Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-07
BASEBALL WAR ENDS; LANDS
DISMISSES SUIT BY FEDERALS|

Continued from Page One
them outlaws from legal point Of view
were thrown into court
There was full argument as to the sub
ject matter From legal point of view
1t would have been easily solved, but my
acquaintance from watching the game as
n spectator for 30 years, convinced me
that a decision, II not destructive, would
have been injurious. Neither side would
have walked from the court a victor, so
l decided. not only from n judicial view,
but on my own discretion, to postpone
decision.
II wish to state that in all the arg,i.
ments there was not the slightest retiec.
tlon by which the most suspicious mind
could impugn the game or any act OF a
player"
S. S. Swartz, of st. Louis, attorney for
the Federals presented the petition for
dismissal.
Many Players Jump
The Federal League suit against Or.
ganized Ball was entered shortly after
clubs working under the national agree
ment had induced several players, who
had accepted advance money and signed
contracts with Federal League clubs. to
jump back to the teams which they de-
serted After George Baumgartner, Bill
Killefer, Ivy Wingo and Perritt had per-
formed the doulle.jumping act, 1t looked
for a time as IL other players would fol-
low their example.
This would have meant the wrecking
of the Federal League, and, on January
s. as n last resort, after waging losing
battle, the Federal League entered its
suit before Judge Lands. In its suit
the Federal League claimed that the Ma
tional Commission, its laws and the ma
tionaf agreement under whic. its members
work were in violation of the common
law and the Sherman antitrust law.
Federal Leaguers were confident that
speedy verdict would be rendered in favor
of the Independent organization because
of the stand Judge Kenesaw Mountain
Lands had taken In the famous Standard
Oil case. The bill further petitioned the
Court to enjoin the National Commission
or any of it's members from trying to get
back the players who had jumped and
signed legal contracts with the Federal
League; to prevent them referring to the
league as an "outaw league" and from
referring to the players as contract
jumpers" The suit was filed especially
against the American League and its
eight clubs, and President johnson, the
National League, and its eight clubs, and
President Tener. and the National Com
mission and Garry Hermann.
Suit Entered on January 5
The suit was entered on January and
came to trial before Judge Lands on
February 20, in the United States Dis
trict Court in Chicago, with a host of
magnates, players, baseball notables and
lawyers present. The counsel for the
National Commission included George
Wharton Pepper and Samuel L. Clement
of Philadelphia, Judge Williams of New
York, Attorneys Calvin and Kinkead of
Cincinnati. The Federal League was
represented by Keene Addington of
Kansas City. e. Z. Gates and Judge
Myers of indianapolis.
Both waved the technical question of
jurisdiction raised by Judge Lands and
counsel for both parties declared their
willingness to stand on their written ap-
pearances, The principal points of at
tack in the opening address of keene II.
Addington were the power of the National
Commission which the Federal League
attorney described as judicial, executive
and legislative, and the rules of the Ma
tional agreement under which the Ameri-
can and National Leagues and the Ma
tional Commission maintain relations with
the minor leagues were cited to show the
extent OF, that power7a Viz
Denies Trust Charge
Organized Balls answer was general
denial of the charges that it is trust
within, the meaning of the Sherman law;