The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-01-05
.G|VES,WARN|NC.
TO new LEAGUE
Chairman Hermann Says Commits.
sion will Defend Territory

Cincinnati, Jan. "a distinct warn
ing to the Federal league not to in
fringe what clubs i'm the national
agreement consider their rights, is
given in the annual report of August
Hermann, chairman Of the National
Baseball commission, made public
here today.
THE Federal league. which operated
clubs in 1913 in territory occupied by
national agreement clubs, did not at
| tain prosperity or prestige" says the
report. "A passive policy has been
pursued by the commission and the
| leagues directly affected toward that
| organization, but if the contractural
and reservation rights Of national
agreement clubs are not respected by
| its U'ederal lcaguc) promoters, it
| may become necessary to employ
strenuous measures for the protection
of the interests of major and minor
| league clubs.
| Rivalry will not be resented so
long as league and club rights are not
ignored, but illegal and unsportsman-
| like interference with, ana utter dis
regard OF established privileges if
national agreement clubs will justify
the adoption of vigorous defensive
methods"
Gallagher Resolutions.
| OF ar 10 III e1
as the answer of organized baseball
to the projects OF the Federal league,
whose spokesman. including President
James 4. Gilmore, have declared that
while they will respect actual playing
| contracts held by the national agree
ment clubs. they will disregard the
much discussed reserve clause, which
they hold to he illegal.
| Touching on the Gallagher resolu-
ton in the lower house, ut Washing
ton. the report says:
| The introduction of the Gallagher
resolution in the House of Represent
tatives was the forerunner to news
paper discussions Of congressional
inquiry iuto the methods and purposes
Of professional baseball as operated
under the national agreement. This
measure. however, died i'll the commit
tee to which it was referred. AS there
has been no agitation on this matter
recently / assume that those who were
behind it have concluded not to make
further efforts in that direction.
| THE attitude of the commission
relative to this investigation was
promptly and clearly defined. \ thor
ough and impartial inquiry by Con-
grcss or the federal or state courts
| will be welcomed by all connected
with the game, in full confidence that
| the result will demonstrate that ma
tional agreement baseball is conduct
ed ON sound business principles, with
due regard To the constitutional and
statutory privileges and rights of all
parties engaged In it,"
! Reviews Past Season.
| The report states that the worlds
series of 1913 was conducted in Il
spirit Of true sportsmanship; ticket
scalping was minimized, and the New
| York club was cleared by the district
attorney of that city OF charges Of
conuiving with scalpers. The Chicago
| Pittsburgh series suffered lack of pat
ronage because application for the
sanction of national commission was
too long delayed, resulting in detri-
mental effect on publicity. The st
Louis series was failure from every
standpoint" 1t was not played under
the auspices of the commission. and
came to no decision because Of a row
on The field. Hermann states.
Correspondence Of the commission
was heavier than during the preceding
year. but the number of decisions re-
nuircd of il was smaller Appeals
from decisions OF the national board
increased despite the face that the per-
ccntagc IT revcrsals In former years
was small. The commission still has
| I.p