The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-22

5000, 600 people in the United States. and
very recently 1t monopolized more news
paper space than did the name of the pres
ident Of the United States.
Rusie's notoriety reached its flood tide
recently when n called meeting Of the Ma
tional league was held i'm New York city
for the sole purpose of trying to bring him
back into the game. This Is the first in
stance in tho 22 years OF the National
league that special meeting has been held
for the exclusive purpose of discussing a
single players affair.
1t is an old story that the New York
club fined Rusic $500 in 1896 for alleged
insubordination and dissipation, and
when u contract was sent To- him for 1896
ii called for 81, 400. which is $500 less than
he received in 1895 Rusie refused to sign
unless he was paid 81, 900 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 New
York clubs reserve list, and he could sign
nowhere else
Early last year the noted pitcher put
himself and his case into the hands Of
lawyers, who first appealed to the national
board for n release from reservation. The
board decided that it 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
80 bring two suits against the New York
club in the federal court at Chicago, dur
ing the Leagues annual meeting in that
city last November. These suits were soon
afterward dismissed on the ground that
neither party thereto was q resident of the
state of Illinois. In December similar suits
were begun in tho federal court ut 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 tho other de-
manding $5, 900 in damages, are now pend
| ing. A demurrer filod by 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 he reached
| In that court before the present champion
ship season IL past, and even then an ap-
| peal would still further delay an effective
| Judgment .tt -
Pending this suit both Rusie and the
| Natl nal league became discontented. The
| rebellious pitcher hinted that under certain
concessions he would surrender and sign
the contract offered by the New York club,
, the concessions beins, that the Ilengue
should pay him his last years salary and
| the expenses Of his numerous lawsuits 1t
| was To consider this proposition from the
celebrated pitcher that the recent special
| meeting Of the League was held in New
York. ,.
Eleven clubs were willing to compromise
| with him ON those terms, but the New
| York club stood flr1n as q rock ON the po-
sition 10 had taken. President Freedman
declared that no was fighting for a princi-
| ple and for discipline, and that, though
Rusie's services would be worth probably
| e25, 900 TO him In, one year, he would not
1 concelle one dollar toward q compromises
Rusie must Sign at salsry OF ts, 400 and
submit 70 the hne, thus bowipg TO. club
discipline, but II ne reported, played good,
ssrness ball and dsportsd himself all right,
the club would restore him to bis original
salary Of "a, 900. From this stand tho 9th
G IL clubs could not move him, and after
two days session the League adjourned,
having accomplished nothing.
This meeting was one Of the most i'm.
| portant ever held by organized baseball
clubs. It was q tacit admission 10 the
world that the maenates do not believe
their reserve rule will stand II brought TO
est In court Of equity. They had pretty
strong hints from the bench ON that sub
| ject during the Brotherhood squabbie In
1890, and they are anxious to avoid tne
test In the Rusie suit To that ono III OF
| the 12 clubs were anxious 10 meet Rus1e
| more than half way In order to Set hts suis
| In equity dismissed.
The reserve rule V the fundamental isv