Evening journal., 1915-01-15
SPORT WRITERS Do
NOT APPROVE SUIT
Majority of ScribeS Consider
Litigation Real Detriment
to PaStime
HOPE SETTLEMENT
MAY BE REACHED

sharp criticism OF the Federal
League for its action in bringing suit
10 dissolve the national agreement and
have organized baseball declared "A
trust is expressed by a large majority
of American baseball writers in the
major league cities. Hardly a dis
cordant note is sounded in the general
refrain Of disapproval Of the startling
move by the third leaguers.
Some writer's even so so far as to
ray that victory for the Federal
League in the courts will sound the
death knell OF Americas leading pas
time
Following are some OF the opinions
Of leading baseball writer's, which are
only samples Of the kind, and express
the widespread belief among the
scrlbes that the Feds have taken a
false step:
E. A. Bachelor. Detroit Free Press:
apparently the Federal League has
decided to stake its hope Of success on
n
they viii have at least accomplished
the object Of wrecking organized base
ball beyond hope of immediate repair.
II they lose they will have to abandon
any idea of legal aid in their fight to
gain a foothold and must resign them
selves to the plan OF building up an
establishment similar to that which
they now seek to destroy"
Wray. in the St Louis Post-Dis-
patch: Whatever may happen to the
trust suit against organized baseball
IS not adding the gray matter of fans.
We all have a hunch that even though
the present national agreement is de-
clared illegal the powers win pull
some sort Of Standard Oil reorganiza-
tion and do. business at the same old
stand.
"Of real moment. however. Is the
next trial of a case in which IL may
be shown that the Federal League
has no recourse against the double
jumper'-the man who quits an o.
B. contract to sign with the Feds
and then jumps back again"
Van Ness, In the New York GlCbe:
"By seeking 10 destroy the founda-
tion on which baseball has been built
the Feds have put themselves In the
position Of the man who, having beer
unable to succeed himself, would pull
down the whole structure so that ne
one else could succeed, Thy ar,
utterly the shrill cry OF a man whC
wants to quit and doesn't dare
There is not going to be a groa
deal of sympathy felt for the Feds
now that they have tipped off theii
hand, for it is clear that they arr
only seeking to destroy that whicl
hey were not long ago perfectly will
Ing to become a party to. The Fed
have carried on frequent raids OF
players and have enticed athlete
away from clubs where they wer
at least morally bound by showing
them legal loopholes in their con
tracts. They have regarded con
tracts of all leagues except their owl
as mere scraps Of paper"
Baseball Is Not Commerce.
Rice in the Brooklyn Eagle: Orsan
lzed baseball will not be greatly wor
ried by the suit the Federal Leagu
has filed in Chicago 10 have il dc
clared an illegal combination Base
ball is not a commerce Il produce
nothing tanglble II Is open to al
and the best evidence Of that is IN
existence of the Federal League. n
man is compelled to play baseball. an
when he signs as a beginner he
sure Of advancement if he proves hi
worth.
"The efforts Of the Federals to but
into organized baseball, and to hav
Il declared illegal because they coul
not force themselves in. are exactl
Ike an outsider trying to get IN
courts to aid him to butt into III
Masons and Elks merely because b
wishes to derive the benefits froi
membership in these orders. Thei
activities are great, are real benef
to members, extend all over the cour
try but a man joins them on the
own terms and not by court prc
cedure."