Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-06
Judgments

the Brooklyn Federals came so
hot upon the heels Of Walter
~ Johnson's leap to the Chicago
FederaIs as to cast q some
what dimming shadow over the latter for
the moment. though II may. with Mar
guards case. be later reflected in the
courts. johnson is accused merely of
violating an option clause In his contract.
washington maintains that by virtue Of
this clause It had string on the great
pitchers services. which could not be
broken without its waiver. The point is
disputed. Reports come from Washing
ton that astute lawyers for the American
league club there say the clause is bind
ing, while the Feds lawyers IN Chicago,
equally astute, no doubt. are just as GER
tain that the clause does not legally pre-
vent Johnson from signing with Tinkers
team. So there you are. II looks from
this distance like fat snap. for the law
yers. But Marquard's case seems to be
different. New York claims he Is still
under regular contract TO hurl for the
Giants in 1915, and that the Giants have
an additional option on his services past
1915 II this Is true. Marquard Is entitled
TO no consideration by those who believe
that the principles OF common honesty
and decent business should govern base
ball. The Wards, who own the Brookfeds
and are themselves lawyers-at least John
NJ. is-of course appreciate this and the
worth of a contract. They are repre-
scented as saying that they will first have
to see" the contract by which the hube
is stllI legally bound TO New York; that
he told them there was no such contract
now, and that they believe he dealt with
them in good faith. OF course, If there
is a contract, New York can produce it,
In which event 1t would seem to leave
Mr.. Vanguard hanged. drawn and quar-
tered" David Fultz, president OF the
Players fraternity, expresses amazemsnt
at Msrquard's action. declaring that II
It is proven that he was under contract
to the Giants he will be dismissed from
the fraternity, which will neither ap-
prove or condone contract-jumping. Good
for Fultz. That ought to help him with
those who have not been able to per-
ceive good IN him or his fraternity. We
have not been IN this class. Fuitz. we
think, is a high-minded gentleman, and
his fraternity, properly conducted. ought
TO serve the best interests Of base ball
found to have violated legal agreements
to their own discredit or not, their cases
serve to emphasize the fact that Messrs.
johnson. Hermann ct al. have badly un-
derestimated the situation If they think
war does not yet exist in base nall, or
existing, IL it is a thing to be sneered at
The sooner, we repeat, the big men on
both sides Of this ugly dispute get down
TO common sense and try to find COM
mon ground for settling their trouble the
sooner they will all prosper.
Garry Hermann made the remark dur
ing the Omaha convention that caring Tor
the players was one of the most ditticult
obstacles in the way Of solving base ball
problems. Now that Federal league CLUBS
have decided to cut their rosters to a
limit OF twenty men each, perhaps this
element might be simplified. The
economy order gives us one common tie
between organized and outlaw base ball
Thev have both discovered the necessity
of casting out ballast. Undoubtedly the
Federals are loaded down with lot OF
fIotsa1n and jetsam that must be got rid
of before another season opens Much
OF this material probably will be attrac-
tive To class A teams, although some will
not be. And now we approach point
suRRested by that astute astrologer, Pa
Bill Rburke, toward ths end of last sea-
son. namely, that by the spring OF lslo'
A. D., in all probability, 1t would be
rather a simple task to roll up roster
OF fairly good ball players from majors
and Federals for class A or lesser COM
many. It's our opinion that Pa had a
live bunch there. And that leads to this,
that It wouldn't be at all surprising II
some players had tougher Job hndinE
berths than the scouts finding players
for next year. Well, while we wish the
pIayers nothing but good. we can see some
possible advantages ensuing from this
You know. discipline and playing have
been OF rather too indifferent character
in some leagues for two years.
won Der Abe Left Nothing. Cour'
Holds" Thus runs a headline over the
obituary of the Won Der Abe estate. But
old Chris, as a matter Of fact. left whai
no other figure in the base ball world
ever left 70 survive him-he left th'
uniquest OF all personal memories in tbs
game and memory Of a team. which SCI
a record that has never yet been matched
in major league base ball. The most &c
centric old character will always be "a
miliar to the students OF base bah his
tory as the owner OF the old ST. Louii
Browns. the famous -Four Time Win
ners." the only team thus far TO cop foui
pennants IN a row. To fans who had thu
good fortune 10 be kids on the corner lot
OF ST. Louis during the glamour Of thes'
great days no team will ever rise highei
in the scale OF admiration than this OLD
Won Der Abe bunch. which Charley Com
iskey whipped into shape and led-a hero
II not a star every man OF them. Run
through the dazzling galaxy-one nevel
tires OF it-Comiskey, Gleason. Latham
'IAttIe" Nicol. Tip O'Neil. Curt Welsh
Robinson, Foutz. Caruthers, Dolan