New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-08
60 prophesies Gov. Tener
IN Making Statement on
Federal League.
CAME OWES IT'S LIFE
TO ORGANIZATION
President of National League
Saws the Sport Loving Public
Must Be Considered.

g Ian Governor John r..
-. new president Of the National
,..sue. issued statement to-day ,0''
meeting Of the directors OF his
'orme 80, in which he prophesied that
So opinion would be on 'he s'oe u
'-,,,.s baseball in case war j. ne
- nv the Federal League
~ ,.s ont that the Federal League
,,,oo organized baseball have
.''s .orened 10 two boints-one tha' inc
"'. cause was invalid and the other
ft''' tics to the national agreement
rs u,.r,hers Of trust-President Tener
~ - his opinion that neither charge
- =. considered seriously. The state
-,nt follows ..,..,,,.
s.ssbau today owes its popularity
-, existence 10 organization. such
'.,,e,ion alone has developed and VIII
..s,vs and perpetuate the game TO ana
,ss American people. Nevertheiess'
r,o,d baseball is being attacked by
20 and those only. who desire 10 reap
.,rnsrcial benefits thereby.
-aa,v however. nnds baseball more
.,s,,lv and thoroughly organized than
-, and therefore better able to WITH
.,,,a and combat the attacks mat are
Ai,r made upon II.
Tn. Federal League does not base JUS
.,,.,ss upon an allegation that the puohc
-, moi been given good. clean, high-cisss
,...n.u or that the players have not been
,,,,lv treated OF paid commensurate sal
a. hat u Is endeavoring TO induce play
=, "a br.sk their contracts. and seeks
:. .,erse and Justify its conduct upon
,uo lersl points namely. the alleged lie
..i,,, ~ the reserve clause in the play
-, contracts and the general statement
mai organized baseball constitutes
rust
4 man hv this that the Federal League
"a. ofhcially announced that II Will test
d, reserve clause in the courts, and,
,,fne 10 Justify its contention OF He
s,sty II will then seek 10 have organized
,s,ban investigated and dissolved as
trust
.But such g threatened war on organ
,es baseball. begun by promoters simply
,or financial gain. and based upon broken
eop,racts OF PLAYERS. takes no heed or ac-
count OF the sport-loving public, or the
rsd welfare Of our national game, and
believe the disapproval Of such war
a. The bar Of public opinion will count far
nor. against this movement and It's pro-
nolers than any technical decisions IN
u, courts. even though such courts
.sould again uphold the legality and
sgity Of the reserve clause.
In point OF fact IL is well known that
q. legality OF the present form OF con-
rltt between the league and players was
stacked. but its validity in law and
quy vas sustained by the Supreme
court in Pennsylvania in the Lajoie case.
With respect 10 the allegation that
siher the National or American League,
q both Of them as parties to the national
sgresment are Illegal combinations or
trusts in restraint Of trade or In viola
ton OF antitrust statutes. IT is difficult
10 TAX. such declarations seriously. Ex-
psrienct has demonstrated that this ma
uonsl agreement, existing between and
satisfactory 10 all leagues, has done more
70 place our national game foremost
among all outdoor sports the world over
han any other influence
Under the provisions of this agree
msni the player has his day in court, and
through the National Commission an OPP
portvnity is given him for fair. impair
ral and thorough hearing to the end that
lal Justice may be done him.
We naturally and properly. as sane
Toned and sustained by our courts OF
justice, object 10 players breaking their
contracts. but II the proposed Federal
League will draw it's supply from the
EoSlns field Of baseball players coming
70 The front every year. II will meet with
10 opposition from us
Speaking for the National League. /
nay add, that We propose to continue our
Niey Of fair dealing with our players
and with the public. and we have no
oopbt In so doing our actions will meet
With general APPRECIATION
The proposed meeting OF the National
Baseball Commission old not take place
'0-oay partly owing to the lengthy meet
"t 0, the National League directors and
psf'y TO the fact that President Tener
aso 70 leave on an early afternoon train
Tor The East
"neh the announcement was made that
ne would be no further meetings OF the
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