Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-08
ON SIDE OF ORGANIZED BASEBALL
Public Opinion, According President Tener VIII Defeat
Attacks of Outlaws in Growing War-Natonal Game
Preserved by Organization Acknowledging of National
Commission Postponed

Cincinnati, Jan. President John K.
Tener of the National League at q
meeting of the directors of his organ
ization here today, issued statement
in which he predicted that public opln-
ion 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 baseball nave
been confined to two points-that the
reserve clause was invalid and that
the parties to the national agreement
are members of trust-Presldenr
Tener voiced his opinion that neither
charge could be considered seriously.
The statement 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 today by those and those
only who desire to reap commercial
benefits thereby.
Able To Withstand Attacks. =
To-day, however. finds baseball
more completely and thoroughly or
ganized than ever and therefore, bet
| ter able to withstand and combat the
attacks that are being made upon it.
The Federal League does not base it's
attacks upon an allegation that the
public 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-
deayoring to induce players to break
their contracts and seeks to excuse
and justify its conduct upon two legal
points, namely, the alleged illegality
of the reserve clause in the players
contracts and the general statement
that organized baseball constitutes a
trust. 1 mean by this that the Federal
League has officially announced that
it will test the reserve clause in the
courts and failing to justify it's con-
tention of illegality it will then seek
to have organized baseball investigat-
ed and dissolved as a trust
Strength OF Public Opinion.
But such a threatened war on or
anized baseball. begun by promoters
simply for financial gain and based
upon broken contracts of players, takes
no heed or account of the sport-loving
public, or the real welfare of our ma
tional game; and l believe the disap-
prevail of such a war at the bar of pub
lie opinion will count far more against
this movement and its promoters than
technical decision in the courts, even
though such courts should again up
hold the legality and iniquity of the
reserve clause.
In point Of fact. it is well that the
legality of the present form of con-
tract between the league and players
was attacked but its validity in law
and equity was sustained by the SUI
preme court in Pennsylvania in the
Latoie case. With respect to the al
legation that either the National or
American League, or both of them as
parties to the national agreement are
Illegal combinations or trusts in re-
straint of trade, or in violation of an
THRUST statutes, 1t is difficult to take
such declarations seriously Expert
ence has demonstrated that this ma
tional agreement, existing between and
satisfactory to all leagues, has done
more to place our national game
foremost among all outdoor sports
the world over than any other inf1u-
ence. Under the provisions of this