Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-01
BASE BALL MEN
(. IN WAR CONFAB
National Commission Holds
| Meeting to Devise Means
| to Exterminate Feds.
TO RESORT TO COURTS TO
ENJOIN DlSLOYAL PLAYERS
Base Ball Supreme Court Declares
1t Will Fight Invaders With
Every Known Means.
spccia. Dispatch TO The Star.

II L SbC Null JANUARY 81
To make defensive and offensive
plans against the Federal League
the following leaders OF base ball
have been IN session here today
and tonight: President John II.
1cncr OF the National League.
President Ban 3. Johnson of the
american League, Garry Herr
mann. chairman of the national
commission President Barney
Drevfuss OF the Pittsburgh Ma
,ionals. President Charles ".
>omers oi the Cleveland Amer
cans. Manager Connie Mack or the
Philadelphia americans and
President Robert l.. Hedges OF
the st. Louis americans. \ Sc
ries OF secret sessions arc being
held in the Duquesne Club. 1t is
said to be special session OF the
national commission.
Never in the history of the
game has there been gathering
. irausht with SO much importance
ITO the national game as was
brought together here today. The
nasnatcs came iii by ones AMI
twos, quietly and without an
-nouncement. They did not regis
ter at any OF the hotels. and their
presence was not known until they
were seen about the lobby OF the
Fort Pitt Hotel.
MI sorts OF stories and POSSIBLE
ties are being circulated The
best authenticated is that organ
lied bse ball will put an 1nterna-
tional League club here in opposi-
ton to the Pittsburgh Federals.
Pittsburgh is to be one of the big
5, eenters OF warfare against the out
laws. Another is that Somers will
be authorized to sell the Toledo
franchise in the American Asso-
citation to President Charles
v eeghman OF the Chicago Fed
erals to keep the outlaws out OF at
least one large city.
'rhe presence of the principal leaders
% organized base ball is the first tacit
,;,enfisStou hy them tiIat they have a
al tiGat hand and must use swift
i.ui decisive means.
Mack Is Discovered.
Connie Mack was one of the first 10
- discovered. When asked what
brought him here he said he would
probably attend the Middle Atlantic
.l-.ioor track meet at Duquesne Garden
20. 4ht. Johnson was Of the
:i.r arrivals. Gov. Tener came in
tonight. as did Murphy and Hermann.
u IS asserted thai all OF these men are
o's determined that the fight is to
- 4 war o. determination as lar as
tsc- side can 20
every resource OF organized base
..-E I:I1 bc concentrated 10 keep the
p.,iaws out Of the big cities and
fefce them into che smaller ones il
4 te- are 10 exist at all.
f;ter a session lasting almost con-
ts,sEotssly IRON II o'clock this morning
Ii II O'Clock tonight the national COM
mission decided that organized base bali
Nps.id iisht through every court in the
itet states for possession of such
Jtt rs have jumped TO the Federal
League. or may jump IN the future The
following Information caine out or the
meeting:
Tne decision OF the national commits
son tonight means that the club owners
- the National and American leagues
..'d every uif.s. League belonging TO
. ,ari4sd ias II ;sis going 10 hEht
- 1eder,st ,-~t.ssse through every court
~ the l;t;i6. ;u.3 = necessary spend I'M
y Use sums ul money 10 prevent jump
srS from playing with any but organized
base bail teams. The reserve clause
is Z protection for the club owners. and
10 player who IS under contract In or
saalzeti base ball will be permitted to
pl&: with the outlaws unless the courts
6-cide they can. If necessary. appeals
from court decisions will be taken clear
through TO the United States Supreme
Court The national commission Is not
oE'v fighting the Federal League. tooth
aid claw. but will also fight every player
WHO has deserted OF may desert the team
~. which he legally IS under contract.
j Hlsy mean a lorS. expensive and tire
*a.5l se.s:ti var. JGt the commission. IS
ies~-.,ssG to 80 the l;l-,.
~ sc players .sho kaGe jumped viii be
t1ca IN OPPORTUNITY TO -eEey: allegiance
- tire cubs .a3ell claim taem ie the
!, CcG-.s decide thai the caEEot PLAY with
TIE ederals- Those players who volun-
tariE return TO their teams before the
iezal war Is begun will DE protected IN
t5e courts by organized base ball.
Iae organization OF base ball clubs
las used every peaceful means TO bring
about d more harmonious condition in
base ball. II has repeatedly warned the
feoeral League and its clubs that it
would tolerate no Interference. either
vita players unuer contract directly or
stose he'd ~ the -eselFe clause. That
aiming apparently has been dis.ess :,i.ei
ss''j lie oct-sSs mast safe t.ss conse-
ia A. q - &, ~