The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-21
FEDLAWYER'S TALK
OCCUPIES FIVE HOURS
Kccne IT. Addington Addresses
;ndge Lands on What He
Calls Evils Of Game.
DISAPPROVES DRAFT RULE

Ctuc,go. Jan 2O-Thc courtroom or
Tinted states Judge Kcuesaw ~. Lands
was crowded to-day with baseball nota-
,les. who listened to- the op'ulns st1te-
,uent u the motion Of the Federal I"agu"
cor an injunction against th" National
Commission ana the Two major leagues
Keen, II. Nddiugtou Of counsel for the
Federal League was first to take position
before the bar. and he did not reluquish
he oratorical bat until i've hours had
eispped aud the evening shades had begun
10 gather. He verbally battered organized
baseball as a huge monopoly OF men and
a commercial power that ens'aves ana
controls a vast supply OF skilled laoor.
in a dramatic address he statei that
among the charges which would be pressed
we're the alleged u.s. OF a blacklist against
.'outlaws" not within the charmed circle
u the two major leagues and the entic'-
mont " players 20 jump contracts.
lie specifically charged tho National
Commission with being monopoly with
entering into conspiracy and comni-
nation. and asked that an injunct'ou he
Granted AGAINST II and that All contracts
70 declared null and void tie paid "s-
pscIal compliments to the waiver ana
draft rules of organized baseball
Your Honor. this is q suit brought ny
forty -four minor baseball leagues cover
ing sol American cities and representing
400 PLAYERS. against two major leagues
of sixteen clubs emplpyiug 500 players,
said Attorney Arlington after questions
OF Jurisdiction iu the case had been lcti
Cor Judge Lahdis 10 decide. The con-
troll Of the majors over tine countrNs sup
ply Of deveoping baseball players Is
backed mp oy agreements between the
association clubs, phrased in adamant
language. II is remarkable instrument
which seeks L, prevent all others from
undertaking the business of baseball
eft provides for weapons against the
enemies Of organized baseball, and We
stand ready 20 prove that these weapons
have been used time and astir against
the plaiutiff and constituent members
The euticement 81 players and IN" use Of
the blacklist are among these weapons
$50 powerful IS the commission tha'
nothing can occur .u baseball which 'dn-
not be brought up before the commission
and there H. no matter i'm which its deci-
sion H. not final. Il is an absolutely auto
cratic body he said Because OF III
great power. a player signing contract
under It's laws ceases to be a human be
ing As far as players ere concerned
It's contracts are the most significant thins
in baseball These contracts give the
PLAYERS no rights
Attorney Nddington particularly nay ga
the draft rule. He termed VI 'gamplns
speculatiug and peruicious practice
striking In the very heart Of our American
institutions
"By means of H." he declared. the
major leagues send one player TO the
minors to he EARNED out aud then by
August Is either get better player tof
MIN or take the same man back.
IL. asc!.:ca tho ~. mower or tnt
national Commission was absolute and
welded without mercy until the Player
Fraternity worked reforms. lie pointed
out that in 1913 nfty-one appeals by
players out OF a total of sevcnty-slN Were
denied by the commission.
Last year" said Addington. when ms
Eederals were stronger, only twenty-ou'
we're denied, while twenty-siX were
granted
The waiver rule also was attacked as
an instrument intended solely TO contro
tho players actions and throttle his liber
ties In discussing this feature the ator
nay cited the case In which Mordecl
Brown Of the Cubs was released TO th'
Louisville club under an agreement not u
Do returned to any club In the Nauona
League This rule, Il was asserted, coul'
be used practically 10 railroad man on
OF the national pastime