Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-29
BY D. L. REEVES.

d ~. liz kOxIG v AI0s
So far as the players personal grew
ance is concerned, the Ty Cobb case is
a closed incident. The greatest base ball
player in the country demanded more
money for his services than his employ
err the president of the Detroit club,
thought he could pay. and the contro-
versy that resulted between the two men
and their adherents in the press never
had a parallel in base ball That Cobb
received an increase in salary both the
player and president affirm. That his
salary was fixed in the sum he demanded
I-$15, OOO-is not stated, and we feel sure
that when the great outfielder attached
his signature to a contract his signing
was a compromise victory for each party
to the agreement. Cobb's salary under
his last contract, which expired with the
playing season of 1912, was $1,000 per
year. When he demanded $1,000 for his
work this year he increased the value of
his services just two-thirdS above the
handsome wage that he had previously
received. There is little wonder that Mr..
Nav1n baked al the proposition. While
processing no source OF secret informa-
ton regarding the figures in Cobb's con-
tract, We venture the assertion that they
read $1,000 per annum, which is an aug
AHcHtdlfOH VI OHt-tHlTu ABOVE MS last con-
| tract stipend and more than a majority
of the most honOred and important po-
| sitions under the federal government pay.
| The effect of Cobb's demand for an in
| crease of salary was more than personal.
| The base ball fame of the man, the wide
publicity given the case as purely a
| base bail matter, the increased and wide
spread interest given the case when it
served as an excuse for two represent
atives in Congress to introduce resolu-
| lions calling upon the Attorney General
| to Investigate the so-called base ball
/ trust" made the case one of the most
| notable ever arising out of base ball
| controversy. and attracted the attention
| Of thousands and thousands of persons
| who have no interest in base ball or
Cobb, but who would like to know the
| true merits in the case. Be it said to
Cobbs credit, he employed no Interior
means to gain his point Except for
| one or two interviews in which he
answered Mr.. Nevin's criticisms in a
dignified manner. he did not seek to
excite public sympathy in his fight for
| liberty from peonase, as one southern
we are led to believe that Cobb
deprecated the action taken by the con-
| gressional representative from the dis
| trict in which he resides. But Cobb
| having won his case, what becomes of
| the question raised whereby he was
granted an increase in salary?
| Is there base ball trust" an octopus
| that is strangling competition among
professional base ball players, limiting
| their salaries disproportionate to the at
| tractive power of their skill and ability
and holding them In indefinite peonage
under what is termed the reserve clause?
| The assertion that there is base ball
| trust in the sense of an unlawful comb-
| nation. is absurd to those familiar with
hos f,a While III is true
that there is a supreme governing body.
| this organiZatiOn-the national commits
sion-has absolutely nothing to do with
the finances of the individual club. Each
| resources. and the financial interests of
the club owners are not pooled. This is
a general statement that applies to every
single club Of the thousands which exist
| in the hundreds of leagues recognizing
the principle OF organization Ii the
| profits OF the clubs in every league-from
the majors down to the lowest minors
were pooled. there would be some sub
but the fact that every club must stand
or fall upon it's own financial resources
is conclusive proof that base ball is not
a monopoly. There are rich and poor
clubs in both the major and minor
leagues. Taking the major league clubs
as typical examples of existing condi-
lions. 1t can be proven by figures that
not half of the clubs in both leagues
make legal rate of interest on their in
vestment. On the other hand one or two
clubs in each leagues-always the winner
and runner-up-profit to the extent of
handsome returns. But they are entitled
to their profits because the very nature
of the base ball business makes it a
gamble. a stroke of chance. whether in
one, two. three. five or ten years an own
er will be SO fortunate as to develop
PLAYERS who will constitute a champion
ship combination. For it is the winner
only that returns profits in base ball. In
this phase of finance base ball is unlike
any other business proposition in the
world.
Much has been said and written about
the reserve clause in base ball players
contracts which permits club to auto
matcally hold its players for its sole
service from the end of one season until
the beginning OF another. On this re-
serve rule stands the foundation of or
ganized base ball. the very life and pros
perity of the game from which thou
sands derive a livelihood. Sweep away
the reserve rule and in its wake will re-
suit base ball chaos And no persons
know this better than the players They
recognize that It Ii the keystone principle
OF their profession. to remove which
would bring the whole base ball house
down in ruins upon their heads. The
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