Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-05
HERMANN ISSUES
WARNING TO FEDS
viii Fight to Protect Interests
if Outlaws Infringe on
Rights.
WELCOMES COURT INQUIRY

A distinct warning to the Federal
League not to infringe what clubs In
the national agreement consider their
rights. is given in the annual report
of August Hermann, chairman of the
National Baseball Commission, made
public today:
1.-THE Federal League, which oper-
ated clubs in 1913 in territory oceu-
pied by national agreement clubs, did
not attain prosperity or prestige" the
report says. "A passive policy has
been pursued by the commission and
the leagues directly affected toward
that organization, but if the contrac-
tural and reservation rights of ma
tional agreement clubs are not re-
spected by its (Federal League) pro-
moters, 1t 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 unsports-
manlike interference with and utter
disregard Of established privileges of
national agreement clubs will justify
the adoption of vigorous defensive
methods"
Herrmann's statement is regarded
as the answer OF organized baseball
to the projects of the Federal
League, whose spokesman, In
GLIDING President James A. Gilmore
respect actual playing contracts held
by national agreement clubs, they will
disregard the much-discussed reserve
clause, which they hold to be Illegal
Touching on the Gallagher resolu-
ton in the House of Representatives
at Washington, the report says:
1.-THE introduction of the Gallagher
resolution in the House of Represen-
tatives was the forerunner to news
paper discussions of a congressional
inquiry into the methods and pur-
poses of professional baseball as oper-
ated under the national agreement
This measure, however. died in the
committee to which it was referred
AS there has been no agitation on
this matter recently I assume that
those who were behind 1t have con-
cluded not to make further efforts in
that direction.
THE attitude of the commission
relative to this investigation was
promptly and clearly defined. A thor
ough and impartial inquiry by Con-
| gress 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 con-
| Quoted on sound business principles
with due regard to the constitutional
and statutory privileges and rights
of all parties engaged In it,"
Worlds Series Conducted Clearly.
The report states that the worlds
series of 1913 was conducted in a spirit
of true craftsmanship; ticket scalpine
was minimized and the New Yorl
club was cleared by the district-attor.
ney of that city of charges of con-
niving with scalpers. The Chicago
city series was a success, the repor
says, but the Cleveland Pittsburgh
seriesf suffered lack Of patronage be
cause application for the sanction o.
the national commission was too lonl
delayed, resulting in detrimental eff
feet on publicity. The st. Ioui.
series was a failure from ever,
standpoint" it was not played undel
the auspices of the commission and
came to no decision because Of row
on the field, Hermann states.
Correspondence of the commission
was heavier than during the proceed
ing year, but the number of decisions
required of it was smaller. Appeal
from decisions of the national boar(
Increased despite the fact that tn,
percentage of reversals in former
years was small. The commission
still has twenty cases under consid
GRAFTON.