The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-05
Suit Filed In United States Dis.
trict Court Today.
Bl6GEST SURPRISE Of VA
Favorable Court Decision VIII
Ruin Old Organization.
Case May Be Heard by Judge
Kennesaw Lands.

Chicago, Ill, Jan. 5.-Charging
that the National commission, the
governing body of organized baseball,
it's rules and the national agreement
under which its members work are a
violation Of the common law and the
antitrust statutes the Federal league
| filed suit here today asking the Ma
tional commission be decreed illegal
and void and it's members enjoined
from further continuing in the alleged
unlawful combination.
The suit was filed in the United
States district court and in the usual
course of business would be put on
the calendar of Federal Judge Kenne-
saw M. Lands, who is a devotee of
baseball.
One of the principal clauses in the
prayer of the bill is that all contracts
with baseball players under the ma
tional agreement and the rules of the
national commission be declared void
and of no effect SO far as they concern
the Federal league or any Of its con-
stituent clubs. In this connection the
court is asked to enjoin the National
commission or any club in organized
baseball from seeking to enforce its
contracts with players who have
signed with the Federal league.
Special exception is taken to epi-
thets alleged to have been applied to
Federal league players and the court
is asked to restrain the defendant
from calling players under contract
with the Federal league, contract
jumpers, and from characterizing
the Federal league or its members as
outlaws"
The suit was filed in the name of the
Federal League of Professional Base
ball clubs against the National League
g. nirwta &r~rIH~~
League and its eight clubs. August
Hermann, B. B. Johnson and John K.
Tener. member of the National COM
mission. $500 =. s.ls-..x,-
Explain the Game. !
Three pages Of the printed complaint
are devoted to a description of the bus
iness of baseball as conducted by the
leagues. detailing the charging Of adj
mission fees and a list of various play
ers required in a baseball game. The
court is informed that there ''are now
| in the United States about ten thousand
professional baseball players. all of
whom with the exception of about 300
under contract to the Federal League
are under the domination and control
of the National agreement, the rules
and regulations of the National COM
mission and the National commission -
The right of reservation claimed
under the provisions of the national
| agreement is set forth, together with
the statement that the defendants
have claimed and now claim that a
player under the national agreement
always continues to be subject to the
demands of the clubs subscribing to
that agreement.
| The pttftion asserts that the pur-
pose of the national agreement was
that it might SO dominate and con-
troll players that the engagement of
their services by any person or club
outside the combination would be diff
| ficult If not impossible"
tn ecourt is asked to restrain the
defendants from seeking by intunc-
ton, by threats. bonuses or otherwise
to prevent the players, Fischer,
Konetchey, Caldwell, Perritt. wingo,
O'Connor. Bedient, Austin, Allen,
Berghammer, Bender, Plank and
Marquard from performing their sew
| eral contract with the constituent
members of the plaintiff. The dismiss
sal of the various court actions pend
ing against George w. johnson. Har-
old H. Chase, Armando Marsans and
Lee Mage els asked.