The Washington herald., 1915-01-18
LIFE OF GAME
/. STRUCkBYFEDS
Baseball Is Fighting for the
Game Itself, Not Organ
lied Baseball.
WILL BE THE DEFENDANT
Outlaw Will Be on Opposite Side of
the Fence Before Suit
Trial Is Over.
WILL BE THE DEFENDANT

| baScbaH Is nghting Tor its lfe-not
simply organized baseball, but baseball
! the game itself as the national pastime-
\ according to Secretary John \. HeydleT.
| of the National League. who returned
yesterday from the three-day conference
| of attorneys planning the defense of or
ganized baseball against the antitrust
! suit of the Federal League. Before the
case is decided, he says. the Federal
League will be the defendant and or
ganized baseball must ultimately emerge
as the plaintiff. for this indictment r.
drawn against the game itself. and the
American baseball public must be the
real and final arbiter"
Mr. Heydler is not among those who
think the suit is more or less of a joke
| THE impression that seems to prevail in
some quarters" he says. that the Fed
cral League attack on the national agree
ment is a laughing matter is not shared
! in by the gentlemen who took part in
the Chicago preliminary conference. On
the contrary, the action brought Is con-
sidered the most serious attack made on
the fundamental principles of profession
al baseball-namely, the right of each
club to reserve its players, and the right
to serve ten days notice of release on
players who are unfit or who lack the
skill and ability required of the high
grade professional player.
Cases Crop Out.
That here and there should crop out
isolated cases OF abuse Of the rules gov
erning the operation of any profession
giving employment to nearly 1000 boys
and men. goes without saying No or
ganizatiOn of business or sport-inCludinE
amateur sport as welI-Can be free from
such violations Oddly enough the few
men who seem to be complaining of abuse
Of ha
profted most by the conditions they
complain Of
Ever since the formation of the ma
tional agrccment-and let me say here,
the first agreement of this kind was not
drawn by the club owners, but upon the
advice of and for the protection OF the
players themselves-there has been no
profession kept more clean from faint OF
dishonesty as that of baseball, nor is
there today business in which the pay
is so sure and generous, and the promo
ton so certain as in our professional
sport
No Effort Spared.
The lovers Of the game may rest as
sured that no effort is being spared to
aght this issue to a finish and TO save
the sport from being wrecked by the
rule or ruin policy. We have employed
the best attorneys for this purpose; yet
much of the advice and counsel that has
come TO us has come from outside legal
authorities and from men prominent in
business life. The only remuneration
these men ask is that the game be per-
petuated, so that they may not only find
enjoyment in 1t for themselves but that
their boys may continue to play it as a
pastime and may never have reason to
be ashamed to associate with the pro-
fcssional end of the sport
I'm the end this fight will not be won by
afidavits If need be we could present
so affidavits of satisfied and contented
players for every one filed by a dis
Gruntled player. The court. however, will
not be burdened with known facts. The
defense will go to the heart of the whole |
proposition-the life of the game ITSELF
and the defendant now must eventually |
emerge as the ultimate plaintiff; for this !
Indictment is drawn against the game it |
self, and the American baseball public
must he the real and final arbiter.
Nothing can possibly be accomplished
by this proceeding in Chicago next
Wednesday except to tear down what
has been built up by years of vigilance,
backed by the absolute control of the
game vested in a central power. Pro-
fessional baseball has been made by the
iron hand of discipline and control No
professional sport has ever lived, or can
live, without such control.
THE Federal Leaguers might secure
favorable court ruling on every point they
seek, and yet they would be the losers. |
They could not possibly operate success
fully without the ten-day release notice
in their contracts or without the reserve
rule. and the baseball men OF experience
In their ranks know that just as well as
we do.
These are the two necessary powers
for discipline. for keeping the weak clubs
alive and for preserving the honesty of
the game, and I say without qualifca-
ton that the only lasting peace that
can or will come out of the present de-
plorable situation is the recognition and
enforcement of same by all leagues I'M
der the national agreement on one side
and by the Players Fraternity on the
other. That agreement has got to come
sooner or later"