The Washington times., 1931-12-28
CALL MOGULS
To CHICAGO
TOMORROW

| OAUOb
While the football folks are do
ing a little house cleaning in their
winter meeting in New York, or
ganiZed baseball has a little scan-
dal of its own to smother before
the infant year 1882 comes into
being and accordingly moguls OF
the American League have been
summoned to Chicago by Commis-
sioner Kenisaw Mountain Lands
tomorrow. !
AS near as Commissioner Lands
seismograph indicates, the dis
turbance which has crept into
the baseball household emanateS
from the vicinity of st. Louis,
and has to do with the Browns
and Outfielder James F. Bennett,
over which there has been much
legal contention as to ownership,
Lands having awarded him to
the Milwaukee Brewers whereas
the Browns, who owns the Brew
ers, believe him to be available
for their ranks,
Alleged Consideration
Commissioner Lands decision
has been appealed to the United
States circuit court in Chicago,
the case pending now, and in the
meanwhile intim a t i ons have
reached the commissioner that
certain sources are offering to
have the appeal dropped-for
consideration.
So aroused is the commissioner
over this alleged attempt by
sources pretending to speak for
the st. Louis Browns, to effect
the dropping of the case for
consideration which is said to be
astounding in proportions, that he
has, under authority Of the major
league agreement, ordered the
club presidents to tomorrow's ses-
sions, to try to get at the root
of this information which has
reached him.
Just what light any Of the
moguls outside of those connected
with the st. Louis Browns could
throw on the investigation which
Lands proposes tomorrow Is not
made clear in the information
concerning tomorrow's meeting.
Merge on Chicago
However, from seven points OF
the compass today, representa-
tives of the major leagues are
merging on Chicago to thresh
out the matter and to drive the
serpent from the baseball house.
Judge Lands makes no bones
over the fact that something very
serious is likely to happen should
his investigation determine that
che alleged offer to quaSh the
appeal is the handiwork OF any,
body connected with the Browns
or organized baseball.
The situation is thought to
amount to an attempt to tamper
with the regular functionings Of
a court case, the element Of at
tempted bribery not being an out
side possibility. Thus, Judge
Lands, at the first intimation Of
such a monster creeping into
baseball procedure, has summoned
his chieftains to his court, where,
tomorrow, there may be fireworks
aplenty.
Benefits History
The St. Louis Browns were
originally charged by Judge Lam
dis with optioning Outfielder
Bennett more times than base
ball law allows, which is not
more than two successive sea-
sons in the case of any one
player.
Bennett was bought by the
Browns in February, 1928. from
Tulsa and returned to Tulsa in
April. The following September
he was sold to Milwaukee,
whence he was released to the
Browns in September, 1929.
The following April saw him
sent back to Milwaukee, only to
be recalled by the Browns in
September, 1880.
Judge Lands vetoed BENEFITS
release to Milwaukee in April,
1880. and ordered the Browns to
either keep him or dispose of the
player to some club not aSsoci-
tated with the Browns organiza-
ton. This order barred the
Tulsa, Milwaukee and Wichita
Falls clubs, all of which are
Browns farms.
The Browns then obtained an
Injunction restraining Lands
from enforcing his ruling, this
restraining order now being in
the course Of appeal before the
United States Court of Appeals.
Bennett played with Milwaukee
all of the season of 1880 and this
year was declared a free agent
by an Illinois Federal judge. The
player signed with Pittsburgh
last May and was released to
Fort Worth in July. He is now
the property of the Newark Inter-
national League Bears, being sold
there last August.