The evening world., 1914-01-22
II Courts Decide Against Reserve
Clause the Baseball Stars
Will Have Upper Hand.
BIZ B0zensan Blslne1.

w Phillies sneaked Catcher XII.
lifcr and Pitcher Ad Brennan
iato Philadelphia and signed them to
National League contract he inno-
Gently formed . loophole through
which the Federal League has been
trying to Jump for some time. Mr..
Gilmore and his associates have
yOarned to bring baseball con-
tract before the courts for some
time. and. at last, the way In open.
killifsr and Brennan had previously
signed contracts with the Feds.
The of1cial notice served on Presi.
dent Baker by Mr.. Gilmore that the
rights Of the Feds would DO protected
means that the war u on In earnest.
II tho courts should declare the on
cial form OF baseball contract illegal
the fans win be treated to tho mer-
riest scramble during the next two
months that tho game has ever
known.
The Feds have carefully avoided
signing or dickering with a player
under contract to the National or
American Leagues. but this move
by the Phillies lets down the bars.
In other words. II organised base
ball" II going to disregard signed
contracts. the Feds feel that they
will have the same privilege. But
they are not going 70 do It that
way.
VALIDITY OF CONTRACTS WILL
Dc rEeTEp IN couRre.
The validity Of the Federal League
contracts with Killifer and Brennan
will DO tested In the courts. This will
naturally bring up the question Of
the validity Of the standard form Of
baseball contracts. including the re.
serve clause. That 10 really the mig
ger In the woodpile."
Regardless OF what may have been
said to the contrary. the baseball
nagnates have never cared to have
their contracts put through the legal
Mill. Many noted lawyers have de-
clared that they will not hold. II
such decision In reached In tho
cases mentioned the big leagues will
have no hold whatever on 800 play
ers. and they will be free to do an
they please. On the other hand. "
tho reserve clause 10 upheld by the
The magnates Of organized base
ball have shown no disposition TO
appeal to the courts In the cases of
tho several players who have signed
with the Federal League regardless
OF ths reserve clause. There have
been threats Of injunction, but an
In, junction cannot be sought until the
/, players actually appear on the field
and play with Federal League clubs.
The suits for breach OF contract In
tho cases of Brennan and kiliifer
may have to wait until April for the
same reason. but. II possible. the
t'ederals will force II to an issue at
once.
! Out In Chicago the whole town II
giving c. Webb Murphy the laugh
Heinie Zimmerman. whose tnp-piece
has been frequently referred to as
the Ivory DOME" put one over On
Murph, getting thereby an annual
seems that Heinie Zim hung around
with the Feds for week or NO until
a report had been started TO tho effec,
that Gilmore was going to give hin
$1,000 for three years. Just when
things were ripe Zim called on Muir.
ply and for signing q contract 20,
his salary jumped from $500 Il
$1,000. As u matter OF fact the Fed,
had offered him no contract at all
THE pext man who calls Hcinie q
'bone.'" says Johnny Evers, twill
have q second guess coming"
HIoHlANDERe BADLY CRIPPLED
~ LOSS OF TWO PITCHERS.
The Highlanders will be pretty bad
~ crippled by the loss of both Fore
and Cole, and II Big Ed sweeney
jumps to the outlaws Frank Chanc,
bad batter take the FIRST train fol
New York. Regardless OF how goo
or pad these men are m players 4
WI! take some tall hustlinG to nj
their places. No legal action can b>
taken. Il % thought. until the season
begins. $3.50