The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-06
FEDS BRING SUIT TO
END ORGANIZED BALL
Charge Monopoly in Violation
of Antitrust Statutes and
Common Law.
HEARING SET FOR JAN. 20

CHICAGO, Jan. D.-Sult WIS nlcu ny wv
Federal League before Judge kenesaw VI.
Lands to-day asking that the Nauonal
Commission be declared Illegal and Noiu
and it's members enjoined from continuing
IN an alleged unlawful combination IL
charges that the governing BODY OF or
xanized baseball, It's rules and the nauonai
agreement under which IT operates consul
tute a violation Of the antitrust statutes
and the common law.
Hearing on the bill was set by Judge
Lands for January 20.
The suit was filed In the name OF tne
Federal League Of Professional basepd',
Cluhs against tho "National League OF
Professional Baseball Clubs. the american
League of Professional Baseball Clubs'
August Hermann, Bancroft II. Johhsoh'
John X Tener ct al
The suit asks that tho defendants ne
declared as constituting combination
conspiracy and monopoly violating the
common law. In contrayeution OF the anu
trust and monopoly statutes, ana IN re-
etraint OF trade and commerce in ana
among the several States, IN derogHuoh on
the constitutional right OF contract II
Ia further asked that the defendants De
entoined from further continuing to do
business as a part Of or III connection win
said combination. conspiracy ana monop-
oily" ~,
After going into great detail regarding
baseball as business and explaining tho
residence OF the respective owners OF inc
Federal League clubs the petition nleu oy
the law nrm OF Myers \ Gates, points out
that the National Commission dominates
the American and National Leagues, but
not the Federal League.
Through domination OF these two
leagues, the petition explains, the Ma
tionsl Commission has under It's DONNA ,
rnately 10. 900 professional baseball play
ers OF varying degrees Of eNpertneSs
The 800 are under contract to the Federal
League.
II is explained that lat all times here
tofore the supply of expert baseoaI play.
srs has been unequal to the demand OF
the various major leagues and that such
demand must he supplied from mino.
league ranks. Under the national agree
rnent the plaintiff asserts, players IN the
minor leagues are dominated BY tSe Ma
fional Commission by alleged Illegal con-
tracts which prevent the Federal League
from having access 10 THIS supply VI
young players. -,
One OF the principal requests Is that all
contracts with baseball players under the
national agreement and the rules OF the
National Commission be declared void and
of no effect so far az they concern the
Federal League or any OF its constituent
asked to enjon the National Commission
or any club in organized baseball from
seeking to enforce it's contracts with
players who have signed with the Federal
League.
Special exception Ia taken TO epithets
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
characterizng the Federal League or It's
members as outlaws"
The national agreement for the governs
ment OF professional baseball. which was
entered into between the National and
American leagues and the National Asso-
citation in 1903, the complaint declares,
was not for the perpetuation Of baseball
as the national pastime, the protection OF
property rights without sacrificing the
spirit OF competition and the promotion OF
the welfare Of ball players, as declared
in the agreement, but was for the per-
petuatien of professional baseball In tho
hands of the contracting parties, that
those within the combination might be
safeguarded against any professional
competition.
The petition further asserts that the
purpose of the national agreement was
that II might 40 dominate and control
players that the engagement Of their SER
vices by any person or club outside the
combination would be difficult II not
impossible"
The court Is asked to restrain the
defendants from seeking by injunction, by
threats, bonuses IT otherwise to prevent
the players Fischer. Konetchy. Caldwell
Perritt Wtngo. O'Connor Bedient, Austin
Allen. Berghammer, Bender. Plank and
Marquard from performing their several
contracts with the constituent members OF
the plaintiff.
The dismissal OF the various court
actions pending against George w
johnson, Harold II. Chase. Armandc
Marsans and Lee Magee is asked.
After listing the sources OF revenue OF
the National Commission the bill Of com.
plant asserts that a sum lin excess OF
$4,000" was received by the National
Commission from the worlds series he.
tween the Boston Nationals and the
Philadelphia Americans in 1914, and that
this has been added to other moneys &C.
cumulated by the National Commission
and the surplus so created has been and
10 being used with surpluses of the
National League "for the purpose Of un.
dertaking 10 soppress and injure OF
destroy the Federal League and Us
members
Formal declaration OF the formation
OF conspiracy to injure or destroy tn,
Federal League is alleged
AunIeby wilma Erou, kIt.ao-