New Britain herald., 1926-04-01
LANDS DISCUSSES
 THE USE OF RESIN
Baseball Commissioner Says t Is Up to Pitchers Not Leagues
F" Tn. AsForia'ed Pres.

F" The Asso''i'"d Frefs.
 Belleair, Flan April l--Smail, fno- ly neShed bags of powdered resin ho,ong 10 baseball and their use Is in tho option Of pitchers and not of leagues.
 This important explanation and verdict comes from Baseball Com missioner Landis in a letter 10 John II. Farrell, president Of The National association of minor league baseball clubs.
 The rule regarding resin was adopted this winter at tho meeting Of the rules committee and within few weeks the American league, which opposed the action, and the American association fs well as smaller circuits announced that the resin bags would not be aloped in their parks.
 Commissioner Landis' letter means that all umpircs in all leagues of or Ganized baseball must carry the lit- tlc mesh bags and produce them for pitchers when they are requested 10 do so. Several lcacue rulings un- doubtelly will have to be roscinJed 10 meet the situation.
 Used On Sly Before
 As a matter of fact, the commis- sioner wrote, resin has been used surreptiuously in inc past under such conditions that managers of clubs must be presumed 10 have known all about it, and the new rule mere ly brings it into the open. He made plain that the rule did not bring back the 'r"sin ball"
 The inquiry from Mir. Farrei, which brought the explanation was as follows:
 Docs the new resin ball rule per. init all leagues a choice Of Its adop- tion or rejection ?''
 Tn the first place" the commits. sioner replied, "thc reference 10 the resin ball rule iq not accurate. for the application of resin 70 the ball is expressly prohibited. Allowing the pitcher 10 dry his hands by tho use of powdcrde resin, as specifically limited by the hereinafter quoted rule, does not affect the prohibition against the resin ball any more than allowing him 10 dry his hands with dirt (which is universally per mitted. despite thn absence of any rule allowing it, affects the prohibit ton agains: the mud balr or dirt ball'
 "rhe reply 70 your question Is fouGd in section 1, article .. major minor league rules, which Is ss fol- lows:
 Accept Official Rules
 Tn order 10 maintain uniform standard of play the officiai playing rules of professional baseball as TOW in force are accepted. One notice from either major lrague 10 the commissioner that the playing rules require amendment, the comnis- sioner shall notify each league 10 appoint three uninstructed rcpressn- tatives of the National association, shall constitute q rules committee. The commissioner shall convene the committee not later than February li. Any playing rule may be reviS- cd, repealed or adopted by. a major ity vote the action of the commit tee shall therrupnp take effect" The commissioner then explained the amendment 10 tho rule regard ing use of foreign substances. in which all deliveries as the spit ball, shinn ball, emery hall or dirt ball are prohibited, This clause was added by the rules committee this winter. "Provided that, under the supervision and control Of the um- pirr, the pitcher may use, to dry his hands, q tncl2 mtshel realhd bag containing powdered resin, furnished hy the lnagne."
 Option With Pitcher
 "The option sugge sted hy your inquiry is not with the league the 1 letter continues, it is with the pitcher. The rule is distinctly in his in crest and for his benefit, IL Is a part---a material rart-ot his con- tract of employment and retention Expressly so made by his agreement with the club, and being so, fl is nc mora open 70 inc league (Uhos" prt eidort has approved his contracN or tho club deliberately 10 deny him 'ha right thus rr"ated than f would pn to deny him any other right
 "So much for tho legal situation resulting from inc rule as 2 prn"- teal propositjon" (as I must assu'n( everybody in'cr,s'od in tho situation TOW rcalizcsl r. amounts simpl" tc this. + brings the resin haS ron tho players bench ou' into in open. l. lesllizss a practice "hicf many pitchers in all leagues, ho'l major and minor, have pursuo1, SIT rnp'itioGs'v. for years in many cas'S I am hound 10 tay under such con ditions that their managers nuSt h. rrtsumnd 10 have known al! ahon i'.
 Therefore, inasmuch as thn rrac fee under the supervision and con trol ot the umpire" will r=su" or!, in drying the pitchers hands, thu enabling him 10 get hold of the bal
 (and certainly this is unoh!ection ahlel the rule has the virtue If help ing us 10 get rid Of fraud and hypo crisy. and, speaking generally tha is sill worth whil".'
 u0ppE AGAIM IEhDS