New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-22
Attorney for National
Commission Launches
His Shafts at Feds.
ADMITS MISTAKES
HAVE BEEN MADE
Goes On 10 Point Out, However,
That There Is Big Balance
on the Credit Side.

Chicago. Jan. ol.-The question %
the federal courts jurisdiction and the
renewed declaration that the National
and American leagues have SO modified
their contracts that a player becomes
free agent the year after the cNp'ra-
tion o. his agreed term Of service were
features a. to-day's session Of the anti
trust suit against the powers Of organ
ized baseball.
Judge lands brought up the cues
ton OF jurisdiction again. and George
". Pepper, or Philadelphia. oounSe'
FOR organized baseball. discussed II at
some length after the Federal League
attorneys had stated their SIDE OF '"'
case
Mr.. Pepper quoted authorities 20
show that there must be iedeIN4
question involved 90 secure hearing D"
a federal court. Re declared the IN
tervening suit o. Lee MaGee was nov 10
be regarded. and said the only leoer"'
Question was that in the charge tha'
the defendants maintained a monopol!
i'm restraint Of interstate commerce.
Sections Of the Clayton law were
hon cited 10 show that labor is not
regarded as an article Of commerce
and the decision in the hammerStelh-
Vetropoltan Opcra Company case was
brought IN as another authority on the
subject. The decision, holding tha' lhe
labor Of opera singers was not com
modify Of commerce. was held by MI
Pepper as applicable 90 the labor OF
ball plavers. Judge Lands did no' de-
eide the question.
In his general argument. when TO.
lowed after Keeue Arlington had emo
ed his presentation o. the pialn,,H
case. and Quincy \. Meyer had thIheu
on the Jurisdiction question. Ny. rep
ve- declsred he did not know just
what the Federal League was ASKING
20 have enioined. He said:
"Their grievance a not that we pre-.
Won, them from finding the young pan
plavers on the lot and developing
tber through training IN the various
minor leagues, as We co' theN want
10 attain in one bound the advantage
we have gained through ten years o,
labor. they want 10 profit from the ski
developed BY our money.
Mr.. Pepper declared there were Few
cases Of individual hardship worHed
against PLAYERS BY the ten-day clause.
the reserve rule and the judgments OF
the National Commission, ana adaeu'
Some Mistakes Conceded.
eft is noteworthy that neither the
ter-aav clause nor the reserve rule
we're specifed by the Baseball Players
Fraternity as Objectionable
I've admit having made some mis-
takes. ] do not believe ! would have
treated an old war horse like Mordecsl
Brown. the way be was treated Dut j
ask that the answers Of the defendants
10 the affidavits Of the players be reaG
carefully. The latter omitted 20 tell
,boir life story. how they were brought
from the minors and the progressively
larger salaries they received.
Nr. Pepper gave a history o. the
came and the formation OF the hrst
agreement between the American and
National leagues, which preceded the
national agreement
These agreements, he declared. were
not for the purpose OF protecting lhe
parties 10 them from outsiders. but
against each other. In 1913, ne assert
ed. the conditions under which base
bali was played had recorded maiheu
advance. and added;
The recording angel. ! believe will
find balance 20 the credit side OF our
account"
The new rule regarding the option
on a ball players services, the attor-
! new emphasized. made for his liberty.
ale is free agent when ne has
served one season after the expiration
~ az the term he signs for he declared.
Mere Scrap Of Paper.
The players contract was called a
mere scrap Of paper by keene II. Add
aagrp chief conn
SCI. before concluding MS argument.
lie declared there was no real modlt-
cation OF relations between clubs and
pIavcrs, despite changes n the option
section OF contracts and the elimlra-
ton from some OF the ten-day clause.
which have been made within the last
year or two
"Thc contracts we're changed. but the
national agreement and the practices
under which organized baseball con
duets the business were not he SAID.
The PLAYER thinks he gets something
I'M this contract and lis changes; he
gets nothing. The contract IS designed
for use in court the national agree
ment and the rules Of the National
Commission still govern the game
Mr.. Arlington, quoting portions OF
the opinion in which Federal Judge
Bissell. Of Grand Rapids, dissolving
the Chicago Americans injunction
against Hal Chase, brought out the
fact that a player. under the natio. al
agreement, has no real choice regard
inr salaries and homes. and cited au-
th ,rities 20 emphasize the right 10
labor.
Nr Addington, in his discussion OF
contracts and the power OF ball clubs
over players. cited National Com,
mission decision describing as liberal
the treatment Of DALEY by the Brook
lyn Superbas. Daley, he read from The
commissions report, had been allowed
a weeks absence TO attend his sics
wife. but had not reported az the end
Of the week. and the Brooklyn club re-
lcased him 20 minor league, sending
him $40 salary due. DALEY asked the
commission 10 make the Broo lyn club
nav him $40 additional on ms salary