Evening journal., 1914-11-30
WILL TRY TO stop
ALL THE JUMPERS
Herramann Says LeaperS
Cannot Play With the Ma
tiOnal
MAGEE CASE
RILES CHAIRMAN

CINCINNATI. Nov. 3O.--Lee Magee,
Of the Cardinals. has cast his lot with
the Feds the special temptation being
the management Of the Brooklyn club.
but there are grave doubts as to
whether he will ever be able to play
mann said, when he learned of Magees
action, that he did ont think there
was a possible chance OF Lees ever
playing a single game in the Federal
League. He based this opinion on the
opinion on the court decisions in the
cases of Marsans and other big league
players who were barred from parti-
cipating in Federal League games last
year after jumping their signed con-
tracts with clubs of organized ball.
Magee is under a two-year contract
with the st. Louis Nationals, of which
he has completed one year. Last year
he received nearly $500 for six
months work. His salary was $4,000,
which was increased TO $1,000 by the
addition Of 20 per cent bonus given
10 all the Cardinal players for finish
ing In third place In the National
League race. Lee also received about
/ $3.50 as his share of the receipts of the
city series in st. Louis.
To persuade a man working under
such favorable terms as these to jump
must have wrung the pursestrings of
the Federal League hackers. already
well strained.
About two weeks ago Magee sent to
the officials of the st. Louis club a
notice that he would consider his con-
! tract with them abrogated in 10 days.
When the 10 days we're up he signed
with the Feds Magee bases his claim
TO the righteousness OF this action on
the decision In the Hal Chase case last
summer, when Chase gave 10 days no
tlce TO his club and his action In Jump
ing was upheld by a lower court In the
city OF Buffalo Magee believes that
his present action will be upheld In the
. same way by the courts and that he
: : will be allowed to play ball with the
% Feds, II they start out again next
spring. He thinks that the precedent
b. In the Chase case will be followed and
\. that he will therefore have no trouble
~ In getting into the game as 1t is play
= ed in Federal territory.
Mr.. Hermann. however. take
strong ground In opposition to Magee'
IN contention. He points out tha
"A Chase was signed to an ole
n contract which had not beer
approved by the courts. while Magee's
contract Is one of the new form put
" into vogue last year. This new form
Il has been strictly upheld by the courts,
n as in the case of Marsans, who was
barred from playing with the Feds
after jumping his three-year contract
with the Cincinnati Club Marsans'
contract was Of the same form as that
OF Magee. and the higher courts held
that II was inviolable. As a result,
the Cuban was unable to play ball
y with the Federal team to which he
leaped, and is now in Havana. without
a chance Of ever playing another game
in this country.
"Our 1914 contract has been upheld
y in every case" said Mr. Hermann
y yesterday. Il am rather surprised
y that a player of Magee's supposed in.
y telligence would take such a chance ol
~ running his baseball career as he has
y done, II it is true that he has jumped
y his signed agreement. He was gettinI
~ a fine salary from the St. Louis club
p and cannot have any complaint Il
le make OF his treatment over there.
VI Voiu NdhdbeI t1uBBlnS loudy tndls II
my judgment, there is not chanc
for Magee to play single game witt
: the Feds. We are going to stop thes
e, contract jumpers in a hurry. Th
"a courts are with us and the fans ar
with us. as they are getting very ti-es
m OF seeing players hurdle fat contract
:, and refuse to live up to their signes
3 agreements. Every man who jumps
= contract will be barred from playinl
A. ball the coming year."