Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-01-08
PUBLIC OPINION IS
WITH ORGANIZED
BASEBALL
President Tener Of National
League Issues Statement in
Defense of Attacks Made
by Federal League,


Cincinnati Jan. President John
X. Tener Of the National league, after
a meeting Of the directors Of his or
SANITATION today, issued statement
ii which ne prophesied that public
opinion would be on the side Of
organized baseball in case a war is
waged by the Federal league.
Pointing out that the Federal
league attacks upon organized base
ball have been confined to two points,
one that the reserve clause was in
valid ana the other that the parties
to the national agreement are mem-
bers OF a trust President Tener voiced
his opinion that neither charge could
be considered seriously. The state
men follows;
Baseball today owes its popularity
and very existence to organization
such organization alone has developed
and will preserve and perpetuate the
game to and for the American people.
Nevertheless organized baseball is be-
ing attacked by those and those only
who desire to reap commercial beno-
fits thereby
To-day, however finds baseball
more thoroughly organized than ever
and therefore better able to with
stand ana combat the attacks. Tho
Federal league does not base its at
lacks upon an allegation that the pub
lie has not been given good clean,
high class baseball or that the players
have not been fairly treated or paid
commensurate salaries. but it is en-
deavoring to induce players to break
their contracts and seeks to excuse
and justify It's conduct upon two le
gal points, namely the alleged ille-
galty OF the reserve clause in the
players contracts ard the general
statement that oreaniaed baseball
constitutes a trust I mean by this
that the Federal league has Officially
announced that il VIII test the. reserve
clause I'M the courts and falling to
justify its contention iof lhegality il
will then seek to have organized base
ball investigated and dissolved as q
trust.
but such a threatened war on
organized baseball begun BY promo
ters simply for financial gain and
based on broken contracts OF players,
takes no heed or account Of the sport
loving public or the real welfare Of
our national game. and | believe the
disapproval of such war az the bar
Of public opinion will count far more
against this movement and its pro-
meters than any technical decisions
in the courts, even though such courts
should again uphold the legality OF
the reserve clause.
In point of fact it is well known
that the legality of the present form
OF contract between the league ana
players was attacked, but its validity
in law and equity was sustained By
the supreme court in Pennsylvania in
the Laioie case. With respect to the
allegation that either the National
or American league or both Of them
as parties TO the national agreement
are Illegal combinations or trusts, in
restraint OF trade or in violation OF
antitrust statutes, 1t is difficult to
take such declarations seriously. FIX
perience has demonstrated that this
national agreement existing between
them, and satisfactory to, all leagues
has done more to place our national
game foremost among all outdoor
sports the world over than amy othcrI
influence. As to the provisions of
the agreement a player has his day
in court aud through the national
commission an opportunity is given
him for a fair, impartial and thorough
hearing to the end that fun justice
may be done him.
We naturally and properly, as
sanctioned and sustained by our
courts of justice, object 20 players
breaking their contracts, but if the
proposed Federal league viii draw
its supply from the growing field Of
baseball players coming to the front
every year 1t will meet with no OPP
position from us"
The proposed meeting OF the ma
tional baseball commission did not
take place today, partly owing to the
lengthy meeting Of the National
league directors and partly to the fact
that President Tener had TO leave fer
the east