The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-21
BASEBALL ANTITRUST suit
OPENED WITH "VIM" YESTERDAY
oEoArrxED BAsxnALL PowEEs
CLAnBED A. oPpBEB1oE8 or
nIuoH LHAouEa-
In op~naAg st>tsnsnts Attornsy Kssns
Addtngton fer RsdsrAls hA1s
some sD1sclosursa--

CHICAGO. Pan. 4o.-Ths powers thst
control organized baseball. Or ~ lsast
s sSs, $40 70 sen 5,1d, $500. ss"S sss ssi
players. b1 Ksens Addinyton. chief %
counsel Tor the FEDERAL League. In his
sg,s ni s.s s ~. 'T SOLO, ~ nc com s@
the American Lsaxue and the National
League.
Addinxton cited features Of the Ss-
ionai agreement. decisions OF the Ma
% baseball authorities. 20 show that the
Eams n governed BY a group having al
make laws. Judge Of infraetions OF the
ions. AddiHstos bad not finished bis
opening argument when court adjourned
tonight. and II was declared the case
probably would lest well into next week
The first session attracted a large num-
Der o. baseball followers. and though the
aTEuments. lnsolving much legal matter.
had no thrills for them. they we're rec
ompensed partly b. close views OF cels-
,S AmonE the latter we're re the pres
chairman OF the National Commission,
the leaders OF the Federals. and a score
or more OF mAgnAtes and players OF note
waivers and DrAfta-
A. the Afternoon session. Addlngton.
devoted large portion of the address
TO an attack ON the waiver and draft
rules. ana practices, lie declared the
alone In the club he serves. but also In
other clubs. Ills chance OF becoming a
free agent T. slight. according 70 Ad-
different entities. Addington charges
that the waiver method ia used as a
means means Of hamlli1tlnE or dise,Plining a
that when n" PTssiasnt SurFSy o. the sr CHI
was with the Agreement u that BIZ !.
never would be allowed 70 again jain the
majors.
Hers. Attorney George W, Miller. for
tention 20 the fact that Brown later
played with the Cincinnati club. In "A
major league; but AddinEton said the
VILE was what he wished 10 show was
possible.
Even II 4, kept player out of ma
harm OF the system is apparent. he
argued
The fact that a player Is without
choice as TO the club or league IN which
counsel as a case OF oppression.
VERY Little Differences.
Changes in the players contract which
were made last year at the beheast OF
the Players Fraternity. were declared by
Addington not 20 have materially mOdi-
fled a. lie called ~ remarkable that
such close associates as Chairman Herr
mann and President Johnson should dis
agree In the Interpretation OF the con-
tract es he charged they did. Johnson.
he said In his affidavit. declared that the
option extended contract for one year
only.
Judge Lands was particularly inter
ested In the Brown case cited BY Adding
ton. and asked that IL be re-told. He
showed "A knowledge OF the national
game by nOttng-which counsel had not
done-that a petition purportinE TO be
from the Players Fraternity 10 the Ma
uonal Commission was signed by play
ers from only one club. IL was explain
ed that the players had petitioned by
teams.
Leaders OF organized ball expressed
themselves not surprised at anything the
Federal League presented to-day.
We have nothing TO fear from what
was brought up to-day" said President
Tener, OF the National League. and
others were OF similar opinion.