The Detroit times., 1915-01-20
Court Room Is Packed With
Magnates, Players and Fans
As Famous Trust Suit
Goes To Trial
o. b. LAWYER WAVED TO
BENCH BY Jump" lands
Hermann Used "Commish" To
Aid Cincy Reds, 1t is
Charged

CHICAGO, Jan. 20.-Verbal cato
nine-tails was vigorously and merci-
lessly applied TO the hide OF organ
lied baseball today when Judge Kene-
saw NJ. Lands opened the suit OF the
Federal league TO have the National
Baseball commission and American
and National leagues dissolved as
trust In violation OF the sherman an
thrust law
Following a technical argument re-
garding the jurisdiction OF the federal
court here, Keene Addington, frst up
among the Federal legal representa-
tives, began his opening argument.
Throughout his arraignment OF or
ganized baseball, John X Tener and
Ban Johnson sat smiling blandly, with
their lawyers, occasionally calling at
tention to parts OF Addington's ad-
dress. Garry Hermann, nearby.
chewed vigorously throughout on a
long papier mache pencil.
The court room and corridors In
the federal building were packed with
baseball magnates. players and fans.
AS might be expected at any base
ball function, dispute arose within
a short time after the start, and Judge
kenesaw, with OLoughlinian manner.
ended a tut between opposing coun-
ysef by waving Attorney George Mil
Ter, of defense counsel, to his seat.
\ Attorney Addington particularly
hayed the draft rule. He termed Il
gambling speculating and a pernic-
ious practice, striking at the very
heart of our American institutions. .
BY means of IL. he declared. the
major leagues send one player 10 the
minors TO be "farmed out" and then
/ by August 10, either get better play
| er for him or take the same man
back He declared that the power of
the National commission was abso-
lute and welded without mercy, un.
I'll the Players fraternity worked re-
forms. He pointed out that in 1913
l5l appeals by players out OF a total
or 20 were denied by the commission
( Last year said Attorney Adding.
ton, when the Federals were strong
er, only 2l were denied, while 26 were
granted"
Have you gone into these rulings
deeply queried Attorney Miller for
the o. B. forces?
| Not very far" replied Addingtor
but | would like TO have the history
tor each one TO present to this court =
Miller jumped from his chair to
answer, but Judge Lands cut him
short
/ You gentlemen may address the
court" said the court, "but not each
4 other Let us resume" and he waved
Miller to his seat.
Either the National commission Is
the fountain OF justice, or II is foun.
tain head Of all Injustice" declared
/ Attorney Addington. Because Of its
great power player signing a con
| tract under its laws ceases TO be a
! human being AS far as players are
concerned its contracts are the most
! insignificant thing in baseballdom.
These contracts give the players no
/ rights.
( so powerful is the National com.
1 mission that nothing can occur In
baseball which cannot be brought be-
I fore the National commission, AMI
I there ) no matter in which It's de.
fcision IS not final. Il is an absolute
/ Is autocratic body"
The Federal lawyer arraigned the
condition that exists through Garry
HerrYann's holding of the two posi-.
tions he does. He declared that Herr
mann. as chairman OF the National
commission has the power. "and on
instances uses It," 10 further the in.
terests OF the Cincinnati club. He
promised 10 cite one instance later.