The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-22


5000, 900 people in the United States, and
very recently it monopolized more news
paper space than did the name CT the pres
ident of the United States.
Rusie's notoriety reached It's flood tide
recently when called meeting Of the Ma
tional league was held in New York city
for the sole purpose of trying 10 bring him
back into the game. This Is the first in
stance in the 20 years of the National
league that n special meeting has been held
for the exclusive purpose of discussing
single players affair
1t Is an old story that the New York
club fined Rusie 5000 in 1895 for alleged
insubordination and dissipation, and
when contract was sent to him for 1895
1t called for g., 400 which is 5000 less than
he received in 1895. Rusie refused TO sign
unless he was paid 5000 and the 5000
fines were remitted. The New York club
stood firm, and Rusie did not report for
duty when the season opened last spring.
Meanwhile his name was on the Now
York clubs reserve list, and he could sign
nowhere else
Early last year the noted pitcher put
himself and his case into the hands or
lawyers, who first appealed to the national
board for IA release from reservation. The
board decided that IL had no jurisdiction,
but that the board of League directors was
the proper tribunal. To these directors, In
special session at Pittsburg, therefore, Ru-
sic took his case last June, and the board
unanimously decided against him.
The next step taken by his lawyers was
to bring two suits against the New York
club in the federal court at Chicago, dur
ing the Leagues annual meeting in that
bc, c,tit
afterward dismissed on the ground that
neither party thereto was u resident OF the
state Of Illinois In December similar suits
were begun in tho federal court at Tren-
ton, the New York club being incorporated
under the New Jersey laws. These suits
one asking for an injunction to restrain
| the New York club from keeping Rusie's
| name on its reserve list and the other de-
manding So, 900 in damages, are now pend
| ing. A demurrer filed 10y the defendant
| on the ground that all the National league
| clubs should be made codefendants as
! partners Of the New York club has been
argued, but decision was reserved 1t is GER
| tain that no final decision can be reached
| In that court before the present champion
| ship season is past, and even then an ap-
peal would still further delay an effective
| Judgment.
! Pending this suit both Rusie and the
| Nat nal league became discontented. The
rebeilious pitcher limited that under certain
| concessions he would surrender and sign
the contract offered by the New York club.
the concessions heing that the League
should ray him his last years salary and
| tho expenses of his numerous lawsuits. IL
was to consider this proposition from the
celebrated pitcher that the recent special
meeting of tho League was held in New
| York.
Eleven clubs were willing 60 compromise
with him on those terms, but the New
York club stood firm IA u rock on the po
| sition IL had taken. President Freedman
declared that no was fighting for princi
pie and for discipline, and that, though
| Rusie's services would be worth probably
s25. 600 to him I'm one year, he would not
concede one dollar toward compromise
Rusie must sign at salary Of g., 400 and
submit to the fine, thus bowling To clut
discipline. but IL no reported, played good
earnest ball and dernrted himself all right
the club would restore him to his origina
salary Of 80, O00 From this stand the 9th
or | 1 clubs could not move him, and aftel
a two days session the League adjourned
having accomplished nothing
This meeting was one Of the most i'm
portant ever held 10y organized baseball
clubs. IL was tactt admission To th'
world that tho ragnatcs do not boliey'
their reserve rule will stand II brought q
test in court o, equity. They had prett.
strong hints from tho bench on that sub
jcct during the Brotherhood squabble II
1890, and they are anxious 20 avoid tn
test i'm the Rusie suit. To that end III o
the 12 clubs were anxious To meet Rusl
moro than half way in order to get his sui
IN equity dismissed.
1ho reserve rule Is the fundamental lay
OIL which professional baseball as u bust
meas rests without Ia franchises whicf
are now worth from s50,0OO to s2OO,OO'
would not tc worth cent, and more thar
si.0O0.O.u ia,cstcd IN League club prop
erty would be- worth the price of the eroun'
and no more.
This case has been thus carefully re
knrscd SO tha: n may he realized how
young man who was an operator In mat
trcss factory nine years ago today has th
National league and professional baseball
IN tho United states In his hands ready Z