New-York tribune., 1912-03-12
NO BASEBALL SLAVERY
No Trust, Either, Say Presidents
of the Major Leagues.
COURT AN INVESTIGATION
August Hermann Thinks Resolu-
tion in Congress Must
Be a Joke.

Washington. March IA Congressional
investigation OF the baseball trust, the
most audacious and autocratic. trust in the
country" was proposed In q resolution
introduced BY Representative Gallagher. Of
Illinois. to-day. The measure would create
n special committee Of seven Representa-
tives 10 inquire Of the Department of JUS
tce what steps have been taken against
the baseball trust as against other ILLEGAL
combinations" 10 subpoena witnesses ano
employ assistants.
It accused the "haseball trust" Of pre-
suming 10 control the baseball game. It's
officials announcing daily through the press
the dictates Of a governing commission, ,'hoW
competition is stifcd, territory and games
apportioncd. prices fixed which millions
must pay TO witness the sport, how men
are enslaved and forced to accept salaries
and terms or be forever barred from play
ing"
Mr.. Gallagher said the Department oi
Justice knew that there was such trust
under the law. and that he would confer
with the department in a day or two.
Thomas J. Lynch, president of the Ma
tional League, was in no way disturbed
Yesterday when his attention was called 70
the news from Washington thai r"sol&-
ton calling for an investigation or the
baseball trust" so called had been intro
duced I'm Congress. In fact he seemed 10
feel that 1t might MAKE for good in tha' ii
would silence for all time the talk OF base
ball slavery" Mr.. Lynch then issued the
following statement:
$50 far as the National League ot Base
ball Clubs is concerned. we invite an IN
yestigation. There is absolutely nothing
ssvoring of a trust In our league. we 40
MT in anv manner stihe or attempt 10
sti1e connection l indorse everything that
Ran p. Johnson. president Of the American
league. saws, and especially his words con-
corning the 'enslaved' players. In fact,
will add to it slightly by saying that not
alone do some Of the players receive more
rnonev for their work than Congressmen'
but more than the average business man
earns
eve welcome any man Of ability who de-
.ires 70 GET into the game, especially the
college boys. Let the investigation OF tne
National League proceed. We have no'h-
ing to fear"
Rvron Bancroft johnson. president OF the
American bedb loo"NN -
IN Chicago. in which he admitted that MS
Ioague would court an investigation ana
tbat n had no fear of the result. lie salu'
Eve would be glad TO have an investiga-
.,or There is no baseball trust, and COM
petition is not stihed. Any one VINO 'e'i'''
IS welcome to get in the game
go far as men being enslaved is con-
cerned a large number Of the players are
drawing salaries in excess OF "ha' Is P"iu
,o Conp-essmen. That does not look much
like enslavement ~
August Hermann, chairman OF the Ma
tional Commission, which is the supreme
court of baseball. and Chief owner Oh 'iie
Cincinnati Reds, characterized tho Con-
rressman's resolution as joke. He SAID:
81 do not know what the resolution
means unless II is a joke. There Is 10
baseball trust and from the nature OF the
.,one there never can be. The commission
doas mt fix prices Different prices are
charged in different cities. There can De
an investigation at any time without any
affection from the National Commission.
Thomas II. Chivington. president OF the
American Association, expressed the op!n-
ion in Chicago that Congressman Gallagher
had accented the opinion Of some person or
nersons who had not made STUDY OF con-
ditions and consequently did not Kno"
what he or they were talking about. Mr.
Chivington said:
ANY resolution calling for an investiga-
t,on 81 baseball presented to Congress must
he based on lack OF information of the ex-
tent purpose and operation OF what Is
known as organized baseball AS matter
~ fact there is no violation of federal
state or municipal law in the operation OF
organized baseball"
John T. Powers. president of the Colum-
b,an Baseball League. which has planned
,o nut teams In a number Of cities where
the major leagues now play, declared In
chicago last night that he had taken no
mart in causing the presentation OF the
Gallagher resolution.
I'VE have not clashed with the off1ciais
Of organized baseball" said Mr.. Powers
sBs expect to enter the field in a number
Of cities. and / DO not expect any strong
attempt to bar US out. / had nothing 10
do with the presentation OF the resolution,
and do not wish to discuss 1t at this time