Evening star., 1939-03-22
Hectic Farley Ends
With SandIotters
Leagues May Operate
independently Until
Federation Series

A way to clear the muddled local
sandlot baseball situation is open
today following i2-hour session
OF officials, players, sponsors and
fans last night over which Judge
Edward M. Curran presided in Po-
lice Court
At times the meeting resembled
trial. with witnesses. examinations,
accusations and counter accusa-
tions. The session was called by
Judge Curran as vice president OF
the National Capital Amateur Base
ball Federation, and had nothing
to do with Police Court procedure.
Bill Flester, president of the Indus
trial League, one of the five lnsur-
gent loops which withdrew from the
federation, kenyoted the meeting
when. he declared. Its silly for
grown men to fight among them
selves"
Harmony Is Aim of Farley.
Personalities were involved recall
ing the break two months ago when
the Industrial. Commercial, Depart
mental, Herald Government and
Herald-Militia Leagues withdrew
from the federation, which this fall
will conduct the national amateur
baseball championship tournament.
At that time the federation was left
with only the United States Govern
ment League from which to find a
local representative to compete in
the tourney.
The insurgent loops formed the
District Amateur Baseball Associa-
ton with Vic Gauzza as president.
and it was to bring harmony be-
tween these two groups that the
meeting was called. Judge Curran,
opening the session. declared that
teams that had withdrawn from the
federation would not be deprived Of
an opportunity to compete in the
tournament" and it was along this
line that compromise was worked
out, although not finally approved.
| Gauzza suggested the compromise
that may be accepted. He proposed
that the five loops be allowed to con-
duct their own affairs during the
regular playing season. with the
champion of each competing in the
city play off under federation
auspices. In this way, Gauzza said.
| the leagues and teams would not
have the interference he claims
disrupted them last season and
Washington still would be repre-
sented by real championship team.
Curran Accepts Suggestion.
Judge Curran tentatively accepted
this suggestion, which must be ap-
| proved later by the boards of direc-
tors of both the federation and asso-
citation, with the provision that the
| teams register before the season with
their intention of competing in the
tourney and play all season under
the amateur and eligibility rules of
the federation. Gauzza expressed
himself as satisfied with that plan.
| During the meeting the federation
officials claimed that several teams
IN the association had expressed a
desire to take part in the tourney,
and Curran even claimed that a
number of these were withdrawing
from the association and were affili-
ating with the federation.
At one part of the heated session
Judge Curran charged that Gauzza,
Flester and Sergt. w. P. Griffith of
the Herald-Militia League had
usurped authority in withdrawing
their loops from the federation, and
j. Francis Riley, an assistant COR
poration counsel and secretary of the
federation, challenged Gauzza and
Flester to resign in the interest of
harmony" if the teams in their
leagues desired to play under fed
Grafton auspices rather than under
the association. Under the compro-
mise proposal, however, teams still
could play in the association and
then compete in the city series and
the national tournament.