The Detroit times., 1915-01-06
Strange Paradox Emphasized by
Charges Brought by
Federals M
GAME OWES PRESTIGE
TO IT'S ORGANIZATION
Looks AS IL the Suit We're
Really Aimed at
;m@. Contracts
BY HAROLD V. WILCOX.

The Federal league has at last
started something big. 1t has under,
taken TO prove In the United states
courts that organized baseball Is
gigantic trust, formed In violation OF
the common law and the statutes
which declare combinations In re-
straint Of trade illegal. Strangely
enough. this trust" exists solely be-
cause Il Is based on competition SO
= fierce that 1t can and does, year after
year, thrill an entire nation.
The progress OF the suit that was
fled yesterday before Federal Judge
lands, will be watched with intense
interest throughout the United States.
Fandom has long wondered just what
sort OF standing at law this organiza-
tion which has done such wonders
for the national game. has. And
then, fandom cannot help but feel
that II the Feds are successful In
their suit. the disorganization that
Will follow, will be terrinc dow
to professional baseball.
y No matter what the courts may de-
eide regarding the legality OF organ
lied baseball, the followers OF the ma
tional sport will always be convinced
that the organization that now exists,
is largely responsible for the games
prestige In recent years. In the early
days OF professional baseball, organ
ization rescued the game from the
gamblers and roughnecks. Under the
regime OF the national commission
which came into being in 1908, the
game has reached height OF popu-
farity, which Is almost incredible.
Only in those temporary periods OF
disorganization, known rs wars,
has the game suffered serious set
backs and loss of popularity.
The salaries OF players have stead
lily increased, almost unbelievable
sums have been expended for equip
ment, and the tax on the people has
remained at a very reasonable figure.
Today the worst fate that can befall
ball player is not TO fall into the
clutches of organized baseball, but TO
become a free agent.
IF the Federals should succeed in
breaking up the national association,
il Is hard to see where they would
ultimately gain anything. They would
have a joyous time signing players,
probably, but in the end, II they ex-
gpect to continue permanently in this
vale OF tears, their only hope would
be to restore some half-powerful or
ganization and central power, such as
they are now anxious to have de-
clared void
There Is one thing connected with
this whole suing business that tends
TO discredit the case of the Federals
Ii is going TO be tremendously diff
cult to convince anybody, United
States judges included, that the out
laws have any particular objections
10 ruling sport of such magnitude
as baseball with national commits
Sion and an iron-clad organization. 1t
will be fairly easy to convince the
world. on the other hand, that the
Feds do hope to take advantage OF
their suit TO induce ball players 10
break contracts. With that angle par
amount, it is hard TO believe that the
,courts will lend them any aid.
For many years, there have been
outbursts from various sources that
attacked the legality OF the national
agreement. Congressional investiga-
tions have been started and suits
threatened, but the thing never came
TO a showdown. Throughout all OF
these incidents, baseball authorities
have held themselves ready and will
ing for probe, That, OF course, is
the proper attitude, but so insistent
have been the magnates that they
cannot be convicted under the trust
laws, that II would appear that they
knew their ground.
Garry Hermann said something,
too, when he suggested that some
counter charges of conspiracy would
be filed against the Feds. II would
seem that organized ball would have
as much of a case against the outlaws
on that score. as the outlaws have
against o. b. on the charges that they
make.
Probably neither will get very far
ian court. The Feds will get a lot OF
advertising that they seem TO con-
slider valuable, and the commercial
side Of the national sport will more
than ever oyershadow the sport side,
10 the great detriment NJ tha game