Evening star., 1917-10-21
MYSTERY SHROUDS
NEW FEDERAL SUIT
May Mean Organized Base Ball
Must Face Still Another
Legal Onslaught.
BIG LEAGUES PLAN ACTION
BY DFNMAN THOMPSON.

An element or mystery sur
rounds the action OF the Baltimore
stockholders Of the defunct Fed
eral League in filing in the Su-
preme Court of the District oi
Columbia the suit for SoOO,OOC
damages which was brought to
trial in Philadelphia several
months ago. but withdrawn BY
the plaintiffs before it was COM
pleted. AT that time it appeared
in view OF the course they took
that the Baltimore stockholders
realized they had no grounds Tor
action. The financial outlay re-
quired for such suit is great, it
being estimated that it cost the
complainants more than $1,000
to bring the suit to trial. That
they should again have recourse
to the costly processes of law has
given rise to no end OF specula-
ton regarding what has influenced
them again to dig into pockets
which they claim already have
been depleted by the alleged
trustlike Vaccinations OF or
ganized base ball.
When peace was effected with the
Federal League in the winter of 1915
ls the Ward brothers Of Brooklyn
Harry Sinclair of Newark and Edward
Gwinner of Pittsburgh We're promised
certain indemnities. but of the lot Sin
clair was the only one who received
any reimbursement for his losses.
The Baltimore stockholders main
tanned they had not authorized the FED,
eral League committee which arranged
for peace to act for them. and IN their
original suit the one filed in Philadei-
phia, they named President Gilmore OF
the Federal League. Sinclair. Gwlnner
and the Wards Is co-defendantS with
the various leaders of organized base
ball. At the Philadelphia trial the
Federal League peace committee failed
to show up to aid in the defense OF tn
national commission. with which II hao
agreed on peace, and it is regarded as
sixnificant that nome of the FORMER
heads of She Federal League who now
are outside the pale of organized base
ball has been named in the revived
suit
The conclusion reached in some quar-
ters is that organized base ball now
not only faces a legal battle at the
hands of the Baltimore element, but
may have to prepare for court as
,ault from the Ward-Gwinner-Slncla
organization for the recovery OF lne
promised indemnities which have MOI
been paid, the latter element taxing
the stand that it fulfilled its oblisa-
tions when the original SUIT OF tne Bal
timore stockholders was withdrawn.
With uncertain conditions brought
about by the war. it is assured that or
xanized base ball is more anxious tnan
ever to avoid long battle in the
courts, and the two special meetings
held by the National League WITHIN
the past week and the fact that one Is
IN he called shortly by the American
League indicates tnat organized base 9
ball is planning to clear UP the ecerai
League situation and dispose oi II 10.
: all time Regardless OF what oasis MAY
exist for legal onslaughts on organized
base ball, the fact that they are being
made or are impending makes Tor
condition of uncertainty that is ho'
helpful to the advancement OF the ma
tional sport
n the underlying purpose of the Bal
timore stockholders In resurrecting
their suit is to force admission 70 the
American League of the Oriole city at
the franchise transferred. they are
foredoomed TO failure again. for even
II its franchise were taken from wash
ington 1t Is extremely unlikely that IL
would be placed In city which never
adequately supported any ball club.
whether of ma Tor or minor league call
ber
The attitudes assumed by Manager
aIcGraw of the Giants and Third Base
man Zimmerman in reeard to tne NO"
famous bone play of the latter in
chasing Eddie Collins over the plate
with a run in the fatal fourth inning
Of the deciding world series game
:urnish interesting contrast The
0iants' pilot blames Catcher Rariden
rather than Zimmerman He admits
Mat Heinie never should have run a
man toward the counting block but
contends there was no possible ex-
fuse for Rariden leaving the plate un-
Covered, as he did not handle the ball
on the play and had no business run
ming up the line toward third. But
Zimmerman the goat" ma'5es TO at
tempt to excuse himself He frankly
admits he told Rariden TO get out of
the way and that he thought he could
catch Collins and tag him before he
reached home Zim has not hesitated
to shoulder all the blame and his frank
confession in regard to n situation
where an alibi in many instances world
be forthcoming is refreshing, indeed
Persons who witnessed the history
making stunt contend that Holke
might better be blamed for failure to
cover. asserting it was the first base
mans obvious duty to run home when
he saw that Collins had been caught
between third and the plate.
Kid Gleason, coach and brain box o
the White Sox, is in a hospital in Chi.
cago, where he is to undergo 4 more O,
less serious operation. Gleason was II
poor health practically all season, aut
in midsummer he was advised by sur.
geons to have the operation perforne d
He refused because il would necessi-a t,
absentire himself from the team b,1
later had TO undergo a minor operation Il
relieve the cauTe of his pain when hi.
case became serious. He refused to leay,
the Sox for any length OF time Will.
they were in the thick Of the fyht 10
the pennant. however. and nut off unit
after the world series attending 10 n,
own welfare for fear his absence Nigh
interfere with the success OF the teaIn
This was typical Gleason grit, an eyann,
of the determination and spirit of III,
silent partner in the firm of conisL-.y
Rowland & Co. who played such an I'M,
portant but inconspicuous part in N,
success Of the Giants conquerors