Evening journal., 1911-10-28
SAYS RULE
HURTS LEAGUE
Sporting News Writer Says
Action in Trl-State is a
Backward Step
WOULD KEEP HIGHER
CLASS MEN ON OUTSIDE

Despite the fact that all Of the
baseball writer's and most Of the tsas
on the Tri-State League circuit are
pleased with the action of the league
directors in abolishing the non-op-
tional agreement clause, which pro-
hibited the acceptance Of farmer"
players from big league clubs. the
editor OF Sporting News. a publica-
fion devoted to baseball and other
sports, takes an opposite viewpoint
He believes the magnates have taken
a backward step and gives reasons
for so thinking. The article in full
follows:
The Sporting News begI leave 10
differ with its correspondent from
Lancaster, who halls as assurance OF
q better era the decision of Tri-State
magnates to abrogare their rule
against the use Of Harmed" playeys.
We had welcomed the apparent grow
ing tendency Of minor leagues 10 bar
the player acquired under option and
rather view the Tri-State action as q
backward step. There are reasons.
For one thing. the practice OF send
ing players to lower class leagues
with ~strings" attached to them. with
its consequent effect of permitting a
corner" in talent, has been one Of
the chief issues in the bill OF COM
plants fled by the minors in their
efforts to secure a more equitable
agreement, and the action OF the Tri-
State shows a lack Of unanimity that
may impair the success OF the minors
movement.
The hope Of the men who have tho
best interest Of the minor leagues az
heart has ever been to curb the
farming" system. recognizing the
possibilities for evil in IT, A minor
league club cannot have freedom of
control of its players without abso-
lutte title and 1t cannot instill the
sense Of ownership in "our club"
among fans that begets the loyalty
and interest needed for success n
players are held only under loan, sub
ject to recall with the prospects Of a
team being wrecked at the pleasure
or need Of another club.
Far better seems the policy OF an
organization, the Central association
for example. which goes to the other
extreme and adopts the rule that no
player from higher class league may
be used under any conditions. 1t is
this policy that makes the minor tho
true developing ground Of baseball
talent. policy that brings new blood
into the game and atirs the interest OF
the fan in the work and welfare Of
the budding athlete.
N the evils OF the farming" system
be as great as charged, what more
positive correction OF the evil thar
action IN which all minors unite {
bar the use OF the "farmed" player
With no opportunity to farm" The
system complained of would neces.
sarily abolish itself. In order to re.
duoe teams to required number majoi
clubs would be compelled to release
playars outright, and minor league
magnates would be given opportunity
to secure absolute title 10 youngsters
who, developing, would be a source ol
real profit, while with the ownership
and control absolute the stability oi
a team. with the consequent prospAri
of building a winer for the future
would be more certain.
II there be evils in the farming
system. as alleged. and as We believe
the remedy Is in the minors owl
hands through united actions. There
fore does the Tri-State League sount
discordant note.