The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-23
JOHNSON TO THE FRONT
PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN
LEAGUE NOW IN PHILADELPHIA
Leader VIII Meet Owners of Ath-
Ietics and Determine Upon IA Pol
icy-Hart Expects National Mag
mates TO Call Meeting at Once
Attorney Bruce Full OF Fight.

CHICAGO, April 22-As a result Of the
far-reaching decision in the Lajoie case
by the supreme court Of Pennsylvania
yesterday, President Ban Johnson, Of the
American league, has left for Fhiadel
phia TO confer with the owners Of the Ath-
letic franchise in his league. Attorneys
for the American league have been in
consultation over the long distance tele-
phones all day to determine upon policy.
The American league season opens here
tomorrow, and great care will be taken
that there shall be no technical violation
of the injunctions served on the several
former players of the Philadelphia Ma
tional League club. President Hart, Of the
Chicago National club, said today that
he expected a call for a meeting of the
National league directory soon to con-
slider plans for pushing their advantage.
President Johnson, although he declin-
ed to discuss the matter in detail, said:
Il am interested to know on what
grounds the courts have revived the slav-
cry Of the baseball player and until J.
am aware Of the full context of the de-
cree I cannot discuss it's effects intelii-
gently l have not had time yet to com
municate with any of our attorneys, but,
as 1 understand it, the only final recourse
the Philadelphia National League club
has Is a civil suit for damages. as ii Is
joie, or any other player, to play for
any club against his will"
Bruce Promises u Fight.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 22.-John r.
Bruce, of this city, attorney for the
American league, was seen in his Office
as to the Philadelphia decision This Is
a surprise TO me- said Mr.. Bruce, ''but
you can say the American league will
GerI,+ -, Ia-% oh .
decision wrong and contrary TO all prece-
dent.
will do now?'
Il do not know 1t is likely the Ma
tional league win seek to restrain such
players as they want back from playing
in American league clubs
''In that event what will you dO?''
"As 1 said we win be full Of fight. IL
does not necessarily follow that other
supreme courts will follow the decision
just rendered in Philadelphia. In any
event. it does not mean the disruption
Of the American league"
Lotus Would Not Talk.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. April 22.-Man-
ager Tom Lotus. Of the Senators, said
he preferred not to say anything on the
probable effect Of the Lajoie decision IN
III ne UAlEISLOOQ The QENdllo- As Ac~i %
Delehanty, Wolverton, Orth and Town
send are concerned" said he. they have
promised to stick to the Washington club,
and the washington club win exert every
legal effort to hold them to their present
contracts as against the reserve feature
of the Philadelphia contracts.
The decision Of the court mad hardly
time to cool when Delehanty, Orth, Vol
verton and Townsend, members of last
seasons Philadelphia National League
club, received the following summons:
Supreme court overrules court below in
Lajoie case. Decides cur contract abso-
luteIy binding on you. You are hereby
ordered to report forthwith to me at
Philadelphia ball park for performance
Of duties under your contract. Refusal
to obey this will be at your peril.
William ]. Shettsline. Manager.
Every one Of the quartette of ex-
QuakeTs expressed the determination to
stick to his present contract and to iG
more Shettsline's notice. Aside from
these players. Pitcher Carrick, formerly
Of New York. is the only other Wash
ington player liable to come under the
threatened injunction suits.