Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-26
BASE BALL ENTERS
mot GUILTY. PLEA
Formally Denies Charges Of
Conspiracy Made in $780,
600 Damage Suit.
By DENMAN THOMPSON.

Organized base balls formal denial
of the charges of violation Of the anti
trust laws contained in the suit OF the
tho defunct Federal League for the
recovery Of 100000 damages was
made in the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia today when formal
plea OF not guilty was entered to the
action filed September 20 last Presi-
dent Benjamin s. Minor OF the Wash
ington club and Attorneys George
Wharton Pepper and Samuel NJ. Glenn
emit. Jr.. represented the defendants.
which include all of the sixteen clubs
Of the American and National leagues.
as well as Ban Johnson. Garry Herr
mann and John X. Tener, members OF
the national commission. and James A.
Gilmore. Charles E. Weeghman and
Harry Sinclair. former promoters OF
the Federal League.
The Baltimore Federal leaguers now
are expected to Join issue with the de-
PENDANTS on the plea whereupon the
case will be placed on the calendar
for trial. 1t is believed In view of the
present condition Of the law calendar
of the courts that a trial of the suit
cannot be reached before March, 1919.
and it Is regarded as more than likely
that the differences existing will be
adjusted. and the case withdrawn long
before 1t Is called for trial.
The big boost given the game OF foot
ball by the development OF so many
powerful gridiron combinations at the
Army cantonment and naval training sta
tons this fall leads to the belief that next
spring will find a number of first class
base ball teams representing the soldiers
and sailors on the diamond. There have
been more foot ball teams in action this
autumn than ever before In the history
Of the game. and interest in the sport
never was greater. Notwithstanding that
three Of the leading colleges of the east
Harvard. Yale and Princeton-gave up
the game at the first scare of war. There
will not be record number OF base ball
teams playing next spring, owing to the
fact that but few of the minor leagues
are expected to start, but there is little
doubt that interest in the game will be
maintained at high pitch by competi-
ton among service organizations.
Some two score players from the big
leagues already have entered the service
ana a great many more are expected to
do likewise before the winter is over by
the operation of the new draft regula-
tons.
These. with the players who will be
recruited from the minors. will provide
Siio hbSlCus 1oT sumo SpicNdlu teams
and the support accorded the military
foot ball squads by the thousands of
men in service this fall is certain to be
in evidence when the warm sun begins
to get on the job again next April.
There naturally are more base ball
fans than foot ball fans represented in
the ranks OF the uniformed men in both
branches of the United States service
and there are fully as many former
stars of college mines In the ranks as
there are foot ballers. and these can
be readily fitted in with the profess
sional players to round out well ball
anced and capable diamond organiza-
lions. In the matter of base ball
equipment the soldiers and sailors will
be even better provided for than they
have been for foot ball and the COM
mission on training camp activities
already has taken steps to see, that
helds for playing the game are avail
able by appointing persons familiar
with the work to lay out diamonds on
grounds adjacent to the cantonments
and naval stations. The national sport
is sure to boom In all branches of the
United States service next season re-
gardless of how we'll 1t fares in the
major and minor leagues.