Clipping:McKnight asked to resign AA presidency
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| Date | Wednesday, March 24, 1886 |
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| Text | At a special called meeting of the American Association held at the Grand Hotel here [Cincinnati] to-day [3/20/1886] there were present... To everybody's astonishment Mr. McKnight did not appear, but telegraphed he was too unwell to come. The object of the meeting was to give Barkley a chance to appear and defend himself, as he claimed he had not been given an opportunity. Barnie filed specific charges against him with President McKnight last Thursday, with instruction for McKnight to request Barkley's presence here to defend himself. President McKnight said not a word about these charges, and left the delegates in a quandary. The meeting organized with Mr. Phelps in the chair, and Wikoff at the desk. Six clubs sent messages to McKnight, asking for his resignation, Pittsburg, on account of their peculiar relation, not being asked to sign the message, and St. Louis' proxy at that hour not having arrived. A long message was then wired to Barkley, explaining that these charges had been filed by Barnie with McKnight on Thursday, and requesting his presence here to make a defense, and that the delegates would wait for him till ten o'clock Monday. This notice was served on him at six o'clock Eastern time this evening by the Western Union Telegraph Company in Pittsburg. At that hour no notice of suit had been served on the Association by him. The delegates then took a recess to await a reply from Barkley, and also from McKnight. The Sporting Life March 24, 1886 ...About two weeks ago President McKnight sent out official notices to all the clubs that he had been notified by Barkley that if he was not reinstated by the 13th of March he would bring suit against the Association. Mr. McKnight strongly urged that the meeting should be held—if not to reconsider Barkley's case, at least to engage counsel and prepare to defend the suit. In personal letters to the different club managers he advised that the meeting be called for Pittsburg before that date. To this, according to his own version, no club consented except the Metropolitans. A number consented to the call for a meeting either in Cincinnati or Washington. The majority of the clubs were not chumps to the extent of flocking to Pittsburg to let Barkley get service upon them. But when the preference for another city was shown the president very naturally lost his zeal for a special meeting, and it was only after four clubs had sent him a written demand for a special meeting to be held at Cincinnati on March 20 that he issued the call. This was done two days before (on the 18th, by telegraph. Meanwhile, in order that Barkley might not say that he had never been allowed to defend himself from the things with which he was charged, Mr. Barnie, of Baltimore, drew up specific charges against him under the provisions of the constitution. These he addressed to President McKnight supplementing them with a very clear request that a copy of the charges should be served on Barkley and the latter be requested to present himself at the Cincinnati meeting and show reasons why the finding at the Louisville meeting should not be approved. These charges were mailed at Baltimore on the 16th, four days before the meeting. … … It was unanimously decided that the Association had borne with their president as long as they could and the one or two men who had stood between him and the outside for some time, this time made no resistance to the almost universal demand for his resignation. A telegram was accordingly drawn up and sent to him demanding his resignation and requesting him to forward it by wire at once as the Association was waiting for it. … … A vote on the resolution [to depose McKnight] resulted in seven ayes and one (Pittsburg) no, and Mr. McKnight was declared deposed. A test vote was then had as to who should be the successor, and it resulted in a unanimous choice for Wheeler C. Wikoff—even Pittsburg's vote being so cast and recorded. There being some uncertainty as to whether the Association or the directors should elect to the vacancy, a special meeting of the board was held, with Mr. Phelps in the chair, and Mr. Wikoff was chosen by a vote of 4 ayes to no noes. This being afterward reported to the Association, the action of the board was confirmed. Mr. Wikoff was accordingly initiated and installed as president, secretary and treasurer. The Sporting Life March 31, 1886 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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