The Washington times., 1917-02-17
Organized Baseball Declines to
Allow Courts to Pass
on Affairs.
WOULD INJURE WHOLE GAME
Captain Huston's Military Plan
Receives Support-From
Every Side.
By LOUIS A. DoUGHER.

BY LOUIS A. DOUGHER.
The famous suit of the Baltimore
Feds against organized baseball due
to come up next week at Philadelphia,
will be settled out of court.
Attorney De Vries, representing the
complainants, and George Wharton
Pepper, for organized baseball, met
yesterday at the Hotel Wolcott, New
York city, though few of the waiting
scribes knew of il.
The board of directors of the
American League held a lengthy ses-
sion and terms OF a compromise were
named. De Vries then returned to
Baltimore to consult with his parties
10 the suit.
At their meeting on Thursday the
National League owners agreed to
abide by any decision made by the
American League and the national
commission in regard to this suit and,
with Ban johnson keeping a steady
hand on the reins, organized baseball
is expected to emerge victor, at
least as far as the public is con-
cerned.
Would Injure Game.
The Baltimore Feds are suing for
100000, triple damages allowed un-
der the Clayton act. Organized base
ball was charged with being a trust
conducting an Illegal business.
The magnates are most desirous
that baseball be kept out of the
courts. Every contract offered to
players this winter contains the IL
legal ten days release clause. 1t
was declared illegal when Bill KILL
fer, the PhiIlies' catcher, hoped to
the Feds and back again. Naturally,
the moguls do not care to have any
more such decisionA
without the ten days release
clause 1r6 she reserve rule, baseball
could hardly seose06. Even the play
ers themselves reaSzA that fact Yet
efforts were made 6S the Feds tc
break down the reserve rule as<d
legally the release clause. has been
broken. That was a good warning
for the lords of the game. That is
why a compromise will be reached
and the suit never heard
Huston IL Praised.
Captain Huston is being praised on
all sides for his move to start mill
tary training for ball players, though
ut first many were inclined to laugh
at the scheme. Yesterday the Inter
national League indorsed Huston's
plan, and it is likely to go through
with rush.
What 1 want Is to do as mucn as
possible in this campaign of pre-
paredness," explained Huston to the
writer last night in New York.
II want to keep before the public,
especiaIly the young men of the coun-
try, the value OF military training.
Everybody is interested in baseball
and baseball players. Therefore, II
the players are entering into the
spirit of preparedness it cannot but
succeed.
Expects War VIII Come.
Il do not expect a war with Ger
many But even If 1t comes it cannot
last long enough for our army to
take part in It. But do expect that
Japan will cause us much trouble in
the near future, and we must be ready
for the evil day.
'1f the baseball writers will boost
my efforts, 1 feel sure It will be the
best thing ever happened"
Many OF the writer's were inclined
20 kid Captain Huston and his
scheme. but after a long session with
him, they changed their minds.
President Joe S. Jackson, OF Detroit,
called q special meeting Ol TtpItsti-
ratives from five cities and placed
the Baseball Writer'S Association be-
hind the movement to boom the Hus-
ton plan.
Richter Wants Club
Chandler D. Richter, a Philadel-
rhia baseball writer, has obtained a
fvs-day option on the Providence In
ternationaI League Club He is act
ing for William Crozier, principal
hacker Of the Delaware County
League. II Crozier buys the club,
Richter may be named as president
William II. Draper has tired Of
spending money and seeing nothing
coming in. He has been a magnate
for eight years. In that time Provi-
dence has won several pennsnts and
always finished as high as third. The
Federal League troubles have sick
cned Draper of the stormy life OF a
baseball n1agnate, however, and 50 he
is ready to quit
Davey Shesn, former Brave, Red
and Giant. has been sold by Provl-
dence to Cincinnati Shean managed
the Providence club last season and
will act as Matty's utility player.
The Braves are dickering to pur-
chase Powell, an outfeldeT, from
Providence.
Bob Shawkey, accompanied by his
wife, left New York yesterday for
Macon, Ga, where the Yankees will
train. He is the FIRST Yank to get
down to work.