Evening journal., 1910-10-10
MAJORS ARE
FORMING UNION
Representation to be Demand
ed on National Commission
to Change Conditions
SURPRISING STRENGTH
SHOWN In THE MOVEMENT

If successful, will change the condi-
ton Of organized baseball materially.
The players Of the National and
American leagues are organizing a
union which will demand weighty
cor. essions from the magnates
The plan is for the players to com
bine, after the fashion OF a trade or
ganization, for mutual benefit. They
will demand representation on the Ma
tio&al commission and contracts COW
ering a period OF six months only. The
present contract is made out for
twelve months. This same style OF
contract is what precipltated the
whole thing.
The movement to organize a play
ers union has no come ton with ID.
A. Fletcher, the Cincinnati man, all
though his efforts to take all-star
teams on tour precipitated the defiant
action Of the last few days.
When Fletcher tried to line up the
all-stars the National commission
very promptly refused permission,
and declared any player who worked
IN conjunction with Fletcher would be
blacklisted Nevertheless six members
OF the American league have refused
TO pay heed to the commission, and on
this list Of six are the names Of some
of the greatest players OF the league.
Then the union talk increased and
as result the men have decided to
meet Immediately after the season
closes. form a union and present de-
mands 20 the National commission.
First of all, the players will insist
that either one of their number or
two be recognized as members Of the
high court of baseball One plan has
been to elect a prominent member of
the White SoX as sort of walking
delegate, and another scheme is to
have one man from each league,
which probably will be adopted
Every time ball player wishes to
work with a club in winter great
stress is laid on his value to the club
to which he belongs. In view of that
fact the men declare they either
should be paid for twelve months or
their contracts should terminate at
the end Of the playing season. They
will insist on this as one Of the so
called reforms which should be put
into effect Immediately
the American League shows surpris-
Ing strength In the union movement
The greatest players In the game are
involved, men without whom the past
time as played al present would not
prosper as II does now. The college
element is keen for the organization
and they point to the fact that the
men engaged In baseball to-day are OF
vastly superior type to those on a
generation ago, when the brotherhood
had q spasmodic existence
II bod carriers and teamsters car
form a union successfully. don
see why ball players cannot declar
ed a prominent player. Anybody car
drive a team or carry a hod, but tn,
number Of professional ball players
! of big league calibre Is limited. which
will add great strength to oul
union"
Samuel Gompers and John Nit
chell have been In communication
with the leaders Of the movement in
an effort to get the players to affiliate
with the federation. If this is done
the baseballers will have the sup
port Of every labor union in the coun-
try and could bring to bear upon the
magnates a tremendous weight Of
public opinion. Whether or not they
will affiliate is one OF the points to
be decided later
The men seem determined to throw
down the gauntlet to the magnates on
the all-star series, and If Fletcher
can get parks in which to play his
teams the trip will be made. II it is
made the National Commission eth
er will have to expel about a dozen
Of the best players in both major
leagues or recede from the position
already taken. The public probably
would protest vigorously against the
star players being banished from or
ganized baseball.
II the players union carries out
the innovation and demands planned
at the present time the magnates
/ either Will have to give in on a great
many points or close their parks. "A
strike in baseball would be an UNIQUE
experience.
In event Of a ruction Of maiol
league owners and players some o
the disgruntled organizations lik
the American Association Or Easter,
League. which have grounds and play
ing facilities, might break away from
the organized interests and precipi
tate a great baseball war.
The players and the movement IA
cludes the cream OF both maio
\ leagues, declares positively that the
will go through with their end {
4 It, and II they do there viii be III
biggest baseball war this winte
4 since the formation Of the America
League.