The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-28
MORE DRASTIC MEASURES
PLAYERS MAY LEGIsLATE AGAINST
CONTRACT JUMPERS.
Secretary Gear i'm Favor of Co-Operat-
ate Game-Baseball Talk.

There is hardly any doubt Of the Protec-
tive Players Association adopting more
pronounced measures against the contract
jumping habit when the annual meeting is
held in June" said Dale d. Gear, secretary
of the association and manager of the Kan
sas City Ball Club, at the Grand Hotel last
night The association adopted resolu-
tion against jumping last fall,
but the force of it was only morally against
the practice. There will have to be more
drastic measures taken.
THE date for the annual meeting has not
been set, but it will probably be held the
latter part of June. New officers will then
be elected and it is possible that changes
will be made in the constitution. Questions
have arisen that will make some changes
necessary"
Isn't it true, Mr.. Gear that the Players
Association is tottering and is not strong
as when first organized?" was asked.
Yes, 1 can say that the association is
weaker. and this is largely due to the sell
fshness OF many players. Ii seems that
many players are too short-sighted TO see
into the future and realize that unless they
stand together and abide by the rules of
the association the organization will col
lapse. The contract-jumping evil has had
great deal to do with disrupting the asso-
citation. We do not countenance contract
jumping, but the players who have been
guilty cannot be severely punished because
our law against it is only a moral one it
now stands. The future meeting of the
association will witness the adoption of
laws that will bear severely on such prac-
tees.
a In ia w Of mi n
citation so that We will have a delegate TO
our meetings from each league. Two dele
gates are now allowed from each club, but
1t is impossible to have good representa-
ton of delegates when a meeting is held
during the playing season. With man as
president OF the association who has execu-
tive ability and at the same time is capa-
BILE of holding such Office, there could
be one delegate from each league who
could attend the meetings. Supposing the
American Association had one delegate
lie would learn the opinions of all the play
ers In the eight clubs by coming i'm contact
with them and he could present their views
before meeting of the association. The
same would hold true in other leagues.
TIME FOR REORGANIZATION.
1.-The time is soon coming when baseball
is to be reorganized and again placed upon
a sound business footing. We, the play
ers of the Players Protective Association,
should cooperate with the club owners.
We could gain representation at the meet
ings of the big leagues and work in con-
junction with the men who furnish the
capital to keep professional ball before
the public. There will be another national
agreement and the minor leagues will
again be controlled by the big leagues
The players will have to watch for that
time and be united to stand for their
rights. AT the same time they must not
be selfish. People know that the club own
ers are paying more money for the services
or players during the present war time
than many of the players are worth. Play
ers argue that they must get all the salary
this year they can, but that is where they
show their shOrt-sightednesS We must
work in unison with the capital behind
baseball, or if we don't the game as a pro-
fession will be wrecked.
Il have endeavored to point out TO many
players the folly of the clubs paying
enormous salaries this year and of them
trying TO exact a great deal more money
than they are worth. There viii be a
great deal of money lost by club owners this
year and the time is sure to come and
that very soon when John T. Brush will
control the entire situation or there will be
a general compromise and players will find
that they will not receive the handsome
salaries now being paid. Mr.. Brush is well
liked by players, as he has always treated
them fairly. We must look forward to that
time and be prepared to meet il. The play
ers must have their rights observed, but the
rights of clubs owners and capital must
also be observed by the players. Many of
the players are cutting their own threats
and their actions are injurng the game.
We will yet see legislation which will place
the game on a sound basis and men with
capital viii not be afraid to invest il. III
that time does not come very soon the fI-
ture for the ball player is very dark. These
matters will all be discussed at the asso-
cation meeting and L look for some action
TO be taken that will bring about a most
harmonious feeling between players and
club owners or course am with the play
ers but L believe l am looking far enough
ahead TO realize that we must cooperate to
certain extent with the club owners"
MUST LIVE UP TO CONTRACT
Mr.. Gear said the Players Protective AS
ISOLATION does not recognize the breaking
of an option clause as contract jumping
but when the association meets it will take
action on the players who ignore the option
clause as well as jumping contracts 1t is
possible, he said. that the association
might make a law that will blacklist a
player who does not live up TO the letter
OF his contract In every particular. He be-
lieves by doing this the players will re-
celve more concessions from club owners
and keep the game in better repute and
cause 1T to have a longer life as the best
of professional sports. He said many OF
the players are now ineligible to member
ship in the association because their dues
have not been paid.
Mr.. Gear, as manager of the Kansas City
| jumping brought home to him, as members
| of his club jumped their contracts. This
| fact has caused him to be so bitter against
the practice. He pointed out the case OF
| Robinson, which is a parallel one TO that
| of Sheckard the king OF contract jumpers
Manager Gear said he talked with many
| players who desired to go TO clubs under
| the ban of the Association of Minor Leagues
and told them that clubs in the Western
| League could not afford to pay salaries of.
Tered as well as clubs in the American As.
| ISOLATION. but few Of the players were no.
| gifted with the power of seeing into the
future sufficiently to realize that they .'wil
| be up against IT. in going to the Western
| League. He believes the 81. 600 fine to be i'm.
/ posed on players in minor association clubs
! for leaving any club or league in that as
/ ISOLATION is very unjust TO players and ac
/ ton should be taken against il. He said the
| Eastern and Western League clubs coulC
sign a man for a large salary and if They
| did not care TO pay him the amount stipu.
! lated in the contract could give him
check for less on pay day and II he did no
! like II and threatened TO leave the clul
/ owner could say that if the player did not
] like what he was to receive he could not
play ball and would also have to pay a 81 90
| fine.