Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-18
rrro1AI rrLroaAM TO THE DrsrArcH.,

NEW YORK, december lt--OeO. 4. Duy-
ster, in conjunction with Messrs. Evarts,
Choates and Beaman. of counsel for the New
York Baseball Club, who will appear in be-
half of the club in its suit against John
Ward, was busily engaged in preparing the
necessary papers to-day, hut the particular
day upon which the papers will be served
Mr. Duyster was unable to state. There are
several points, however, in the approaching
suit against Ward which Mr.. Duyster had
no hesitation in giving to a DISPATCH re-
porter, and he was very emphatic in his declara-
ton that while the National League. in its suit
could not compel Ward or any of his associates
IN the Players League movement to play with
the old League they certainly would be pre-
vented from playing with any other league.
Speaking of the contract which the players
signed with the National League, and which
will be presented in forcible manner to the
court, Mr. Duyster says:
MR.. DUYSTER EXPLAINS.
The system has been to have contracts for
one year ahead in order that the several clubs
might depend on at least IA players the follow
ing year. Our position therefore, is that we
have contract with them for the season of
1890 after which they are free to do as they
please. 1t would also be well to remember that
majority of these Brotherhood players have
gained their regulations and acquired their
skill while drawing very large salaries in the
employ of the clubs which they are now using
every effort to damage With the exercise of
their option the club holds player for two
years at the outside, and how many hundreds of
thousands Of good and reputable men would
consider it hardship to contract to give their
services for two years in a business which is
neither particularly hard nor disagreeable;
IN sr foF1
which would give the men six months of the
year to do as they please, at salaries ranging
from $500 to 5000 year? Tho question of
hardship has nothing to do with the case.
never knew of an instance where the court
would entertain such rlea in cases of simi-
lar kind. I'll leave it to your own judgment,
Two years is not q very long period to have q
man who is paid such a handsome salary, is it?
SOME STRONGER INSTANCES.
Why, instances are frequent where a man
contracts to work from five to ten years in a
single place. Take a skilled mechanic, for in
stance. He demands an exorbitanT salary.
There is no question as to the mans ability and
the amount of salary is no obstacle to his en-
gagement But to prove his fidelity to his en-
ployer, he is asked to sign contract for ten
years which he does willingly Now would il
be right, would it be justice for this man at the
expiration Of year or two years to say, well,
u
don't think it would, and no court in the land
would tolerate such proceeding. In the case
of the players If they had the slightest respect
for honorable dealing. they would have said:
I'VE will fulfill our contracts for 1890, but we
now give you notice that after that time we are
going elsewhere" In this situation the pro-
prietors, who have expended hundreds of
thousands Of dollars, would have no Just cause
Of complaint. As it is, the clubs intend uni
Versally TO enforce to the fullest extent that
the law permits the rights which their contracls
with the players give them, and they must be
justified in so doing by every faIr-minded man.
1t must also be remembered that when player
has been notified that his services will be re-
quired under contract tor the following season
the club is bound to employ him, and in the
event of Its refusing TO do so he would have a
right of action against the club for his salary
Furthermore, the present contract is not a
form Of contract forced upon the player by the
League magnates, but one which tn, players
themselves, represented by Ward, demanded on
November 1887, and to which the owners of
the clubs agreed after much discussion.
sEEDs.oF DRoAY..
'In my opinion this Brotherhood. holds
within itself the seeds Of decay, as it wholly
lacks the element Of discipline which must al
ways exist in every business between employer
and employed, and a process of disintegration
will be certain to take place within a very
short time after the season opens irrespective
of anything that the National League may do
Let us suppose that player in the Brother
hood does not think himself fairly treated, in
no matter how trifing dispute, he can al ways
leave the organization and find perhaps as good
situation elsewhere. 1t cannot fail to meet
with the same fate, in my opinion as a shin |
with several captains, but with no crew.
The player who joins the Brotherhood now.
however, assumes two very serious risks First |
that be may be unable to play at all if the |
court should decide that an Injunction would |
lie; secondly, that after the season begins and |
he should become dissatisfied with the position |
in the Brotherhood, be may not find the |
League magnates so anxious to take him back |
after they have made all their other prepara- |
tions for the season of 1890"
'1t is claimed that in the suit againt Ward. the
New York club has a stronger hold on him |
than the regular contract?" the reporter |
asked.
DUYSTER VERY CONFIDENT.
That's not so" was Mr.. Duyster's emphatic |
answer. There's no contract that we have
forced on Ward to sign outside Of the regular |
contract"
Have you any fears as to the result Of the |
approaching suitP"
This caused a broad smile to Green over the |
distinguished attorneys face. II cannot see |
where there is the remotest chance Of a set |
back. We have gone over this matter SO care
fully that / cannot conceive a loopbole of |
escape for the players. But suppose the court |
did decide that we were wrong and the players |
were right. You don't think for an instant |
that this would disrupt the National League, |
would you? No. indeed. 1t is too strongly in. |
trenched. 1t would proceed to fill up its ranks |
with the best players that can be secured. And |
really believe that outside Of a battery that |
there is not q League club but could engage |
team almost equal in strength TO any they had /
lost. The secession Of the star players might /
prove to be of 3 disadvantage financially the /
trst year. but let the teams play good ball and |
venture 70 assert that the second year will |
find the new clubs upon good, sound, fnap- |
cial basis"