The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-10-05
BALL PLAYERS
IN BIG revolt.
Diamond Stars to Present Bill
Of Rights to Commission.
TO DEMAND MANY REFORMS.

Want to Be Declared Free Agents
After Serving Number of Years In
One City - Would Abhor Twelve
Month Contracts.
Judging by the present state of af-
fairs, it looks as if our national game
will be in the limelight more than
ever this winter There is consider
able talk of another baseball war and
a twelve city circuit being formed.
Added to this is the fact that major
league ball players are drawing up
magma charta to present to the pow
ers of organized baseball. They are
framing bill of rights" TO present
to the national commission.
The ruling Of the baseball commission
against the so called transforming
trips of ball teams during the fall and
winter months coming on top of the
rule compelling players to sign
twelve months contract seems to have
brought the matter to a head, and now
the players want to have a say In the
matter. The threatening war clouds
hanging ON the baseball horizon may
cause the magnates TO listen If the
case is properly presented, but they
are hardly likely to grant all that is
asked in this preliminary announce
meEt since to do so would seriously
disturb the present smooth sailing
trust-like serenity of the national
game. This is what the ball players
want:
''First.-A clause in contracts declar-
ing them free agents after playing in
one city for limited term Of years.
"Second.-In case of disput> between
player and club owner over the size
of the players salary board of arbi-
tration to pass upon the case.
Misrepresentation on the ma
tional commission.
"Fourth.-Six months players con-
tracts to terminate at the end of the
league season. or compensation for
twelve months of service if club own
ers insist on that time for their con-
tracts.
"Fifth.-Freedom to play ball or en-
gage in athletic sports with teams
other than those in organized baseball
after the American and National
league seasons are over"
While there seems nothing unreason-
able in these demands. to grant them
in full would mark the beginning of
the end of organized ball. since 1t
would no longer be possible to equal
ize the playing strength of the teams.
The strong teams would grow strong
4 "a.
the players were to sacrifice their own
preferences and follow along the same
lines that the managers are now pur-
suing in endeavoring to maintain the
popularity of the game. If they would
do that and do 1t as well as the mana
gers are doing it some of the money
that now finds its way to the pockets
of the club owners could be garnered
by the men who play the game.
Would Help Baseball Stars.
Under existing baseball rules play
er who once afiixes his name to a con-
tract agreeing to play ball for any club
in the big leagues is never again a
free agent so long as he continues to
play good ball. His likes and dislikes
in regard to continuing with the club
with which he first signed amount to
nothing. and he must stay where he is
so long as the owner or manager of
the team desires his services. 1t Of
ten happens that a players personal
preferences and family affairs make
him anxious to bring about a change,
but under present conditions his only
hope of being able to accomplish it is
10 play such poor ball that the mana
ger Of his team is glad 10 let him go.
If he is ambitious and conscientious
he will hesitate about resorting to
such measures and as a result may be
compelled TO continue on for year
after year with team with which he
does not want to play.
The new plan would place limit on
his servitude and then leave him a
free agent 10 go where he pleases. Un-
der such arrangements there would be
fewer sales or releases of ball players
and greater reward for merit, since
the player. and not the club, would de
rive the benefit for extreme popularity.
AS an instance. Ty Cobb would be free
TO sign with the team of his choice aft
er having played. say, six years with
Detroit, while Eddie Collins would be
master Of his own services after like
seryitude with the Athletics, 1t would
surely be fine thing for the great ball
players, but Il might prove damaging
20 organized baseball.
Dave Fletcher Of Cincinnati is prob
ably the instigator Of the whole bust
ness. But at that there is nothing very
unreasonable in the demands. Why
should u tall player who has per
formed his duty faithfully on the ball
field all season be told what he shall
and whit he shall not do during tsle
six months period In which there is
nothing for him TO do in his chosen
calling? The club owners have been
hiring him for six months in the year