The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-23
FEDERAL LEAGUE ACCUSED OF
NOT HAVING ~cLEAs HANDS,
~ FIGHT.
Question o. Salaries and orers Given
Attention ard Mary Former
Cases Are Cited.

CHICAGO. Jan. 22.-CharEes OF
"unelean hands" and hypocrisy were
made against the Federal League TO
lay by George W Miller. who pre-.
bented what ne believed will BE- the
concluding argument on the side OF
organized ball In the antitrust suit
brought by the Federals lie declared
a temporary injunction asked by the
Federals would destroy an Institution
II had taken organized ball forty
years TO build
In support 81 his charges Miller
cited instances in which he said the
Federal leaEuers had signed players
under contract with clubs In Organized
ball. the sections OF the Federal
league contracts. he alleged. corres-
ponded to the criticized ten day and
reserve rules: and the alleged justin
cation OF raids by the plaintin on the
ground that the ten day clauses in
validated American aud National
league contracts.
Quoting at length from the AFFIDAVIT
of Roger Bresnahan. Miller empha-
sired the portion where Bresnahan
said he had been told BY Federal
league emissaries they would have a
street cut through the grounds OF the
~. Louis Nationals. This. the law
yer contended. strengthened his
charge OF 'unciean hands"
The end OF the hearing was In sight
tonight. II was said that when the
statement by r. r. Gates. OF counsel
for the Federals, had been concluded.
probably tomorrow. Judge Lands
would take the case. None OF the at
torneys interested would hazard a
guess as 10 when decision would be
announced.
Analysed Raids.
Miller analysed a number of.alleged
raids made last year on the National
and American league teams BY the
Federals. incidentally he read list
OF what purported TO be the salaries.
year by year. paid by organized base
ball clubs to players who since had
left It's ranks for the Federals. He
said that Lee Magee in 1911 had
drawn 81 500 and 1920 IN 1914 Nor.
decai Brown. according to MuIer's
figures. drew $500 in 1908 and $4,000
in 1912. Even with an injured leg.
that partially incapacitated him.
Brown drew a salary of $4,000 from
the Cincinnati club. which he joined
the next year with promise of a
bonus conditional upon his work.
According TO Miller. the Federal
leagues reserve clause as shown in
the affidavit of Umpire Steve Cusack
holds player for ten seasons. grant
ing him five per cent increase in sal
airy each year and providing that he
must be notified OF the exercise of the
option by September - preceding the
season I'm question. lie quoted Presi
dent Gilmore's affidavit regarding the
ten day clause in which the Federal
league leader declared n unwise and
unbusiness like 20 contract with an
untried player for longer time than
that.
killifer Case.
The Killifer case was cited as an
instance where "uneleau hands" had
been found on the part of the plain
tin and In support OF the ten day
clause. as contained in the organized
ball contracts. decisions in the old
LaJoie case. a suit involving Lillian
Russell and the Marsans case we're
cited.
Attorney Miller went over the peace
negotiations OF last fall to show that
the Federal league tried to form an
valllance with its present opponents.
The Juyisdictional question was
touched on only lightly today. Judge
lands has not yet ruled upon It