Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-30
BALTIMORE FEDS TO SUE
ORGANIZED BASEBALL
For 100000 Under the Sherman Anti
Trust Act.

Philadelphia, March 9.-The Bali-
more Federal league baseball club to-
day filed in the United States district
court here a suit against organized
baseball for 100000 damages under
the Sherman antitrust act and the
Clayton antitrust act.
The suit is the result of the So
called peace pact arranged between
organized baseball and the Federal
League. 1t is alleged that the Balti-
more club was not considered in the
peace agreement. The Baltimore club
alleges that as a result of the agree
ment it suffered a great loss and in
consequence asked for triple damages
under the antitrust law, amounting
to 100000
The bill of complaint filed today re-
cites that the National and American
Leagues and their constituent parts
and the National Baseball Commission
have entered into a contract or COM
bination in the form of 4 trust or con-
spiracy in restraint of trade or COM
merce among the states and through
such contract, combination or con-
spiracy, have caused damage to the
| Baltimore Federal League club in the
conduct of its business, which lis like
wise essentially interstate commerce"
| The bill further charges that the de-
! PENDANTS entered into a combination
| to monopoliZe or attempt to monopo-
lie the baseball business.
1t was said by lawyers here today
that the suit has the same force and
effect as the one filed in Chicago mos
| than year ago and withdrawn after
| the Federal league and organized
| baseball reached their so-called peace
agreement
The bill of complaint draws atten-
| ton to the fact that the suit against
| organized baseball was dismissed by
| the federal court in Chicago with the
| consent of the parties concerned and
4 q, it,.
| club to bring action for damages had
| been expressly reserved by order of
| the court granting the dismissal, The
| Baltimore club in its complaint goes
into the history of the negotiations
| whereby the Federal League went out
of existence and charges that the So
| called peace pact eliminated further
4 competition in baseball
| The bill further says:
| THE plaintiff shows that the acts of
| the defendants set forth were contrary
| to the statutes of the United States
| and to the common law and that tho
| further conduct of said business of
] baseball by the defendants in subordi-
nation to the terms of the national
agreement and the rules and regula-
lions of the national commission is
contrary to said statues and COM
mon law.
THE plaintiff shows that by means
| If each and all of said acts done by
contract, combination or conspiracy
and monopoly, or attempt to monepo-
lie, they have altogether destroyed
the business of the plaintiff and the
plaintiff has been injured in its bust
ness and property to the amount of
100000 by reason of the said acts of
| the defendants and the plaintiff brings
this suit to recover three fold such
damages.
The plaintiff claims 100000 ram
ages"
If the Federal League club of Balti-
mode wins its suit organized baseball
Will be in peril of attack by the ma
tional government, it is said. The diff
ference between the suit filed today
and the one begun by the Federal
League against organized baseball in
Chicago, in January, 1915, is that the
present action is one for damages only,
while the first one was an injunction
to restrain organized baseball from
continuing certain acts alleged to be
in violation of the Sherman antitrust
law.
To win the present action, the Bal
timore club must show that organ
lied baseball, as at present consti-
tuted, is in violation of the Sherman
antitrust law and the Clayton anti
trust act. If it proves this and re-
covers damages, LAWYERS said tonight
the government may have to take cog
} nizance of the courts decree.
The bill of complaint further states
that, in the alleged conspiracy to
wreck the Federal League. organized
baseball gave or secured" to the
Brooklyn Federal League club $500 900
to induce that club to cease competing
with the defendants and by cash con-
tributions of not less than $4,000 and
'fattery and persuasion" induced
Charles H. Weeghman and his asso-
ciates to desert the Federal League.
The complaint also states:
This plaintiff is informed and be-
. lieves and alleges that all of the re-
naming constituent members of the
Federal League, not including the
plaintiff, authorized a committee, con-
sisting, according to the information
J of the plaintiff, of the defendant-
James a. Gilmore, Harry Sinclair and
Charles H. Weeghman, to settle their
position and to protect their rights as
best they might, induced thereto, the
plaintiff believes and charges on ac-