The Washington herald., 1915-01-23
w. johnson Could Have
Been Free Agent in 1916
New Contract of Organized
Ball Does Not Hint of
Peonage or Bondage in
Any Respect.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
By WILLIAM PEET.

Baseball writer's throughout the COun-
try are flashing up as real news that the
new form of contract signed by three
fourths of the players last season was
binding only for the year during which
a player signed and the following sea-
son.
This fact was brought out yesterday
during the court proceedings in Chicago.
where the Federal League is seeking TO
dissolve the national commission.
Attorney Pepper, who fired the opening
gun in the defense OF organized baseball,
said: The reserve clause is no longer in
effect. In contracts as now drawn there
is a stipulation that TJ per cent of the
money is to be paid as salary. and that
- per cent Of the annual stipend is in
the form OF an option for a future con-
tract
Tho present suit. according 10 many
baseball writer's, develops this new angle
to organized basebalrs form Of contract.
No such thing. The writer has pointed
out in these columns time and again that
the new form OF contract was absolutely
binding and that every player on the
Washington club last spring affixed his
name to such AN instrument.
Take the ease Of Walter johnson for
example. Hr was bound hand and foot
to sign a Washington contract for l?lI
at the expiration Of his 1914 contract. II
n raise in salary was not forthcoming he
pledged himself to work for the same
money in 1915 that he was paid in 1914.
Had johnson decided to remain out OF
baseball this season, he would have been
a free agent in 1916 and could have cast
in his lot with any club he saw mt.
Water either did not clearly under
stand how binding was his contract with
the Nationals when he jumped TO the
Feds. or else nc was assured by Joe Tink-
er that the outlaws could break it THIS
probably explains why he took the step.
but a short talk with Clark Griffith fixed
matters.
II is hard TO see whore organized base
ball can possibly lose out in its court
proceedings against the Feds. for the
new form Of contract does not hint OF
peonace or bondage. as tn" Fed lawyers
would have US believe.
Report that Ban Johnson is about to
skid Garry Hermann of the National
Commission would sound better if there
we're any real foundation for II.
There was much talk last fall Of an
earnest desire on the part Of several
Southern League maEnates to break away
from orga nized baseball. For two weeks
OF more II was fFIldlli lildA Atlr '7'AtH-
crncrS would go over TO the Federals. At
the Omaha meeting Of the National As
soCiation. however. the 5. A was one of
20. RS stsnChest supporters. II was
shown. then. that the sentiment in favor
or 4 change existed largely in the minds
uC the circuits baseball writer's.
Word comes from Havana that the new
race track promoted by Curley Brown is
losing biG money. saws Joe Niea in the
New York sun. Less than 1000 persons
raid for badges on the opening day, and
the attendance since that occasion has
been growing smaller The Cuhans. it is
said. are not quick at Erasping the intri-
cacies of the racing game. with the re-
suit that the betting is practically moth
ing Brown is working hard to secure
more horses. and he believes that racing
in time will catch on in the Cuban CAPT
tai He intends to carry out his schedule.
but will not race every day. Brown has
spent s5O0. 00O in his attempt to provide the
Cubans with a new gambling game.