The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-30
GILMORE HERE, SIGNS
DEAL OF THE BRAVES
Shows Affidavit World Series
Hero Makes That He's Not
Bound to BOstOns.
"SuT OuT TO RUIN GAME

iZtu baseball tudN u Dt ltN alvl'c' '5''N
ing Jim III, broadway in the early morn
ing hours yesterday. Almost before ne
had time a. take on his coat he had
signed Charlie Deal. substitute third
sacler Of the worlds champion Braves
and hero Of the late worlds series, TO
two year cUntfac; Tor Fielder Jones's ~.
Louis club.
peal" said Gilmore, producing the
document. made This affidavit that lie was
~ no manner bound to the Boston club
for 1915. or cousse YOU realize that We
do not rccorp,z. major contracts which
contain the ten days optional clauses OF
release: a court has ruled them Illegal.
Sor do we recognize Us binding any re-
serve clause in q 1914 contract where the
r.uh owner did not notify player be-
fore the termination Of the ne or the
instrument thIt he intended to exercise
lbs option privilege.
The ciUu owners of tho Federal
League" Gilmot, consumed. notified the
men they wished 20 retain for 1871" that
they would exercise The privilege Of con-
tr9,i renewal They mad" these notihca-
tious bcfu~. tho oud OF she lhst plnyinG
season. iu S,ptpWher. to hc "Npt IN
tirtt way thcy observed the Strictc~t letter
Of ,he law. organized baseball IN most
INSTANCES did mot take tho irpubl" 20 IN
form tho players where obey stood ht
tine cllsc at tho last season. u was as
f!.neI that those men would he ready TO
..r.ept contract figures offered. We
maintain that through failui" OF proper
ruuf,ati.! before the expiration of con
tract ;hc major leagues forfeited all rights
To- tho several players involved and who
liyc heCu named In our prayer for re-
lor fi'ed i've the court ot Judge Lands OF
Chicago.
richiiuc Jim refused Ia discuss the pos
> blc outcome ~ the cas-" which - present
IS occupying the attention Of tho cello
brtcd Chicago iuris'.
"it wotid Ice most inpo'ti" to do So,
ne said. We hope. however. that tie
many points Of dispute between indc-
pendent aud organized baseball viii Zoe
thrcshed out u one great suit, as VIII be
doao II Judge Lands decides that his
court has Jurisdiction ne m" matter.
may add that tine Federal League Will ac-
cept = court ruling with grace.
"Thc Federal League never has tried
and Is not trying t. ruin the principles
upon which organized baseball was con-
structed Il is not DESTROYS of shatteriug
the national agreement or Of dissJlying the
National Commission. But ~ does he
leve and hopes to be- able 10 prove that a
far more equitable and just working
uEre, meut between promoter aud player
should exist than at present maintains
In yo-cdlled organized baseball"
To illustrate his point Gilmore wen.
into great detdil, specializing upon !ndi'
vlduL eases such a. those OF Walter
Johnson ana Ray Caldwell. lie declared
.!:..: .sc vi. - Chicago had - ~ object
she retention OF these disputed men 10y
IN" INDEPENDENTS and the quashng OF legal
actions throughout the various State
courts IN which the rival leagues operated.
we have not instituted the suit IN
Chicago Is measure Of war" said Oil
more po.ntedly. we do not want war.
we sire nothing more than peace and
quiet. We have maintained from the first
that there is room for three major leagues.
We s'lil believe II and are ready 20 prove
&. And In proving IL We wish OF course,
to be untrammelled by the opposition.
which seeks to win away players signed
by US"
1t was pointed out to Mr.. Gilmore that
tn dozen or more players for whom the
Fcderals are making such. a spirited fight
were without exception athletes WHO had
been lured away from organized baseball
by the Independents. Gimores defence
was that these men either took advan-
tage Of the ten DAYS clauses in their con-
tracts or had been automatically made
free agents by the failure of their en-
ployers serving notice Of an intention Ia
exercise option rights before the eXpira-
tlon of contract.
In rebuttal THE Sun representative cited
two particular cases---those of RUDE Mar.
guard and Ray Caldwell-where such ar.
cunent did not hold true. Marqua I'd
signed to straight contract for two sea.
sons. did business with Robert B. Ward
after the close Of the 1914 campaign
Caldwell. held by "A document which haC
no ten days clause quit in mldscason OF
Frank Chance without warning after sign
ing to play In 1915 with the Buffalo Fed
erals
Mr. Gilmore's defence of these wv,
ecntlemen--Or a; least the Fedora
Leagues share in the negotiations in their
acts OF d!sioyalty-was the assumption O.
innocence embodied In afildavits Of IN,
piay ers. lie declared the outlaws Ia,
every reason TO believe the assurances o
these men that they were free agents a
the time they contracted with the Fedora
League.
As counter charge to an insinuatioi
that his colleagues did not always appoa
10 conduct negotiations with organize
baseball players opcu and above boar,
President Gllmor" quickly shifted the con
. Ncrsation to Walter Johnson
How about tho American Leaguei
conduct In that affair." he quered "Hcr
was a man who IN the best Of faith as
surci Ne he Was in no manner bound Z,
Washington, He accepted $4,000 advauc
money from Charles Weeghman on a con
tract when calls for $1,000 a year 70
two seasons. Aftcrward lie rcconsIdcrcd
IT. repudiatod that contract and an
nnung"d h" would recognize tho mora
right Of AZ option he had rcpudiatcd =
.hc lime NE accepted Weeghmans terms
Understand concluded Gilmore. "thl
Washington IS to pay the pitcher S22,5J
-s,,nn0 q year more than We contracts
20 do MIR. Gilmore added tina, he did no
l"1V whether ur UOt Charlie WrcGhmd'
,rd tu'HE accepted the check for $500
w.''h johnson returned In lieu az In
guvAu"c and which ol last accounts WI
knocking about IN the mails between chi
CO" AID 1pGeyVille, Kan.
Gilmore announced that he would 60 {
New Haven, Conn, to-day to attend
nle.tER that had been sought by ccrtal
Influential citizens Of towns of the Ne,
England League and Eastern Assoc.a
,',u. lie had been assured, he ius.strt
t'.t 'lr time was ripe for the launchiu
&C league which would operate as 4 Fed
or'l iaI'm
81 am gong there SIMPLY TO talk o
tho possibilities OF such an outlet TO
our players said Gilmore. such
ann ~ not essential 10 our success q
course we have more players upon GU
hands Just now than We need, aud
league working IN harmony with W. nj gh
organize two right in New England
W. cared to furnish tho backing. Bu
nat The Federal League promoters wi
vet do. II a subsidiary circuit Is forme
i ~iu Ne hoated by local capital furnishe
~ the cities interested. The most tina
t-s promoters OF such a league could hop