New-York tribune., 1921-02-23
Heydler Resents
Attacks S W. de
OrnJudgeI.andis
Characterizes Accusations of
Ohio Congressman as
ssMisstatemenfs Concern
ing National institution
By John A. Heydler
President of National League

rres1dent or National League
ANSWERING attack of Representative
Welty, of Ohio, on Judge Lands.
In common with other citizens, I
would regret if, in seeking to strengthen
and bulwarking our national game, the
country should eventually be deprived
of iurist of the high character of
Judge Lands. At the same time, feel
that in due time the Judge will devote
all of his talent and energy exclusively
to baseball.
Regardless of whether or not he does
so, it is high time that the misstate-
ments of a Representative in Congress
concerning a national institution such
as baseball go no longer unchallenged.
When public man makes a statement
that baseball is paying big salary to
Judge lands in nature of a bribe, then
that man is either wilfully misrepre-
senting the whole situation or he is
woefully ignorant of the facts.
To-day there are only two cases be-
fore the courts in which baseball as q
whole is concerned. Judge Lands has
had nothing to do with the inception
or conduct of either, nor will he have
anything to do with their future con-
duct or determination from a judicial
standpoint.
Ignores Reversed Finding
Great stress has been laid on one of
these cases by Mr.. Welty, this being
the 1919 finding of lower court in
Washington that baseball was a COM
bination in violation of the Sherman
act. 1t apparently does not serve Mr..
Welty's purpose to add what is most
recent and important, namely, that this
finding was completely reversed Decem-
Der 6, 1920, by the Court of Appeals of
the District of Columbia, which higher
court sustained our contentious on
every count, in that "a baseball does
not constitute trade or commerce;
(2) that the game is not trade, but is
sport, and (5) tnat the reserve clause
IN the players contract is legal, and
that 1T is meant to conserve the per-
scnnel of the clubs, apply the needed
enforcement of discipline and to deter
players from violating their contracts.
For score of years baseball has
been fighting to establish these points,
feeling as we do, they are fundamental
IN principle and necessary to preserve
competition. We are not avoiding, in
fact, we are anxious to have a final
decision on these points from the
United States Supreme Court, In the
mean time, baseball is operating legally
spirit of the law.
Nor has Judge Lands anything to
do with the trial of the White sox
Illinois. This is entirely out of his
jurisdiction. Later ON, if it should de-
velop that convictions cannot be Sc
cured under existing statues, .hen
these cases will come before hin, for
trial under baseball law. And this con-
tingency is assuredly one of the rea-
sons, why farsighted baseball men
ifcations.
Tho other reasons are that, after
bitter internal fight in our own ranks,
Lands was the only man who could
be agreed upon aS the sole arbitrator
Of baseball disputes. He was not finan-
claily interested in any club or league,
and he brought to the Office the re-
CURED courage and independence, to-
gether with judicial training AMI
keen knowledge of baseball conditions.
The decision to remain on the bench
was the decision of Judge Lands. It
was no, by request of the baseball
people. Nor has he sighted his court
duties in favor of his new duties.
Most of our baseball reconstruction
work was in Chicago. AS far as I
know, the only time the Judge has been
IN New York for baseball conferences
was on a Saturday and Sunday, which
enabled him to be back on the bench
early Monday. His opponents will not
get far on that charge.
Baseball Big Job
No matter what Congress NAV do or
what the courts of the land may do.
Daseballs big job is within itself. II
Is plainly moral job. 1t is the full
hllment of promise to the public that
every vestlge of doubt concerning the
honesty of the game be removed. The
men who put Judge Lands at the head
OF this work were determined that,
Whatever might happen to their invest
ments, the game itself must be saved at
al az costs even If in the carrying out of
that principle the whole existing or
ganlzation be wrecked and the building
be started all over again. There never
was more serious situation than that
confronting the sport during the No
vember conferences at Chicago.
Baseball's task is to put it's own
mouse in order, and 1t has made a good
start in that direction. Rather than he
embarrassed in this endeavor we should
nave the aid of every good sportsman
IN and out of Congress and our state
legislatures to give Us laws that will
put an end to the bribing type of
gambler.
1t surely is of more concern to keen
our national sport clean and so pre-
serve the morale of millions of our bows
than is the question of whether one
man can serve two masters, for the
latter is about all that can be deter
mined by the Washington impeachment
proceedings.
As far as baseball is concerned,
nothing that has been said in Congress
Will shake our determination to 30
ahead on the right course we have
SNAPPED, and we are confident that no
one can successfully assail the Ameri-
canism, inherent honesty and fearless,
ness of the man baseball has chosen TO
perform real public service.
NJ W Ut Esl IT, n