The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-30
BALL PLAYERS ORGANIZE
The Protective Association Formed
at New York.
Officers Elected and Grievance
Committee APpointed-Troubie for
MaEnates If Demands Are Not
Recognized ssFnrming'' Process
to Be One of the Points of Attack.

NEW YORK, July 29-The Sturtevant
House was crowded with baseball players
and enthusiasts all day today, the occasion
being the second formal meeting of the
Players Protective Association of the Ma
tional League. This organization, though
in its infancy. is expected TO cause many
radical changes in the methods of the
magrates.
While the spokesman of the association
were rather NOM ommittal, it could be seen
that the players have determined to act
in unison and wipe out alleged grievances
by drastic measures If necessary. 1t is
! quite probable that when the National
League magnates meet in the fall they
will be confronted with series of de-
mands from the players that must either
+ be considered or ignored, and in the latter
case there promises to be trouble.
thinner, the veteran catcher OF the
| Pittsburg Club, was in the chair. The
Committee on Constitution and Bylaws
made report which was adopted, and
these officers were elected:
President, Charles thinner, Pfttsburg;
Secretary, Hugh Jennings, Brooklyn;
Treasurer. William Clarke, Boston. a
grievance committee, consisting Of one
member from each National League team.
was appointed, the duties of which were
clearly defined. In case player has an
alleged grievance against club owner
he files it with the secretary of the assoc
ciation. The latter turns it over to the as
sociation lawyer, Harry Taylor of 3uffaio.
fpry has NJ = he
and Baltimore teams.
If Taylor decides that the case is worthy
of serious consideration he will refer it to
the grievance committee, and the latter
after a vote. will decide whether the club
owner must be notified to rectify matters or
not. If the National League, or one of its
clubs should see fit to ignore a notice from
the grievance committee the association
would then be forced to take more sum
mary action. a general strike might be
ordered, although the delegates to today's
meeting refused 20 say whether such a
move would be made or not.
Several other committees were appoint
ed, but the delegates refused to say what
their duties would be. After routine mat
tiers had been concluded, President thinner
called for expressions Of opinion from the
different players present, relative to So
called grievances Many speeches were
made. and the drift of the argument was
that the present National League contract
is unfair. Illegal. and too one-sided TO pro-
vide for the players welfare.
Lawyer Taylor was asked to give his
views. He told the delegates that the
League contract would not stand in
court OF law; that the ten days clause
was worthless, and that the clause per-
hitting the club owners TO farm" or
sell players services contrary to his
consent during the schedule season was
illegal.
There was also long discussion on the
evils of the farming and sales system,
after which it was voted to empower Law
yer Taylor to draw-pp a contract to be
submitted to the National League mag
mates at the meeting in December. This
contract, ii is understood, will be without
the clauses that permit farming and sell
ing the releases OF players, and will also
call for other reforms.
Before ii gets before the League 1t will
be submitted to the players association
for approval. II the League refuses to
treat with the players on this ground and
ignores the whole business 1t will be up
TO the new association TO show how strong
II is The movement appears to be gain
ing strength daily, because every National
League player except two have Joined and
paid their dues.
JtlHiuEs itdu blitIdi COHl-
munications from the associations agents
who are working ia the minor organiza-
tons. to the effect that every player in
the Eastern and the American Leagues
has pledged his support to the movement,
and will be formally initiated in few
days by the payment of the required dues
and assessments.
With the players of the National. East
ern, and American Leagues banded to-
gether in a common cause, 1t would seem
that In case Of q hostile movement against
the magnates the latter would be rather
hard pressed TO secure desirable talent
But the ball players intend to go eyeI
further, and will enlist the support OF
every minor league and every semi-profes-
SIGNAL club in me country In that way
they believe they viii be able to carry
through their plans for the betterment OF
the profession.
While the meeting was going on it was
common talk in the corridors that the own
ers of four National League clubs had late
ly shown a willingness to confer with the
representatives of the association. 1t was
said the Brooklyn. Chicago, st. Louis, and
Pittsburg clubs were the ones that desired
to meet the ball players demands with
fairness.
Another meeting of the Protective Asso-
citation will be held in September. when
the Western teams come East again. Many
Of the players left town tonight, but 9TH
ers remained to indulge in formal talks
relative to the situation.