Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-16
FORFEIT GAME
BIG SURPRISE
Major Moguls Celebrate Vic
tory After Court Gives
Decision

Philadelphia, June 16. - Baseball
fans were given a big surprise yes
terday in the calling of of the Fed
eral baseball suit 1t is looked upon
as big victory for organized base
ball.
In telling why his organization quit
cold in the suit, Attorney Stuart S.
Janney opined that they had been 60
ing over the other innings the night
before and the legal infeld had de-
cided that they had no case.
As a result of this startling de-
nouement the suit was dropped, or
ganized baseball was proved not to
be commercial institution but pur-
veyors of a national pastime and the
magnates were not forced to dig
deeper to satisfy the longing of the
eX-Feds from the Maryland metrop-
oils.
Celebrate Victory
The tinkle of cracked ice. mingled
with the roars of unsubdued laughter
that later rang through the corridor
of the Bellevue-Stratford on which
Room 407 is located, told plainly that
the moguls of baseball were celebrat-
ing their victory in regular world
series fashion, and with an irrigated
jubilee. Ban Johnson, Garry Herr
mann and John K. Tener, the poten-
tates of the pastime, were early on
the scene, attended by Ed Barrow.
president of the International League.
One by one the other bigwigs OF base
ball dropped in to enjoy one and to
congratulate the Three Musketeers OF
the game on the manner in which
they had routed the deceased outlaw
organization.
Ban Johnson was especially efated.
He said that baseball had been vim
dicated completely, and that it was
proved conclusively that the Sherman
act didn't apply TO baseball because
il was not a commercial institution
but provided solely for the entertain
ment and amusement of the populace.
The National Commission prepared
the following statement, which was
handed to the scribes as they entered
the moist zone:
Issue Statement
For many reasons we should. have
preferred to have the case submitted
TO the jury, because we have all along
been confident that the verdict would
be complete vindication OF organ
lied baseball. We had instructed our
counsel to try the case on the broad
est possible lines. We produced rec
ords. correspondence and documents
of every sort, and there were TO De
no technical objections to testimony.
e desired the jury ana PUBLIC to
know all the facts, and we were GER
tain that the charge of conspiracy
would be found TO be absolutely base
less We had not, however, expected
&c convince our friends from Balti-
more that their claim was without
merit, and we were, therefore. sur
prised ae well as gratified when,
few minutes before court opened, they
ann5Inced their intention to apan-
don the case.
Nothing but this action on their
part could have been permitted TO cut
the trial short, because we were all
determined to make no settlement or |
adjustment OF Gny kind. If the plain |
tiff had not quit we were ready to let |
the case take its regular course. The |
important thing, in our minds, is to /
maintain the implicit confidence of |
the public in the management ana |
operation Of organized baseball. Per- !
haps nothing can be more helpful in |
this respect than the plaintiffs uncon-
ditional surrender.
AUGUST HERMANN,
'B. B. JOHNSON,
JOHN K. TENER"
Guess we showed that baseball |
players were not any slaves" chimed !
in Garry Hermann. II guess we
showed the public that the National |
Commission takes care of the ball !
players in pretty good shape"