Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-11
FEDERALS SATISFIED WITH
RESERVE CLAUSE VERDICT
makes Two Hundred Contracts
----
Valid for U.s. Says Out
law Leaders.
is#s
TALK OF SUING KILLER
ST. Louis American League
Club Strikes Out Ten
Day Clause.

Judge Sessions's statement regard
ing the reserve clause rule makes
legal the claim of the Federal League
on practically every one of the 200
ball players on it's roster, according
to officials of the league in Chicago.
Except Earl Hamilton, the pitcher
who Jumped" st. Louis American
contract to Join the Federals, and
one or two others, all the players now
in the Federal organization were held
to their former league affiliations
only by the reserve rule. The Federal
League has contended all along that
the old reserve rule was Illegal and
declared it was within its rights
when it signed players of organized
ball whose old contracts had expired.
Regarding the ruling that the Fed
erals came into court lacking clean
hands," the leagues representatives
here declared that organized ball,
which took away five men who had
signed Federal contracts" would
have trouble showing clean hands"
in court. President Gilmore, besides
saying that the verdict indicated
victory for the Federals, and that
they possibly would appeal the case,
declined to talk much about it. News
of the decision was received by him
just as he left for New York.
Reserve Clause Invalid.
The old reserve clause in the con-
tracts of organized baseball players
was held to be invalid and unenforc-
able in the decision handed down by
Federal Judge Clarence w. Sessions,
denying the application of the Chi
cago Federal League Club for an in
junction to restrain Catcher William
Killifer from playing with the Phila-
delphia National League Club. Con-
tracts of such nature were held by
Judge Sessions to be lacking in the
necessary qualities of definiteness,
certainty and mutually"
May Sue Killifer.
Whether further proceedings would
be instituted against William KILL
fer, whom the Federal Court at
Grand Rapids, Mich, today refused
to enjoin from playing with any base
ball team other than the Chicago
Federa.s, Edward e. Gates, general
counsel for the Federal League, could
not say today. Mr.. Gates said he had
not had opportunity to consult his
associates
Browns Cut Out Clause.
After the loss of Earl Hamilton
to the Federal League yesterday, and
the announcement of Glenn Clemens
that he would go to Chicago today,
where it is said he too viii join the
new league, the st. Louis American
League club today began building
intfenchments to protect itself from
further onslaughts by the Federals.
The first and strongest defense the
Browns president has thrown about
his players, it became known today,
was the elimination of the ten-day
release notice from all 1914 contracts.
This clause had given the club right
to drop any player upon ten days
notice. The Federal League in it's
attempt to retain Hamilton 1t is said,
will argue the lack of mutually in
the en-day release clause. Next to
that of money this proved to be the
strongest argument by which George
Stovall, manager of the Kansas City
Federals persuaded the local Ameri-
can left handed pitcher to desert his
team, according to Hamilton's room
mate.
Minor Leagues Seek Alliance with Feds.
Two minor leagues are negotiating
for an alliance with the Federal
League, according to a statement
made today by Otto Stifel, chief
stakeholder in the st. Louis Federals.
1--WE will have our own minor leagues
next season." he said. Indications
are that we can have as many as we
want. We have a deal on which two
minor leagues, both of high CLASH
fication, which are almost ready to
Jump now. We must acquire q minor
league to farm our players. Every
man who gambled with us this year
and signed our contract at a time
when we didn't have much proof of
our ability, will be taken care of.
Their salary is assured for their life
as a player. We have their names
enrolled and will always look after
them"