Barrett, Of Bridesburg.
Before leaving the Board Of Cover.
nors, Keough announced that he had
worked diligently TO convey the value
and Importance Of the Philadelphia
Baseball Association to his club, but
that other factions in his association
to. large degree had counteracted his
efforts.
The action taken by the Board Of
Governors was unanimous and was
later ratified by tho whole organi.a.
tion. A motion was 4l5o passed tnat
It would be against the principles OF
the Philadelphia Baseball Association
for teams to play Nativity while under
suspension :.
The players we're all declared to be
free agents and not under the pro.
lection Of the association. They VIII
all be notified of this situation imme-
diately.
Against Principles
President Howard NJ. Donovan said
the action Of the Nativity management
was against the very principles for
which the Philadelphia Baseball Associ.
alton was founded. He pointed out that
the strength Of the game was based on
neutral umpires and expressed the
opinion that Nativity would suffer in
| its prestige with the fans by refusing
to play with umpires assigned to the'r
He said: "No man or club can get
away with it when they put themselves
above the association. and Nativity Is
NOT bigger than this whole association.
One Of the principles upon which we
started was the appointment OF neutral
umpircs.' . ,,.
Bridesburg. which was to open with
their nearby rivals on Saturday and
nlay n return game the following Satur-
day. Harvey Barrett. representing
Bridesburg, announced that the games
were off and he was roundly cheered.
The president then said:
II know that NATIVITY Is Il u's uio"
ing card and Bridesburg is paying q
double penalty, but In the long run II
will be best for the team ana the asso
ciation as a whole. 1t is now up to
every member to support this team In
every thing 1t does for taking such a
stand.'
New Teams Admitted
The governors at their meeting ad-
mitted three new members. Thornton
Fuller, West Berlin and Delco Club,
Of Darby. The Waldron. Holland team
Announced that it had changed its
name to Reach A. g.
It was also decided to place Phil
Lewis. who assigns the umpires under
a bond at his own suggestion and It was
also learned that where two men OF
the first class are oficiating in game
| tha vnonav "a en,lally divided,