New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-07
Officials Confident League
Will Win It's Fight for
Recognition.
BITTER ATTACK ON
METHODS OF 0. B.
Signing of perritt by McGraW
Cited as Showing Straits Of
Old Organizations.

Federal LEAGUE officials, including
James 4. Gilmore, president; Robert
b. Ward, vice president, and William
+. Robertson, of Buffalo. constituting
the executive committee OF the Indc-
pendent Circuit, insist that recent
events in the baseball war have made
il possible for them to count upon at
least one faction in organized baseball
to hurl the toomerangs which assure
the ultimate triumph Of the Feds.
In the Eastern Office of the Federal
League yesterday statement vas
given out in which the executive COM
mittee declared that no player enlisted
with the Federal League had jumped
an actual contract. The statement
continues:
Tactics which bring discredit TO the
players and promoters of baseball have
been used in several instances since
the Federal League suit has been IN the
hands of the court. Ono specific charge
against the Federal League was that Of
signing Charlie Deal, of the Braves,
but after Ban johnson and John h.
Tcncr had emitted typical blasts OF in
dignation and solemnly questioned the
prOpriety of such An act with case
pending in the courts" James +. Cali
ncy. president of the Braves and erst-
while empiover of Deal, frankly stated
that he had given Deal permission TO
go where the PLAYER would better him
self.
mir. Gafnoy admitted that ne had TO
hold on Deal under legal or baseball
law This widely hcralded arraign-
ment of the Federal League was thus
disposed of as unfoundcd by a man in
organized baseball who mad the tcmer-
ity 10 speak mis- mind along common
sense and honest lines. Mr.. Gatfney,
comparatively new i. bs>, ball rs a
magnatc. probably remembered the
teaching of Ban Johnson, of early
American League days, and agreed
with Johnson, Charles A. Comiskey, the
late John T. Brush and others, who
have held that the reserve clause was
rot legal. but necessary to improve the
promotion Of baseball as a highly
profitable enterprise.
Specific instances Of inducing play
crs to break contracts and put them
selves IN position for other breaches OF
actual law have been provided by or
gained baseball in tho cases of Wal
ter Johnson. Ray Caldwell. Ivy Wingo
and Poll Perritt. Not one of these
Players was legally held by organized
baseball. The most recent case that
Of Pcrritt gives splendid line on
the straits Of some Of the powers in
organized baseball.
Permits contract with the St. Louis
Cardinals expired last fall and he
signed with the s.. Louis Fcderals, re-
ceiying s. 900 in advance money. Or
gained baseball contended that Per
nit was bold Ly an option clause in
his 1911 contract with the Cardinals
Organized baseball had 50 much faith
in the option clause that il authorized
John NcGraw % travel through sew
eral states IN the South 70 round uT
Pcrritt ana sign him 20 now St. Louis
contract.
Later a scout fer nc New York clui
got Permits signature on a contract
for three years. Viewing IL without
bias. does not the course pursued b,
organized baseball constitute an ad
mission OF the fact that it had no lega
hold on the pitcher? Had Perritt beer
the property Of the Cardinals the easi
est course 70 pursue would be that o
taking legal action to retain the player
The fact tina. an affidavit by Ptrrlt