The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-26


burg. Ned Hanlon Of Baltimore, Dick Car
roll OF Buffalo and +. L. Gates. the
leagues counsel, all advised President
James A. Gilmore to strike now. The
Ward brothers and C. ", Walker OF Chi
caso were in favor of waiting until after
a decision Is handed down in the suit OF
August Hermann against Pitcher Chief
johnson. Gilmore Is in sympathy with
this suggestion. lie believes Judge Foell
Of Chicago will deny Hermann a perma-
nent Injunction to restrain the Indian
from playing in the Federal League be-
cause OF the ten days notice of release
clause in the aborigine's contract.
The majority OF my club owners are
very anxious for permission to go after
major league players who have been
signed to contracts embracing the ten days
option of release by the owners said Mr.
Gilmore yesterday afternoon In discussing
the meeting. Il counselled against this
move. I expect to hear definitely on the
johnson case within a very few days.
am so sure that Judge Foell will not rec
ogn!ze the ten days clause, which makes
the contract OF organized baseball in
equitable. that I am willing TO walt an
other week or so. Such decision will
leave US absolutely free to treat with all
I
by instruments from which the objection
able clauses have been stricken.
II do not know whether I shall he able
to maintain the peace until the court de-
clsion is handed down. Gilmore con-
I tinued. ITO my mind we would be aoso-
lutely safe in proceeding at once against
I the majors for the players they illegally
| claim. Indeed some of our club presidents
/ are so anxious TO recruit from the big
/ leagues that | may hot be able to hold
| them In leash
! Organized baseball has got away with
a lot OF hot air about having all the best
\ men sign contracts from which tho ten
days clause had been eliminated. Ty
Cobb is a pretty good ball player, isn't
! ne? Well, the ten day clause is In his
contract He can have a good many
thoussn ds Of dollars from Frank Navin
any time he consents to scratch out this
feature OF nequity. Detroit has tried IN
vain repeatedly to purchase Cobb's con-
sent 10 the change.
"If organized baseball believed In the
validity OF this clause do you think II
would be trying now to bride itc players
to submit TO the subtraction OF the OBJ
tectionable phase from the contract? The
Chicago Nationals paid Jimmy Lavender
$4,000 to strike out the clause from his
document. I could name dozen other
big leaguers VINO receive handsome
bonuses for the same thing.
Nor is organized baseball telling the
truth about its contracts in other ways.
Most of the teams have announced their
stars signed to long term instruments.
That is true in only limited few cases.
} Tho best men in the two major leagues
are not bound for long terms Many OF
them have been in consultation with ME
or my people and have given us every
, assura nce that they will come over 10 us
next wear IL we still want them.
The case of Walter johnson 10 the
, rule. not the exception. Joe Tinker had a
long conference with Grtfhth's star yes.
terday. The Federal League looks good
TO me- he told Joe. and will DO business
with YOU next year II you will pay me
more money than Washington offers
johnson Is out for the money just as IL
J every baseball PLAYER We can have ths
pick Of the National and American
=, leagues next season. tell you, for me
best men are bound to organized baseball
! for 1914 only" -,
Gilmore frankly admitted that MI
league needed boistering. The teams, N
thought were pretty well balanced pu
9 lacked the individualism Of names that s.
/ greatly benefit the two major leagues
0 From his enemies the Chicago pronote
proposes to exact the toll
y "Please understand that I do no
. countenance war" explained Mr.. Gilmore
0 I'VE are peaceful men. We VIII stay per
0 fectly within our rights by taking iron
y the major leagues players hlegail!
2 claimed by them; that is, such as ar
bound only by inequitable contracts. W.
will have the right by law to treat witt
those men when a decision ie hande'
down in the johnson case. I cannot guar
antee, however, that the Federal Lesgu
will wait that long
II can name thirty seven players OF tn
National and American Leagues who's
contracts embrace the ten days option o
. 81 YurHner una
n the majority OF these men in all prom
= ability will be with us before two weeks
!. told you the name OF one. Ty Coot
= There are half a dozen others alppst a
i highly regarded in the profession wh
- have given us their solemn promises tina
:, they will jump II the ten days clause
!, held invalid. Cobb will play EVENTUAL
4. in the Federal League
q Mr.. Gilmore was asked II II was nc
true that the ten days clause was en-
bodied in the Federal League contract
at IT," he replied. would we not
foolish to bind ourselves indefinitely
;, such PLAYERS as our present neld for RI
- cruiting presents? Do you think FEEDERS
League owners should be expected
guarantee a whole seasons pay TO sane
J. letters?
:, I'VE have no minor league farms. e,
cent for those players we secured frol
!, organized baseball our recruiting has bee
~ who applied TO US weren't worth their sal
-, Naturally they could not expect the san
"a contract rights as experienced and ttie
performers.
II will say this. however, said Gi
, more. that every ball player in the Fee
o eral League who can be considered a rel
Q uiar is signed to a contract without Al
! ten days option OF release clause
Gilmore continued for half an hour
0 the slories of his project elsewhere tbs
0 at Washington Park. He declares tn
4 organized baseball has circulated fal
- statistics about the attendances In Il
2 West. Buffalo and Baltimore. he report
s. are wild over the Independent leagu
-. while Thinkers club has put the Cubs col
IT. IT. pletely out OF business.
az Gilmore was asked II the league 1
ut tended to change its circuit next year al
s. II II was true that Washington would
"a invaded, now that Sunday baseball
''1 likely to prevail in the capital city.
II have absolutely nothing to say
that score" he answered. IT told you la
winter that the present circuit was n
necessarily permanent But II any chan
eh is made II will be. OF course. with the co
sent Of all the club presidents. That
necessary in our constitution. I neN
have regarded Washington as 70
baseball city II might be all right wi
Sunday ball"
Charlie Williams, for many yeArs hi,