Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-27
TINKER To SIGN
WITH FEDERALS
Deposed Leader of Cincinnati
Reds Is Firm in Desire to
Join Third League.
WILL IoIN BEFORE MONDAY
Fedora Jumpers" TO Defy masns.es
and Fight Reserve Clause
Murphy Denies Zinn Deal


reserve clause will either have its
tentacles made more powerful or
chopped Of entirely before the 1914
baseball season gets under way. That
IS II the moguls OF organized ball are
brave enough 20 go ahead. The Fed
eral league. which hitherto has pur-
sued a live and let live policy. IS go
ing 20 do the business. Joe Tinker
ct al. are likely 20 be the principals
in the test cases.
Tinker expects 10 sign with the
Federals Monday. He was 20 sign
yesterday. but instead held a two
hour conference with President James
u Gilmore.
Their terms are satisfactory.
purposcly caused the delay for a rea-
son OF my own said Tinker
Tinker and the other baseball play
ers VINO leave rhe major leagues TO
join the FeL-r-Is are being threaten
ed with irJInctions. which they fear
not They are prepared 70 20 ahead
and find out - The courts sill permit
wealthy maRIates 10 prevent less
w"altu--bGt rot starving ball play
ors from earning tEeir daily bread.
Lawyers Spit on Reserve Clause.
II would seem strange IN throw a
man out Of h.5 job after he has spent
nvc or mouths fl i1ieuess and - Just
getting READY 20 resume his acguaint-
sIce with the pay euvelop just be
cause he has violated Z contract that
ceases 20 DC contract any time that
the party o. the f:st part desires.
Lawyers diEer on the power OF the
reserve clause. that section OF the
baseball contract which keeps a play
cT with one club from season 70 sea
son until he Is no Longer wanted by
his employer. On this little feature
organized baseball exists. Without II
Washington could have no Walter
johnson and Detroit no Cobb if the
owners Of more profitable clubs cared
10 entice them away with offers OF
larger salaries. The towns making
the least money could never have
pennant-wiEniag cub and the present
day standard OF baseball playing
would vanish.
Eut the baseball contract prevents
an emplOye accepting a bet;er-paying
position. IT docs not give him a chance
to know who he will be working for
tomorrow. And on the how much
will be upheld.
Must Work for Any Price.
The player can be sent TO a minor
league club during the life OF the con- :
tract and al the things he and the /.
owner agreed 10 explode automatically. {
The smaller town club can pay him
whatever II pleases; IL he won't work I
for the price he must quit baseball /
II vas on this point that the recent I,
Gallagher bill was designed 10 prove 4
the game a trust
We wonder how doctors. lawyers, /
bookkeepers and iOurneymen of .
trades would feel II because they re
fused to work for half OF their accus- .
toned income they would be barred .
forever from participation in the line 4
In which they have spent years ac-
curing skill That's exactly the ball !,
players pfedicament
Now Ebbets swears he will get out .
an irjunctiOn IL Tinker goes TO the 4
Federals. Tinker says he's going and .
the Brooklyn magnate might as well .
go ahead with his injunction. which.
IL issued. must be followed with 4 suit
TO determine whether or not Joe Tin
ksr has jumped his contract with the
tains that by playing a full season
with the Reds he delivered for the
consideration he exacted. and the fact
that he does not know now what he IL
20 get next year proves that he IS
under no obligation 70 the team
whence he vas sold by Cincinnati. d
Defeat Would Be Costly.
He dares the league TO prosecute.
II 81 wins he must quit baseball for
ever. but n II loses the moguls' game
viii receive = terrific blow and the
hierarchy OF baseball probably viii
fall. IL isn't likely the timid magnates
Will take q chance 20 permit a more
intrepid. not 70 say reckless. one OF
their number 20 make any moves
OF course, II they DO not sue others
may follow IN Tener's footsteps, but
this. IL is argued. VIII be compare
lively harmless compared 20 the panic
that viii be created - ever the re-
serve clause is ruled against
This e. the clause that = working
the havoc.
The compensation OF the party OF
the second part stipulated IN this
contract shall be apportioaed as fol
lows: Seventy-fye Pc cent thereof !
for services rendered and - Per cent .
thereof for and in consideration OF the
players covenant % sanction and
bide BIZ his reservation. b. the party .
OF the FIRST part for TIE season OF :
Isi-. unless released before its ter ]
mination in accordance With the pro
visions OF this contract The party OF {
the second part shah be entitled TO {
"a ah.rr - pagd tho s5rfT con sfda~a- O.