Valdez daily prospector., 1914-04-11
RESERVE CLAUSE DOES NOT HOLD Federal Judge Knocks Down the Props
 From Organized Baseball in the kiiiifer Case.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. April H. United States District Judge Session. of the Western District of Michigan, today rendered decision in the in junction suit filed here on March 20 by the Federal Baseball League to restrain William J. Killifer, Jr.. from jumping his contract with the Federal League Chicago club and rejoining the Philadelphia Nationals, which held him under reserve clause.
 Judge Session decided that the base ball reserve clause is illegal and that it is in violation of the constitution of the United States in that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in the United States, except as a punishment for crime" |.
 While they failed to secure the in junction asked for, the magnates of the Federal League are jubilant at the outcome of the suit, as it has destroy ed the reserve clause upon which the major leagues depend to keep all of their players from year to year.
 In deciding the case Judge Session scored Killifer for breaking his word after he had signed with the Chicago Federals and told him that ! man re ceiving almost $6,000 a year for six months work, who could not keep his contract, but was looking for an op- portunity to break it to secure more money, was too contemptible to be playing the game.
 The suit was brought in this city because Killifer is a resident of Paw Paw, Mich.
 Killifer signed three-year con- tract with the Chicago Federals, but afterward was persuaded that the re- serve clause in his old contract with the Philadelphia Club held him leg ally to Philadelphia, and he joined his former team.
 The complaint, which was signed by Charles Weghman, president of the Chicago Federal League Baseball Club, told of the signing of the con- tract by killifer. who agreed to play for three years for the Chicago Fed erals for total of $17,50O. or $5,- 833.33 year. The contract, copy of which was attached to the petition for an enjoining order, expressly stip- ulated the court was informed, that Killifer agreed to devote his entire time and attention to the service of the Chicago Federals.
 The court was informed that $500 was advanced to killifer on account and was accepted by him. and is still retained. Failure to report for practice, in accordance with his con- tract, was alleged against Killifer.
 The bill set forth that one of the principal positions on baseball team is that of catcher; that on accdlnt of it's importance and of the extraordi nary skill. adaptability and training necessary for the expert playing of this position, it is more difficult to se- cure an expert catcher than any of the other players"
 A paragraph informed the court that the defendant is a baseball play CT, to-wit: A catcher of unique and extraordinary skill and expertness, and of such personal and intellectual character that his loss cannot be sub- stantially compensated for by the ser vice of some other baseball catcher"
 The bill set forth that the Chicago Federals would suffer irreparable in jury unless a restraining order- issue, enjoining Killifer from playing with clubs other than the Chicago Federals and more particularly with the Phil adelphia Nationals. with whom the complainant believed Killifer was now in active practice in preparation for the opening of the baseball season.