The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-01-05
FEDERAL LEAGUE IS WARNED NOT TO
 BOTHER MAJORS

Cincinnati, Jan. 6--A distinct warn ing to the Federal League not to in- fringe on what clubs in the national agreement consider their rights, is given in the annual report of August Hermann, chairman of the National Baseball committee made public here today
 The Federal League, which operated clubs in 1913 in territory occupied by national agreement clubs, did not att tain prosperity. or prestige, the report said and passive policy has been pursued by the committees and the leagues directly affected toward the organization but if the contractural and reservation rights of national agreement clubs are not respected by it's (Federal League1 promoters it may become necessary to employ strenu- ous measures for the protection Of the major and minor league clubs.
 Rivalry will not be resented so long as league rights are not Ignored but illegal and unsportsmanldlxe in terference with and utter disregard of established privileges of national agreement club will justify the adop- ton of vigorous defensive nethods.''
 Herrmann's statement is regarded as the answer of organized baseball to the projects of the Federal League, whose spokesmen, including President James A. Gilmore have declared that while they will respect actual playing con tracts held by national agreement clubs, they will disregard the much discussed reserve clause which they hold to be Illegal
 Touching on the ssGaTlagher resolu- ton introduced in the House of Repre- |sentatives at Washington, the state ment says:
 The Introduction of the Gallagher |resoIutfon in the House of Repre- sentatives was the forernner to news paper discussions of a congressional inquiry to the methods and purposes of professional baseball as operated under the national agreement. This measure, however died in the commit tee to which 1t had been referred. As there was no agitation on this
 matter recently assume that those who were behind it have concluded not to make further efforts in that di- rection.
 1The attitude of the commission rel atfve to this investigation was prompt
 ly and clearly defined A thorough and impartial inquiry by Congress, federal or state courts. will be well comed by all connected with the game. in full confidence that the result will demonstrate that national agreement baseball is conducted on sound busi- ness principles with due regard to the constitutfonalist and statutory privi- 1eges and rights of all parties engaged ! in it.''
 1 The report states that the world s series of 1913 was conducted in a spirit of true sportsmanship, ticket sca1ping was minimized and the New
 York club was cleared by the district attorney of that city of charges of conniving with seaIpers. The Chica- go city series was a success the re- port says. but the Cleveland P Pittsburgh series suffered lack of patronage be- cause application for the sanction Of
 the nationaI commission was too long delayed, resulting in a detrimental effect on the public
 Correspondence of the commission 1 was heavier than during the preceding year but the number of decisions re-
 quired of it was smaller The com
 mission stin has 20 eases under con lsfderation