The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-10
1 BALL PLAYERS union
A Movement on Foot to Join the
Ranks of Organized Labor.
All the National League Clubs Select
Delegates to attend Meeting in
New York TOdny-SamueI GOmpers
to Give Advice to the Men-The
Plan Rfdiculed by the Nngnntes.

NEW YORK, June 9.-The ball players
of the National League will make move
tomorrow toward the formation of a union
TO act in conjunction with the Americas
Federation of Labor. According 10 the
statements of several players in authority
a secret meeting will be held in this city
tomorrow morning under the auspices of
Samuel Gompers, President of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor.
Each National League club has selected
delegates, and these men are expected to
be present:
New York-Davis. Doyle. and Mercer;
Brooklyn-Kelley, Jennings. and Dahlen:
Boston-Clarke. Nichols. and Lowe: Phila-
delphia-Delehanty. Murphy. and Donahue;
Pittsburg-Ely, o'Brien, and thinner;
Chicago-Ryan, Callahan, and Griffith !:
ST. Louis-Burkett and McGraw; Cincin-
nati-Corcoran and Beckley.
President Gompers will merely instruct
the players how to organize their union.
According to statement made by one of
the delegates tonight the union does rot
intend to antagonize the National League
in any way. 1t is to be organized to
protect the rights of players and to Sc
cure Just treatment from the maglates
as individuals.
The players say that they will insist in
future upon the receipt of one-half OF the
purchase money every time a players re-
lease is sold. They also declare that they
will protest against the farming sys-
tenn. and will insist upon club releasing
a player If he refuses to be loaned to
minor league club. They further state that
they will object to the indefinite suspen-
sion of players who refuse to consent to
transfer of their services to other clubs,
ard will also make a fight against unjust
fires inflicted by the managers.
The players have no idea of holding up
the League for increased salaries, so they
say. and merely intend to organize as a
matter of self protection. They will not be
called on to support other unions in case
of strikes, but in the event of having a
fight of their own on their hands they ex
pect TO have the support Of organized labor
all over the country. and in this way force
the magnates to accept their terms.
The National League magnates so far
have ridiculed this movement and say that
II cannot be a success any more than was
the brotherhood organization of 1890.
President Dreyfuss, of the Pittsburg Club,
said today:
Il see no objection to the organization of
a ball players union, for the reason that it
will do no good. If the players want to
go on strlhe Ior any cause tney can 10
so. ! think there are many other young
players at present unknown who would be
glad to have a chance to receive National
League salaries in the event Of vacancies.
Unless every ball player in America.
whether employed by professional league
or not Joined this union. it would be with
out effect. AS soon as the players look
at the situation in a coolheaded way they
will see the folly of joining any such move
ment''
1t is said that McGraw. of the St. Louis
Club. will be elected president of the new
union