The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-01
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION DE- HANDS FLATLY REFUSED AND COMMISSION REQUIRES OBE- DIENCE OR WAR

American association, but went farther in stating that if the American associa- ton decided not to operate under the rules of organized baseball that teams would be placed In every city on that circuit. While no mention of league to do battle with the American associa- ton was made yet it was implied to an extent that could not be misunder- stood
 The American association is given until September 10 to answer the com mission and upon this answer will hinge the question that now stands out para mount in the minds of baseball-w1ll there be a baseball war?
 Decision in Detail
 In it's findings the national commits sion took particular pains to place the burden of the worry on the shoulders of the American association, and it is now up to this body as to whether there will be war.
 The findings of the commission in detail follows:
 The following is an abstract of the national baseball commissions decision on the American association case:
 .The commission is unanimous In the conclusion that it is without authority to act on the petition of the American association at a meeting held in Chi cago August 1. 1911, for the reason that the concessions applied for can be granted only by amending the national agreement in several particulars.
 Firmly convinced that disturbance of the delicate adjustment of condi- tions and relations under which or ganized baseball has attained prestige and prosperity, the commission Will recommend that the radical and reVo- lutionary request of the American as- sociation for recognition as an inde- pendent organization along the lines or it's petition be rejected.
 practically from the commencement of it's connection with the national commission the American association has been assertive to the point or az gressiveness in its demands upon the major and minor leagues for special legislation in it's behalf.
 Tn 1909, through amendments to the national agreement. a class was cre- ated for the American association, the Eastern league and the Pacific Coast league, and additional advantages which could not be curtailed without the concurrence of all parties to the national agreement were conferred on them. This revised national agreement was promulgated by the commission in March, 909, but was rescinded when the American association and the East ern league refused to formally rati- fy it.
 "The demands embraced in the peti- ton follow and are discussed in their numerical order:
 T. That all leagues and clubs in or ganized baseball shall respect all con tra cts, reservations and territorial rights of the American association and that the latter shall likewise respect all contracts, reservations and terri torial rights of all leagues in organized baseball.
 Each of these rights is fully en- joyed by every league under protec- ton and no league not in organized baseball should receive special privi- leges of this character.
 70. That in lieu of the one man draft by the major leagues from the Amer ican association. the American asso- ciation shall permit the major leagues to select one player from each of the American association clubs at a price of $5000 such selection to be made on or before July 1 of each year, but the nlayer so selected shall be per- mitted to finish the, season with the Clhp HUH WIltn iit IS ClOStI
 "The drafting privilege cannot be abridged without infringing on the right of a player to advance in his profession. The number of players sub ject to selection from a club in Class A, there is grave reason to apprehend is a member as in 1906, restricted to one annually and many major league club owners who approved this amend ment to the national agreement are convinced that this reduction has been diverted from its purpose to witness: To enable Class A clubs to keep their respective teams practically intact from season to season, to put prohibi- tive prices on players whose services are sought by National and American league clubs.
 "The proposal of the American asso- c.ia rion to permit the selection of one player at a fixed price of $5000 with out regard to his intrinsic value, can not be seriously entertained by prac-1 tical baseball men, Nor is there valid reason for advancing the period of selection from September 1 to July l, for not until the latter part of Au- gust can a real line be had on the prospects of player to make good in fast company.
 s. That clubs of the American asso- citation shall have the right to go into th~ market and purchase players under the same conditions as the major lea gues now do.
 ''The rights of an American asso- citation club are identical with those of major league club except that a player recalled by minor club under an optional agreement is subject to draft on September l from the club h is with on August 23. That provision is absolutely necessary to prevent col fusion between minor league clubs to cover up players and deprive major league clubs of their drafting priv ileges.
 Should the American association be accorded equal privileges in recruit ing its teams with the National and American leagues. either as an inde- pendent league or as a member of Class A there Is grave reason to apprehend that the control of the most promising players of the Classes B, C and D leagues would in many instances be congested for speculative purposes in American association clubs.
 A. That American association shall have the right to dispose of players to cldbs of lower classification under op- tions on the same tefms as the major lea gues now do. SD
 That privilege is enjoyed by the peti tioner except for the requirements that unless the recalled player reports before, August 23, he is subject to draft as above stated and further concessions in this matter would be unwise and impoi- tic
 ''5. That the American association agrees to waive all draft rights from all clubs in organized baseball.
 '"rhe views of the commission on .his subject appear in its comment on para graph two. It should be rejected because roe iii of 10 ,-io of ,,I