The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-18
FEDS WILL SINK TOO
IF WE DO, SAYS COBB
Beaten, They're Trying to Ruin
Both Organized Baseball
and Themselves.
TYRUS ENDORSES DONOVAN

The most important developments or the
fight between organized and independent
baseball are expected to result this week
in Chicago when Judge lands hears the
arguments OF the Federal League pro-
motors to dissolve the National Commits
sion, the National and the American
leagues through process OF the antitrust
laws
II did not require National League Sec
Rotary John A. Heydler's opinion as eX-
pressed In yesterdays sun TO prove that
organized baseball Is somewhat perturbed
over the approaching trial Organized
baseball has by far the more at stake.
Its pillars are men in the main who have
exalted themselves through years of pains
taking care and risk at time when con-
ditons were chaotic as they are now. In
elevatng the game with themselves these
men have renvested their earnings In
steel and concrete plants OF pretension
which would become Just so much brick
and stone II the bottom wero to be
Knocked from under this countrys favorlte
summer sport On the other hand, one or
Two men have carried the financial bur
dens of the outlaw league upon their
shoulders. and in the case OF Robert Il.
Ward--the principal capitalist--the ven
ture, even in the face Of failure as n pro
motion, has proved worthy medium OF
business advertising.
TO the layman IL would appear that the
Federal Leagues latest shaft against an
organization IL could not injure as bust
ness contemporary has been aimed far
more through malice than through pre-
sumed injustice The Federal Leagues
latest tack can mean for Il nothing but
failure. Even victory over the organi2a-
tion II Characterizes AS trust would spell
failure. Outside the fact that II has
practically no allies the Federal League
operations are conducted upon identiCally
those trust" lines Il decries In tho oppo-
siilon. Its contracts contain the reserve
clause II seeks to smash, and professional
baseball could never be successfully con-
Quoted without reserve.
The Federal League, IL would appear
has reached that desperate pass where
rather than surrender or cali for mercy
upon an nvulnerablc foe II Is ready to sink
to oblivion II by doing so Il can drag
down it. rival In the fail, Such at least
is the opinion Of Ty Cobb, the greatest
player of the age. \ few days ago at his
home i'm Augusta, Ga, Detroits champion
I outneder discussed with the writer the
/ Federal Leagues latest action.
81 believe" said Ty this action proves
! the Federal League fully realizes the
/ futilty OF its fight and il taking one
| last desperate chance 20 njure its rival
ats lllAtH as lfpssl'lts NN'A 81 A@'''t NAN
| cannot go into court with clean hands.
| II has encouraged by trickery and i'm
| many cases through bribery the violation
( of contract obligations on the part of
players Much of this doubtless has been
accomplished by evasion and technicalitN
| But the fact remains that the principle
/ il dlstasteful to the honorable men OF
/ the profession and in direct violation OF
the constitution OF the Baseball Players
Fraternity. I need not cite specific cases,
/ but will mention that Of Rube Vanguard
! who was induced to atteuNt to violate an
iron clad instrument binding him To the
I Giants for two years.
81 think baseball players are beginning
to realize that subterfuge has no part I'M
the successful promotion of the national
pastime. The game has been injured
greatly therefrom tho past season Ana
though Il is still honest and will always
remain so tho vacillating attitude o'
many mercenary players has doubtless
raised vague suspicious In the public
mind In some quarters No one hidmes a
player for selling his services to the very
I best advantage Hut "a contract, written
or verbal Is sacred thing Evasion
/ through techniCality Is no sound excuse
! for dishonor. Let the least corruption
creep into the manipulation of the game
and the careful work Of years will be
DESTROYED The baseball player has as
much at stake in the approaching hgh'
as any one. The outcome means no less
than his future