The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-30
BALL PLAYERS ORGANIZED.
WILL DEMAND THEIR RIGHTS
FROM CLUB OWNERS.

They Say They DO Not Intend to An
tagonise the Mnenntes, but They
Want Changes In the Contract, and
Want to stop the selling and
Farming Out of PIayers-"Chfef''
thinner of PittsburR Was Made
President.
New York July 29.-The Baseball Play
ers' Protective Association was formed
in this city to-day. A permanent or
SANITATION was effected. constitution and
bylaws adopted and officers elected
Chief thinner of the Pbtsburg Club,
was chosen president; Hugh Jennings OF
the Brooklyn Club secretary. and Will
liam Clarke Of the Boston Club treas
urer. The meeting to-day was the second
held by tho new organization. Unlike the
first, however. when only three delegates
from each club were allowed at the meet
ing, to-days session was open 90 any
members Of the association, and nearly
100 players attended The delegates pres
ent were: Jennings Keeler and Kelley,
Brooklyn; Burkett, Young and Donovan,
st. Louis; Becley and Corcoran. Cncin-
] MAUI Ntilllllis iNNhl anu AdIlhDdDt 1nl-
caso; Delahanty, Murphy and Donohue.
Philadelphia; thinner O'Brien and Ely.
Pittsburg; DUFFY, Clarke and Collins, Bos-
tom Doyle Freeman and Smith. New
York
The constitution was prepared by Henry
Taylor of Buffalo. the organizations coun-
sci. It was adopted unanimously, but just
~ ba 81
those present would divulge. Mr.. Taylor
stated that the principal object of the
players organization would be to fight the
magnates in the matter OF selling and
farming players. Tine present system of
contracts will also be bitterly fought by
the players organization.
Players Want Their Rights.
There are many things that are in
equitable in the contracts presented TO
players now" said Mr. Taylor, land we
propose 10 remedy them. Well we will
probably draw UP form of contract and
present 1t to the magnates this fall.
shall take the contracts used In the Ma
tional, Eastern, Western and American
Leagues, and after modifying them. draw
up a new form. That viii be presented
to the magnates for considerable
And supposing the magnates should ig-
more your body2" was asked.
wen, this Is a conservative organiZa-
ton. There is nothing revolutionary
about il and we don't propose 10 keep men
from playing ball. But the magnatc
have grounds and grandstands and they
want ball games. They can't afford TO
have their properly lie idle. Our demands
are just aud modest and we don't antici-
pate trouble. A grievance committee has
been appointed, but their names will be
kept secret for the present"
How strong Is your organiza tion?"
well, there are just two players in the
big league who are not members. and
they will be members in day or two.
We have received word from the Eastern
and Western League and American
League and every player in those two
organizations is anxious TO join. We ex-
pect to have as members every profess
sional ball player in the country"
Al the conclusion OF the meeting Hugh
Jennings said:
"Our organization to-day is strong. and
we are ready 10 talk business. IT is not
our object to bring about fight with the
club owners. We want justice. and in
tend to get Il In a straight, above-board
and businesslike way All OF the players
are with the organization, and we are
chockful OF enthusiasm. We are only
ighting against methods in the contract
system and the scheme Of selling and
farming PLAYERS"