New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-23
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Baseball Structure in Danger,
with Power MiSapplied.
THE PASSING OF NEWPORT
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

silt each particular case OF a. icAS' ~ -
vvould seem. II is q dangerous practce
10 criticiso without being familiar win all
rbe facts. but IL can be said that the ruIihs
IN the Jacklitsch case was poor Justice even
ST II was good law. which is doubted, II lhe
story from Cincinnati on Thursday was not
overdrawn Inasmuch as no denials nave
O,en published. 1t may be presumed ihat
the facts are as Rave been told. FREQ
.Iacklitsch, once of the Phllies. was solo "a
the Rochester club OF the Eastern League.
fp spite Of an agreement with the Phlladel-
pbia club that he should be free agent
4 the club decided 10 dispose OF his ser
vlces and failed TO llace him with either
National or an American League team
reckli,sch appealed 10 the commission Tor
veIief but the supreme court of baseball
- lille recognizing the agreement ruled that
# held good only during the life Of his
contract Of 1910. The reserve clause, the
backbone Of baseball law which studiously
has been Kept out Of the courts. was
hlinked at FOR the moment The pound or
Itsh" was exacted from Jacklitsch because
Of a poorly worded agreement which lent
Itself 70 being upheld in letter while being
shattered in spirit Granted that the pre-
mise is correct the Philadelphia club TOOK
advantage Of technicality and was upheld
ov the national commission. which IS sup
ocsed 10 dispense justice. If the spirit OF
che agreement had been lived up 10 and
rhe reserve clause IN the contract lecog-
r;zed. the Philadelphia club had no right 10
sell JacklltsCh out Of the major leagues, al
least that is my understanding Of the equity
OF the case. Power misapplied IS a dan
geYous thing. The national commission.
like Samson in his strength. may one day
null down the whole baseball structure
about It's ears II justice is not meted out
20 the players. Baseball precedent has
been upset, so far as can be judged ana
.he ruling may act IS boomerang.
II IS with g feeling akin almost 10 salts
faction that the passing Of the Casino
courts at Newport r. /. for the lawn ten
mis- championship tournament can be pre-
dlcted. The National Lawn Tennis Associa-
lion AZ IT'S annual meeting on February
may defer what 20 some would be an EVIL
day. but the change is nevertheless certain,
arc II not this year. then next The cam
reien against Newport IS we'll organized
md is being conducted by men who are
earnest In their effort to bring about i'm
,,ro, ed conditions in the conduct Of the ma
-'onal tournament Unless the signs are
moi properly read the insurgents, so called,
will be strong enough at the coming meet
.rr 10 bring about the much TO be desired
and mos, important change at once. I said
The change would be made with a feeling
akin TO satisfaction, and this in spite of the
raci that an of the traditions OF the game
In this country are closely associated with
.h,. picturesque Enclosure Of the Casino II
* the truly historic field Of this country
end will always be so hallowed in the men,
ory. although the scene Of the tournament
be changed.
It is best that these memories be kept
and that the remembrance of matches
--ithout linesmen and officials, the over
charging Of competitors for accommoda-
Ions and meals. the annual thievery and
offering that occur IN the locker rooms,
and a hundred oths~ petty annoyances that
i'll the tournament period fade into the dim
ocrsuective and leave only the good TO sur
rive Really il IS the continued poor man
9cer1ept OF the national championship that
has raised all Of the antasonlsm 10 New
mort ! venture 20 say that had the OF
rereated warnings been needed by the cX-
Acutive committee Of the national assocla-
ton and the tournament conducted as Q
sportinz fixture should be and not. as an
english player Of worldwide fame dubbed
II. as "a garden party" the campaign that Is
about TO work the change to do away with
Ncwport as the place Of holding the cham
p.onship would never have been begun. OF
course the question Of accommodations is
an important one. but with systematic direc-
ton IL could have been arranged 10 the sat-
1sfaction OF all Of the competitors and then
followers in a city the size Of Newport
The pity is that the executives Of the
national association have so long been
continued. almost as perpetual oiticehold-
eTs. that they have become careless. and
consequently are more or less blind 70 the
burning needs of the moment that have
come with the tremendous growth OF the
game In the last few Yeas. They are
a sort OF Rip Van Wrinkles who peacefully
reposs while the world OF sport marches
onward. II Is hoped, however, that the
Insurgents. who are fighting for a princi
DIE as well as the good of the sport, viii
20 further and demand that the toulna-
ment be handled ana run in manner be-
iittng the blue ribbon Of nc lawn tennis
delphia. where l know international matches
were fauluessly handled two years ago, OF
elsewhere Lot the move that is TO be
made be digriied and for the better, not a
stump from the frying pan into the fire.
To nv mind. no possible excuse can be
offered for 8 sbpshod tournament. II Is
an abominaton, and ~ minor champion
ships can be conducted with fair observ-
ance OF rules surely it is time that the
national tournament served as the model
70 the country. and not be passed as a by
word BY those who compete As J have
rointed out. II IS most momentous &C
ton, but a change should prove stimulat-
ing and beneficial.
What a merry little time the governing
bodies OF the various sports are having
IN gppeasing insurgents, putting down re-
oellions, overcoming crusades by would-be
rcforucrs quieting or squelchirg malcon
tents and smoothing of the rough edges
Thoroughbred racing is struggling for rs
very life: college football has been on tria
and perhaps still lacks full acquittal, goli
aas been forced 20 sign o virtual declara-
lion OF independence and would be plunged
even now into a civil war n certain West
ern golfers had their way; the Publ,
schools Athletic League is not altogether
free from an incp.cnt rebellion, although
peace has been declared; lawn tennis s.
racing troutlous times in the stand against
Newport and FOR better handling OF ID,
national championship tournament; th'
Grand Circuit representing ;rOtting and
yacing. j. split wide open by the organ
fzatlon OF the more or less mythical Grcar
Central Circuit; on uphcayal in chess car
be eApoc,ed. and even pinochle IS treadini