The Washington times., 1915-01-17
Garry Herrmann's Affidavit Is
Supposed to Be Most Dan.
: gerous Broadside Hurled at
s. FederaI's Antitrust Suit.
iTwenty.three Protesting Man.
ayers, Magnates, and Play.
ers in Organized BasebalI's
: Line Of Defense.

u CHICAGO, Jan. 17.-Final unlim-
bering Of defensive and offensive
weapons in the big baseball legal
battle that begins next Wednesday
in the United States court before
Judge Lands, came today in organ
lied baseball's aswer to the Federal
League suit. There remains only the
"Hear ye; hear ye," Of the court
cryer to touch off the first gun of
the real baseball fight.
As it looks today to those on the
outside, Federal and organized bese-
ball leagues resembles two corner
lot. kids, each with a chip on his
shoulder. "You did," yells one.
You're another; I didn't" yells the
other. And there you are.
Answering the Federal Leagues
charge that the National Commits
sion and the American and National
League form a trust Of deepest dye.
and that as such alleged trust o. B.
ohicials have pulled a "Simon Le-
gree" on the players. Twenty-three
protesting magnates, managers, and
players, and one umpire who used to
draw bi-monthly pay checks fol-
handling q Federal League indica-
tor did more than merely deny the
charge in the afadavits filed yester.
day.
. They accused Federal League Off
cials of attempting a little "rough
: stuff" in their efforts to sign up D.
B. players. They declare at least
ono Federal League official, Charles
Weeghman, of the Chifeds, offered
to jump to o. B. Weeghman, Incl
dentally, today denied the truth of
this affidavit. He admitted that he
was willing to join. but only in case
all his playmates came in, too.
Tho affidavit filed by Garry Herr
mann. Of Cincinnati. is supposed to be
the 42-centimetre piece Of the whole
O. B. resistance to the Federal League
charge. Hermann traced the past
apd present life Of baseball as 1t ia
played and went into great detail in
EXPLANATION Of the much mooted re-
serve and various other clauses in
players contracts. He insisted that
baseball players in the American and
National Leagues are not now. never
were and never will be under dom
ination and control Of the national
a,nn1rN I, II sion Ho 1oCloNod hot NJ,
player Is under the control only of
the club which furnishes him with
money for meals and lodging. in re-
turn for his efforts on tho bench.
Hermann, according to his affidavit,
will attempt to show in court that
players as a class approve Of the
reserve clause and the rest Of the
contract. as long as they get their
salaries regularly.
The charge that o. e. officials had
league was "financiaily. irrespons. %
ible." and about to be wrecked on the
rocks of Insolvency was denied. as
was also the eharse that American
jured the standing of the Federals
among some ball players by declaring
rhe new organization didn't have
money enough to last out the season.
The vanguard Of defendants and
BY tomorrow or. Tuesday both sides
expect to have their standing forces.
hrst and second line. in position and
all parapbernalia primed.
The affidavit Of Manager Clark Grif-
hth Of the Washington baseball club
covering six legal-size typcwritten
pages was filed with the court Satur-
day. Griffith, in the affidavit. goes into
Inc most minute details of his base
ball career, and tells much of the work
ings Of organized baseball according ia
his knowledge. He further relates of
enorts made by the Federals to tempt
Piayers Shaw. Morgan. Gedeon and
ing tho 1914 season.