Omaha daily bee., 1914-04-12
Judgments

controversy as its victory
Federals and organized base ball. What
more could be wished Seriously, how
ever. the denial of the prayer for in
junction to enable the outlaws to re-
strain Killifer's playing with the Phlllies,
knocking the ancient reserve clause
galley-west, seems to us to throw the
whole base ball situation open to the
possibility of graver confusion and con-
flict This rule, which since $780, has
been regarded as the bulwark of or
ganized base ball, has by the tokens of
this decision utterly lost its power 1t
will never again bind any player, and
it invalidates every contract now exist
ing between club and player, except such
as were made this year. 1914 Garry
Hermann says he is not surprised at
the ruling and minimizes it's effect, ow-
ing 60 the fact that the magnates durins
the winter corrected the defect in the old
form of contract, so that now they are
in the clear Possibly, but let us not
overlook this, that whatever correction
has been made must be attributed di-
rectly to the upheaval, the rebellion, in
fact, out of which grows the Federal
league. However, much the solons OF
organized base ball may desire to pat
themselves on the back for their virtue
in contrast to the sinister methods of
their outlaw adversaries, let this be
noted, that every such modification of
the organic law of base ball has come
in consequence of a revolt, and not
through the voluntary action OF the
magnates. Otherwise this one-sided in
strument of injustice, the reserve clause,
so-called bulwark of the game, would not
, have remained in force aQd effect and
undisturbed all these thirty-four years.
While, as the judge says, the Federal
league did not come into court with
clean hands, not very much is to be said
for the cleanliness OF the other fellows
Poor Killifer, regardless OF all legal as
poets, is revealed in a very sorry plight
by the reflections upon his sense of moral
obligation. What is to beN the outcome
of the decision on the contendlng rae
tons? Continued warfare, we predict
and more bitter and complicated, How
ever, II should not be overlooked that the
courts dictum knocking out the reserve
clause does not disturb the binding
power OF an otherwise legal contract
made between player and magnate
Finally, base ball contracts, we believe
will be as two-sided and equitable as
contracts governing in any other ousi-
ness relation. If they had been, II the
anagnate had not employed his superior
mower to give the player the short end
OF the deal. we wouldn't be having this
present upheaval, in all probability In
the meantime, though. Killifer shows up
discreditably as the scapegoat, he has
nsv.rtbeless rendered a valuable service
10 all players and the game in general
We have given Pa Rourke's boys the
o. o. and find some good looking ma
terial among them, though 1t Is yet a
little early for final decision. Thomas at
short looks TO us like the field nnd OF
the year He gets them clean ana WHIPS
them over to first like rifle shot lie
is as trim-built boy as we've gazeo on
for some moons, Ward threatens 10
rival Congalton for the hitting honors'
He seems TO hit about everything Win
out much preference. He swings Freely
and fiercely Krug also has the marks
OF a batter, while Chase, too gives
nromIse OF talent in this line. Chase, we
venture to say. will develop rapidly Al
first. He handles himself WELL has ample
reach and apparently knowledge OF MS
position, needing, 1t appears, little more
speed. shestak, as all admit, catches
well. He needs to cut out that extra
tvdrl OF the arm in throwing Catchefs
should not take time to wind up; leave
that for the pitchers. George otter
misses a runner because of this extra mo-
ton. II should be easy to get rid OF ano
would make him a very much more val
liable man to direct the operations from
behind the gun. II the pitching staff
shows real form, Omaha ought 10 have
fighting chance Denver, we under
stand. is stin wen armed in the box, al
well as elsewhere
The visiting big leaguers have beer
very generous in their praises Of thu
Omaha ball plant. assuring Pa Rourk'
that he had the best In the league ans
one of the best in MINOR base ball 1
is a modern and well equipped park ant
plant. and now. with the crowds thi
year, viii be huge success. OF course
the crowds will follow the games.
You want TO watch Mordecai Brown
drawing powers at 81. Louis this year, a
compared with those Of the badly nike
up Cardinals and Browns, Also Joe Tin
ker's, as against the Cubs. OF course
freed Of the Murphy incubus. the Cub
win do better than they would otherwise
but they are apt TO have a fight 70
crowds this year, which they've no
known for some time.
Not long till we hear that old voice c
"Noisy John" Gonding.
Pull the gong, Pa.