The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-21
TROUBLE FOR MAGNAqES
The New Ball Players Union As
suming Form and Shape.
The Men Laying Plans to Perfect the
Organization - Intesd to Demand
apces-Amcrican League Holding
Out Some FIatterinE Inducements.

NEW YORK. June 2e.--The recently Or
ganized Protective Association OF Profess
SIGNAL Baseball Players bids fair to cut a
much more important figure than at first
supposed The leaders OF the move have
already begun to invade the minor leagues.
and in each club chapter will be estab-
lished without further delay.
The plan is to unionize every player In
the United States who is engaged Tor a
salary, whether he is in league or be-
longs to an unattached club When this
plan has been completed membership in
the association will be open to any ball
player who cares to join. When they are
convinced they can control the skilled
ball-playing talent of the country then
they will begin proceedings that may re-
suit in one of the biggest upheayas In
the history of the national game. A player
who is identified with this movement said
tonight:
The magnates are doing their best to
find out what our next move will be, but
they are in the dark. We are going along
quietly and when least expected We will
be heard from. / do not say there will be
strike or anything like that, but as soon
as our leaders know how they stand and
what they can do the magnates will get
notice worth reading. l do not care to
say just what demands will be made. but
you can rest assured that many grievances
will be adjusted.
The association will do one thing IL
nothing else. We will take every case of
oppression into court and test the validity
of the baseball contract. The victory OF
Fred Pfeffer the other day showed what
most players have to contend with. The
magnates do not like court proceedings,
but we will force them to treat us right
or fight"
1t is stated on the best of authority
that certain promoters of the proposed
American Association. organized in Chi
cago last spring. but which never played
a game have approached the leaders of the
Protective Association with the idea of
forming an alliance. These promoters
have been pointing out to the players that
they should break away from the League
magnates in a body, organize league of
their own, and have the support of the
minor league players all over the coun-
try.
The players have not expressed an opin-
ion as TO the pToprety of this plan but
they say whatever happens the magnates
ISOLATION makes formal demand for the
adjustment of certain grievances 1t must
be acceded to or there will be serious
trouble. There will be another meeting
of the Protective Association in this city
the last week in July. 1t is expected that
the minor leagues will have representa-
tives by that time.
While the promoters OF the American
Association are flirting with the lall
players there is another set Of schemers |
who are beginning to lay their wires. TIE |
owners and hackers of the American |
League of which Ban Johnson is president, |
are planning to extend their circuit to the
East They control eight Western cities
now. four of which-Chicago. Milwaukee.
Detroit, and Kansas City or Cleveland
are considered good enough for any KIND
of circuit.
The absence Of clubs in Washington and
Baltimore this season is source of
temptation to the American Leaguers TO
make a stride into those cities. They also
figure on New York and Boston. II they
can get the support OF the players the
American League men say they can make
their proposed circuit a go and will also
knock the National League sky high.