Salt Lake Telegram | 1931-04-22 | Page 10 | Court Upholds Supreme Authority of Judge Landis in Baseball after Rule on "Chain Store" Practices

Court Upholds Supreme Authority 0 Of Judge Landis in Baseball After Alter Rule on Chain Store Practices CHICAGO April 22 UP UP T j ous in the first case involving a a. test of his authority Kenesaw Mountain Landis today was more firmly i en-i cn l. t trenched I d t h a nv j W. W f p. p j ever before as czar I 1 of organized base base J J ball baU I L Landis' Landis authorIty authority author author- 7 i 1 ity Ily as the supreme It dictator of baseball basc base ball was upheld In I j a a. federal court nil nil- rul-nf rul 1 ing lag handed down yesterday by 1 Walter C C. C 1 in the Fred Bennett Bennett Ben Ben- Ben L nett case Judge Judger- Judger Lindley ruled that Landis had acted clearly within n his rights when he de- de y de-y e- e s Po PoI I claret Bennett a frees free r agent last sum- sum mer Landis The decision was made in a suit suit suit- the first litigation attempted by any club or pla player er challenging Landis' Landis power brought power brought by the Milwaukee American association club against Landis with Bennett as the intervening inter jilter petitioner Phil Ball owner of the St. St Louts Louis Browns and Milwaukee Brewers questioned Landis' Landis power to declare any player a free tree agent nent Judge ley hey ruled that the situation resulting resultIng resulting result result- ing in the loss of ot Player Bennetts Bennett's services was clearly one of the St. St Louis clubs club's own making in violatIng violating violating violat violat- ing the rules of organized baseball by attempting to transfer the pla player er for the third successive year to a minor league club without asking major league waivers on him bun WILL APPEAL CASE That the St. St Louis and Milwaukee clubs will continue their fight to overthrow overthrow overthrow over over- throw the power of ot Landis was indicated indicated indicated indi indi- today when Attorney Ou Guy C. C Pet Peters rs said ho planned to carry the case to the circuit court of appeals Judge Lindley's ruling leaves Bennett Bennett Ben Brn- nett who has been Idle pending the decision free to negotiate with any major or minor league club for tor l his s services Backed by the federal court ruling Landis can cm now continue his war against chain store baseball lon long lone called by the commissioner the deadliest dead dead- heat liest enemy of the national game It II was revealed in the decision that Pl Phil l Ball Bali according to the findings of at Landis has completely controlled the St. St Louis Browns Tulsa Western West West- ern erli lea league ue club and Wichita Falls Texas league club since February 16 1928 1926 and that he owned 50 per cent of the stock In the Milwaukee club since July 1927 and since January 19 1929 had completely controlled the latter club The Browns attempted to manipulate manip Bennett back and forth be between between between be- be tween their farms for a period in ex excess excess ex- ex cess of two years under apparent outright sales and without giving the other major league clubs a chance chanco to claim the players player's services Bennett was sold by Tulsa to the Browns in 1928 only to be returned on oil option and then on outright re release release re re- lease th the same year ear He was sold Ito to Milwaukee at the end of ot the tho 1928 season but didn't report and was transferred to the Wichita Falls club In September 1929 1920 he was sold to the Browns BrO again St Louis attempted attempt attempt- led ed to release him to Milwaukee when Commissioner Landis stepped in and ruled l him m a free agent